Microsoft KB Archive/229041

= Files Are Not Deleted From Recycler Folder =

Article ID: 229041

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

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This article was previously published under Q229041



SYMPTOMS
When you empty the Recycle Bin in Windows, the files may not be deleted from your hard disk.

NOTE: You cannot view these files using Windows Explorer, My Computer, or the Recycle Bin.



CAUSE
This issue can occur if a third-party filter driver is using the files you try to delete.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, delete the files from an MS-DOS prompt. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, click Run, type cmd.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.
 * 2) Change to the drive and folder where you deleted the files. For example if you deleted a file from the C:\Windows folder, type cd\windows at the C: prompt, and then press ENTER.
 * 3) From that folder type cd recycler, and then press ENTER.
 * 4) From the Recycler folder type dir, and then press ENTER. You may see some User  folders where   is the security ID for each user who deleted files in that folder.
 * 5) Type cd user, and then press ENTER.
 * 6) Type del *.*, and then press ENTER. If you receive an error message that indicates some files are open, quit all the programs running on your computer.
 * 7) Type cd.., press ENTER, and then repeat steps 5-7 for each folder in the Recycler folder.
 * 8) Type exit, and then press ENTER.



MORE INFORMATION
For information about the Recycle Bin, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

165126 Cannot Delete File Using Windows NT Explorer

171051 How To Bypass The Recycle Bin When Deleting Files

171694 Differences Between The Recycle Bin and the Recycler Folder

Keywords: kbdiskmemory kbenv kbprb KB229041

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