I have this really weird problem. I am not sure what caused it.

If I have multiple files I want to send to the Recycle Bin at once, (usually 5 or more) I would typically highlight the files in explorer with my mouse, right click, delete, in the Recycle Bin they go.

But now recently, after I right click delete, and confirm to send the group of files to the recycle bin, I notice that when I look into the Recycle Bin, most of the files I sent there are now gone, with only 2 or 3 remaining.

Ex:

I have a folder with 10 .zip files.

The recycle bin is emtpy.

I go into the folder with the zip files, select them all, delete. Windows asks to confirm sending them to the recycle bin.

After I confirm, I look in the Recycle Bin to see my files, but only 1 or 2 of the zip files I just sent there exist. And the other 8 are no where to be found.

What worries me is that reinstalling windows didn't fix the problem.

Any info that could point me in the direction of the culprit would be greatly appreciated.

BTW I am running Windows XP Pro with SP2 and all of the latest critical hotfixes listed on the unattended page.

Edited September 1, 200619 yr by ViperJB

There is an option to delete files directly rather than send them to the recycle bin. You may have accidently enabled this.

Or

The files may be to big for the recycle bin and gets deleted.

Right-click the Recycle Bin and click Properties. As dirtwarrior suggested the maximum size may be too small to hold all deleted files. The default setting is 10% of the disk size. This would explain why a reinstall didn't help: the disk size didn't change.

Thanks for the help.

I don't think the problem is the option to delelte files directly rather than send to the recycle bin. This is because Windows actually tells me that's where it is sending the files.

Wouldn't windows prompt me that the files being sent are too large if I am past the 10% quota? I thought it is supposed to say something like "These files are too big to be sent to recycle bin do you want to delete them directly?"

I don't see that message, it simply asks to send them to recycle bin, like everything is normal, and then they dissapear, without warning.

Edited September 1, 200619 yr by ViperJB

Wouldn't windows prompt me that the files being sent are too large if I am past the 10% quota? I thought it is supposed to say something like "These files are too big to be sent to recycle bin do you want to delete them directly?"

Yes windows will prompt you if the file/s are too big. But if the percentage is not set correctly it could be deleting x files from the ones you have sent there due the fact it has reached it's percentage marker. In other words if the total size of the files will exceed the % of the recycle bin it will delete them from the recover area. That was the way it was explained to me when I used 98.

jd

Assuming that it's really a space problem, have you cleaned up your hard drive lately?

For starters, run Windows own "Disk Cleanup". Then defrag.

Then DO go into the Recycle Bin's properties and check them. Don't just assume they are correct. LOOK!

Make sure you're not holding shift when you delete them too.

In other words if the total size of the files will exceed the % of the recycle bin it will delete them from the recover area.

It does this without a warning?

The problem isn't free space. And I am not holding shift.

Edited September 1, 200619 yr by ViperJB

The Recycle Bin is NOT for storing your files!

Maybe this behavior will teach you to be a little more careful with the Delete command.

The Recycle Bin is NOT for storing your files!

Maybe this behavior will teach you to be a little more careful with the Delete command.

I-t...i-t...it's not !?!

My RB has intermittent similar problems in one XP installation and it's certainly not due to space or pressing the Shift key.

But I find if you have Norton SW it can mess it up.

Search 'recycle bin empty' in Google and you'll see you're not the only one.

Look:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_qr.htm#rb

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;168570