I cannot delete my recycle bin using Elevated Command Prompt "rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin"

Question

Hi Support,

I've been having problems with my Recycle Bin.  It gets corrupted and I cannot delete any files in the recycle bin.  It happened 2-3 times.  I tried to use the elevated command prompt, "rd /s /q C:$Recycle.bin", but I get a long files that show "Access Denied".  I've only been able to fix the problem by System Restoring to a previous saved state.

The elevated command prompt that I've been using is below:

You may follow the method below and see if that can resolve the issue.

IMPORTANT: The following procedure permanently deletes all files and folders which are already in the Recycle Bin (from all user accounts in the system) and cannot be recovered.

1.Open an elevated Command Prompt window. To open an elevated Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

2. Type the following command and press ENTER:

rd /s /q C:$Recycle.bin

(This clears out the $Recycle.bin folder from the C:\ partition. You may have to do this for each hard disk partition in your system.)

Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

I am using Windows 7 Home Premius 64 bit. My computer was preinstalled with WIndows Vista Home Premium. I was given a WIndow 7 upgrade from Dell.

Answer 1

Sorry, I forgot to state the outcome.

No, it wouldn't let me.  It always shows a long list of files that have "Access Denied".

Answer 2

I think it may have worked.  I typed it in, I didn't get the usual long list of Access Denied files.  It didn't say it did anything.  I am not sure if it's supposed to say it deleted my recycle bin.  When I typed in the prompt again, it said there was no such file anymore.  I'm assuming it deleted it.  Is that true?

Answer 3

Sorry, I forgot to state the outcome.

 

No, it wouldn't let me.  It always shows a long list of files that have "Access Denied".

Keep tapping F8 at boot time, then boot the machine into Repair Mode. You can open a Command Prompt from there, then run the command you tried before.

Answer 4

Hi Support,

I've been having problems with my Recycle Bin.

You may follow the method below and see if that can resolve the issue.

You are not talking to Microsoft support. Respondents in this forum are members of the general Windows community, not MS employees.

Did you actually manage to delete the recycle bin when following the instructions you posted? You did not state the outcome.