Nevertheless, I will try to keep the "Build number" lists (for SharePoint 2007 and 2010) up-to-date for as long as I can.

Best regards to everyone!

The first attempt to clear this out using Object Model code was also unsuccessful. Simply calling Console.WriteLine(SPSite.RecycleBin.Count) threw an odd exception. So we had to use a different approach:

static void Main(string[] args) {
  if (args.Length == 2) {
  using (SPSite ms = new SPSite(args[0]))
  using (SPWeb mw = ms.OpenWeb()) {
    SPRecycleBinQuery qu = new SPRecycleBinQuery();
    qu.RowLimit = int.Parse(args[1]);
    qu.OrderBy = SPRecycleBinOrderBy.Default;
    SPRecycleBinItemCollection re = ms.GetRecycleBinItems(qu);
    try {
      re.DeleteAll();
    }
    catch (Exception ex) {
      Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
    } } }
  else {
    Console.WriteLine("Usage: emptyrecbin.exe site-collection-url items");
  } }

And you're trying to instantiate an SPSite object for a specific site collection, using the SPSite constructor as follows:

SPSite mySite = new SPSite("https://testserver");

Now, although you're 100% sure that the URL to the site collection is correct, and that everything is OK from all perspectives (authentication, authorization, etc.), you still get the following exception:

System.IO.FileNotFoundException
The web application at https://testserver could not be found. Verify that you have typed the URL correctly. If the URL should be serving existing content, the system administrator may need to add a new request URL mapping to the intended application.

Puzzling, isn't it?
The solution is to open up your project's properties, select the Build tab and set the Platform target to either x64 or Any CPU. And that should do the trick!

& was unexpected at this time.

Still, you are 100% sure that the LDAP query you have supplied is correct. What to do next?

Well, if you're planning to make the change for a single web application (or just a couple of web applications), you could use the SPWebApplication.PeoplePickerSettings.ActiveDirectoryCustomQuery property. But what if you want to make the change globally (such as using the STSADM command without mentioning the -url parameter)? Well, the following code may be of help:

static readonly string propName = "peoplepicker-searchadcustomquery";
static readonly string propValue = ""; // valid LDAP query goes here
static void Main(string[] args) {
  SPGlobalAdmin glAdm = new SPGlobalAdmin();
  Console.WriteLine(glAdm.Config.Properties[propName]);
  try {
    glAdm.Config.Properties[propName] = propValue;
    glAdm.Config.Properties.Update();
  }
  catch (Exception ex) {
    Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
  }
  Console.WriteLine(glAdm.Config.Properties[propName]);
}

$passphrase = ConvertTo-SecureString -asPlainText -Force
Set-SPPassPhrase -PassPhrase $passphrase -Confirm

That should be it! In case you run into trouble (for example the passphrase fails to propagate to all servers in the farm), you can find more information on how to fix this by running the following command:

Get-Help Set-SPPassPhrase -Detailed

Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010:
Download: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49c79a8a-4612-4e7d-a0b4-3bb429b46595&displaylang=en
System requirements: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/cc288751(office.14).aspx.
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, BUT
SharePoint Foundation 2010 can also be installed for development purposes on Windows 7 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2. Installing on these operating systems is not supported for production deployments. For instructions on how to install on these operating systems, you can refer to this document.

SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, x86:
Download: https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/5/8/558522e0-2150-47e2-8f52-ff4d9c3645df/SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe
SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, x64:
Download: https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/5/8/558522e0-2150-47e2-8f52-ff4d9c3645df/SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe
SQL Server Express now works with databases of up to 10GB! Please note that 64-bit SQL Server is required for SharePoint 2010.

Visual Studio 2010 Express:
Download: https://download.microsoft.com/download/1/E/5/1E5F1C0A-0D5B-426A-A603-1798B951DDAE/VS2010Express1.iso

SharePoint Designer 2010, x86:
Download: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d88a1505-849b-4587-b854-a7054ee28d66&displaylang=en
SharePoint Designer 2010, x64:
Download: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=566d3f55-77a5-4298-bb9c-f55f096b125d&displaylang=en

Microsoft Search Server 2010 Express:
Download: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=cea31a4f-a8b4-4864-b520-be612becdcfa&displaylang=en
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2008 R2; Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

Since we already know the build number of the RTM build of MSF2010 (14.0.4763.1000), I'll add a new list which will track this product version.

We have compared the field's schema with the one from a 'working' document library:

Working

<Field ID="{28cf69c5-fa48-462a-b5cd-27b6f9d2bd5f}" Name="Modified" SourceID="" StaticName="Modified" ColName="tp_Modified" RowOrdinal="0" ReadOnly="TRUE" Type="DateTime" DisplayName="Modified" StorageTZ="TRUE" FromBaseType="TRUE"/>

Non-Working

<Field ID="{28cf69c5-fa48-462a-b5cd-27b6f9d2bd5f}" Name="Modified" SourceID="" StaticName="Modified" ColName="tp_Modified" RowOrdinal="0" ReadOnly="TRUE" Type="DateTime" DisplayName="Modified" StorageTZ="TRUE" Version="11" Group="_Hidden" Hidden="TRUE"/>

So we implemented the following workaround code:

static void Main(string[] args) {
  using (SPSite ms = new SPSite("https://testserver"))
  using (SPWeb mw = ms.OpenWeb()) {
    try {
      SPList ml = mw.Lists["Test_List"];
      SPField mf = ml.Fields[new Guid("28cf69c5-fa48-462a-b5cd-27b6f9d2bd5f")];
      if (mf.FromBaseType != true) {
        XmlTextReader xr = new XmlTextReader(new StringReader(mf.SchemaXml));
        XmlDocument xd = new XmlDocument();
        XmlNode xn = xd.ReadNode(xr);
        if (xn.Attributes["FromBaseType"] == null) {
          XmlAttribute xa = xd.CreateAttribute("FromBaseType");
          xn.Attributes.Append(xa);
        }
        xn.Attributes["FromBaseType"].Value = "TRUE";
        mf.SchemaXml = xn.OuterXml;
        mf.Update();
      } }
    catch (Exception ex) {
      Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
    } } }

Office 2010 (including Office 2010, SharePoint 2010, Visio 2010 and Project 2010) has been released to manufacturing (RTM). You can find more information on the official blog of the Microsoft Office product development group, but here are some of the highlights:

1. Express your ideas more visually
Office 2010 opens up a world of design options to help you give life to your ideas. The new and improved picture formatting tools such as color saturation and artistic effects let you transform your document visuals into a work of art. Combined with a wide range of new prebuilt Office themes and SmartArt graphic layouts, Office 2010 gives you more ways to make your ideas stick.
2. Accomplish more when working together
Brainstorm ideas, provide better version control, and meet deadlines faster when you work in groups. The co-authoring experience for Word 2010, PowerPoint 2010, Excel Web App and OneNote shared notebooks let you work on a file with several people at once — even from different locations.
3. Enjoy the familiar Office experience from more locations and more devices
With Office 2010, you can get things done more easily, from more locations and more devices. Using a smartphone or virtually any computer with an Internet connection, you can work when and where you want to work.
Microsoft Office Web Apps - Extend your Office 2010 experience to the web. Store your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote files online and then access, view, edit, and share content through the Web.
Microsoft Office Mobile 2010 - Stay current and respond quickly using enhanced mobile versions of Office 2010 applications, specifically suited to your Windows Mobile-based smartphone.
4. Create powerful data insights and visuals
Track and highlight important trends with new data analysis and visualization features in Excel 2010. The new Sparklines feature delivers a clear and compact visual representation of your data with small charts within worksheet cells. Filter and segment your PivotTable data in multiple layers using Slicers to spend more time analyzing and less time formatting.
5. Deliver compelling presentations
Captivate your audience with personalized videos in your presentation. Insert and customize videos directly in PowerPoint 2010—trim, add fades and effects, or bookmark key points in the video to call attention to selected scenes. Videos you insert are now embedded by default, relieving you from managing and sending additional video files.
6. Manage large volumes of e-mail with ease
With Outlook 2010 you can compress your long e-mail threads into a few conversations that can be categorized, filed, ignored, or cleaned up. The new Quick Steps feature let you perform multi-command tasks, such as reply and delete an e-mail in a single click, saving you time and inbox space.
7. Store and track all your ideas and notes in one place
Get the ultimate digital notebook for tracking, organizing, and sharing your text, picture, video and audio notes with OneNote 2010. New features such as version tracking, automatic highlighting, and Linked Notes give you more control over your notes so you’re always on top of where your ideas came from and the latest changes when working in teams4.
8. Get your message out instantly
Broadcast your PowerPoint presentation to a remote audience, whether or not they have PowerPoint installed.5 The new Broadcast Slide Show feature allows you to share your presentation through a Web browser quickly without additional set up.
9. Get things done faster and easier
Get things done faster and easierMicrosoft Office Backstage view replaces the traditional File menu to give you a centralized space for all of your file management tasks, such as the ability to save, share, print, and publish. The enhanced Ribbon across Office 2010 applications lets you access commands quickly and customize tabs to personalize the experience to your work style.
10. Access work across devices and platforms
Enjoy the freedom of using Office 2010 from more locations on more devices. When you use Office 2010, you’re getting the familiar and intuitive Office experience across PCs, Smartphones, and Web browsers on the go.

And here's something that you shouldn't miss: https://www.the2010event.com/