Recycle Bin problem in XP Pro (SP3) 32-bit

[morland]

When I right click on Recycle Bin, the empty recycle bin option does not appear. I probably messed this one up by playing with some context menu editor some time back. BTW, I have already un-installed that tool. Is there some solution to get that back. Don't want to go through the ordeal and the associated pain of doing a fresh install.

There is a command called sfc which is supposed to correct things and which has to be run with the XP CD in. I can't recall the syntax. Maybe that can help?? What is the syntax that I should use with the sfc command.

Thanks

[Tripredacus]

sfc /scannow

Make sure to create a restore point before running it. Sometimes running this program when malware is present, it may damage your Windows. I typically do not like running this program.

[morland]

Thank you

[allen2]

I wouldn't use sfc as it is a registry problem:

Some registry entries must be missing there :

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers

and/or HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers if all context menu is missing when you right click the recycle bin.

You should have those entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

If you have another XP you could just export the full HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} key from the working XP and import it on the other.

[morland]

Thanks allen2. This recycle bin thing was just one of the problems that I was facing and there are a few others but recycle bin one was most important.

It is like rocket science to remember/know details of registry related things (like the details you have shared). Are you aware of a really good (ideally freeware) registry cleaner/fixer when can solve such problems?

P.S

Point taken and Tripredacus also recommended to to avoid using sfc. Thank you for this tip also

Edited April 10, 2010 by morland

[Tripredacus]

Well CCLeaner is a free registry cleaner, but I do not know of any registry "fixers" that is, a program that reverts to default system settings. You can try making a different user account and see if it is just a problem with your account or not.