When you delete unwanted folders on your PC, they end up in the Recycle Bin. It’s really important to know how to empty the bin, and to retrieve anything you’ve mistakenly dumped!

RECYCLE BIN PROBLEMS SOLVED

How often should I empty the Recycle Bin?

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of emptying the Recycle Bin about once a week: simply right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin. Another approach is to set up an automatic deletion to ensure that files in the Recycle Bin never take up too much hard drive space. To do this, right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Properties. Adjust the slider for the bin to five per cent of total disk size and then click OK. Now the bin will store files until it reaches its five per cent capacity, at which point newer files will automatically displace the older ones.

Can I take a file out of the Recycle Bin?

Yes. To retrieve a file, double-click on the Recycle Bin icon. All files in the bin are now visible in a standard folder window. Now locate the file you want and do one of two things: either drag it out of the folder window and onto the Desktop or right-click on it and the select Restore option.

Can I retrieve files that I’ve deleted from the Recycle Bin?

Possibly, but it won’t be easy. You may think that emptying the bin will delete files forever, but it technically doesn’t. It just marks the disk space as ‘free,’ allowing Windows XP to overwrite the files eventually. Unfortunately, Windows XP doesn’t have a tool or a program for recovering deleted files, so you’ll need to consider buying a third-party software program. There are a number of file recovery software providers – search for manufacturers on the Internet.