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Topic: Can't erase files in Recycler folder (Read 6941 times) previous topic - next topic
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Can't erase files in Recycler folder

I have two files on my second hard drive named S-1-5-21-796845957-436374069-1957994488-1003 and the other has a number similar to that. They are in a hidden system folder called Recycler. What they are(or used to be) mp3's that I erased and  Winamp keeps picking up when I scan for files in the media playlist. I am using Windows XP pro and I think those files might of been in the recycle bin but not dumped when I did a system restore for a few days back and I think that may be why those files are still there. I tried to erase those files but I can't because Windows saids they are being used by another program. That is not true because there were no other programs that were using them at the time I tried to erase them. How can I get them off the hard drive?

Thanks,
-Darin
Cowon Iaudio X5 30 gig. It rocks!

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #1 –
Try terminate explorer.exe in task manager. If it doesn't help you can remove it via command prompt in recovery console (hit F8 during windows startup). Normally acces to the recycle bin is disallowed via recovery console. Right now I'm at work. When I go home I will post how to enable acces to this...

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #2 –
This is what I tried. I went into MS Dos Command Prompt and went into the F drive(this is the drive that has the recycler folder).

F:

F:cd recycler

F:\recycler>del *.*
Could Not Find F:\recycler>*.*

Still no luck. I went into F8 via windows start up but I didn't see a recovery console option so I also tried safe mode with command prompt, but still no luck. What else can I do?

Thanks,
-Darin
Cowon Iaudio X5 30 gig. It rocks!

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #3 –
Quote
F:\recycler>del *.*
Could Not Find F:\recycler>*.*

Del command does not allow wildcards in recovery console.
 

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #4 –
Guide how to delete files which does not want to be deleted: 

1.Install recovery console
Insert Windows cd to the cdrom drive, hit start button -> run and type:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
where d: is a cdrom letter. Follow instructions on the screen.

2.Reboot computer. During startup there should be a menu, something like:
1.Microsoft Windows XP Professional
2.Recovery console (or something like that, I have Polish edition)
Choose recovery console, enter administrator password, go to main directory:
type cd \

3.In the command prompt type:
set allowallpath = true
It should let you acces to the recycler directory

4.Go to recycler directory and to the subdirectory where are your unwanted files and type:
dir
Then your files should be listed. Write their names somewhere.

5.Type:
del filename
You will have to do so with every file you want to delete

There is also a command:
set allowwildcards = true
but I'm not sure if you can use it with del command.

I hope this will help you to delete your unwanted files.

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #5 –
Worked like a charm! Thanks!

-Darin
Cowon Iaudio X5 30 gig. It rocks!

Can't erase files in Recycler folder

Reply #6 –
You can remove the files directly from Windows it self.
Use the commandpromt to go to the catalog and the use the command "attrib -s -h" on all the files, the you can juste remove the with the del command in the commandpromt!

Example:

E:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-2025429265-1757981266-1177238915-1003>attrib -s -h *.*

E:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-2025429265-1757981266-1177238915-1003>del *.*

It worked like a charm for me!