Recycle Bin Issue

Zach3

A few days ago my Windows 7 Pro Recycle Bin desktop Icon quit changing from an Icon of "Full" to and Icon of "Empty" when I deleted the files in it...
I have no idea what caused it to stop changing and hope someone can offer some suggestions!!!
Thanks,
Zach

Andyross

Are you sure it's actually empty? Maybe there is some hidden file, or one where it can't delete?

Zach3

When I open the Recycle Bin up I cannot see any files. Am I sure? No I am not...
I have used CCleaner to clean files and it is suppose to automatically empty the recycle bin...
My other Windows 7 Pro doesn't have the issue yet...
I haven't had any luck searching the internet either...
Thanks for your reply.
Zach

real_aurgathor

Zach3

Did you try to reboot your machine?

Donoreo

Did you turn it off and on again?

px_eliezer_

As was said, rebooting the machine sometimes works.

Or else go to System--->Settings--->Storage--->Empty Temp Files.

(That might be different on your Windows 7.)

Or find another file to delete (if you have not already done so), delete THAT file, then try to empty the recycle bin.

Finally you can try BleachBit---but as with CCleaner make sure you're not deleting anything you want to keep!

Zach3

px_eliezer_ Or find another file to delete (if you have not already done so), delete THAT file, then try to empty the recycle bin.

Yes I have done that also and it deletes the file but still doesn't physically show as visually empty...

Zach3

"Did you turn it off and on again?"
By that do you mean "Reboot the Computer"? Yes and I turned it off last night and restarted it this morning and the issue is still there.
"BleachBit" didn't make any difference either...

Zach3

real_aurgathor Did you try to reboot your machine?

Yes; I have done that a number of times and it isn't the answer.

Guy54435

Try running Disk Cleanup. Disk Cleanup is a tool in Windows 7 that can help free up disk space by removing unnecessary files.
To use Disk Cleanup in Windows 7, you can:
Click Start
Select All Programs
Select Accessories
Select System Tools
Click Disk Cleanup
Choose the files and folders to delete
Click OK
To remove system files, click Clean up system files
Click Delete Files
You can also use the Run window to open Disk Cleanup:
Press the Windows and R keys at the same time
Type cleanmgr and press ENTER
Select the drive to clean and click OK
Select the files to delete and click OK
Click Delete files
You can also use the command line to open Disk Cleanup:
Click Start and then click Run
In the Open box, type c:\windows\SYSTEM32\cleanmgr.exe /dDrive
Press ENTER
Make sure you check mark the Recycle Bin

Zach3

Guy54435 Try running Disk Cleanup. Disk Cleanup is a tool in Windows 7 that can help free up disk space by removing unnecessary files.

I have also done all of the things mentioned in your list to no avail...

Guy54435

Zach3 Okay, I saw a few posts but didn't read them, They were from the Vista days but the description of the post was inline with yours. Maybe look at one of those see if something would still be relevant somehow.

Rook

Have you tried changing the icons?
What I mean by that is going into the desktop icon settings and choosing the same icons for "full" and "empty" over again.

Zach3

Rook What I mean by that is going into the desktop icon settings and choosing the same icons for "full" and "empty" over again.

I am not sure that I understand what you mean. The ICON is supposed to change automatically from the "Full Look" to the "Empty Look" when you empty the Recycle Bin...
I have attached a picture of what I find when I right mouse click on my Desktop but I don't see anything there that will alter what my situation is.

Zach

bighorn1

Zach3
Click on 'Personalize' then 'Change Desktop Icons' and reselect icons for Recycle Bin

Zach3

bighorn1 Click on 'Personalize' then 'Change Desktop Icons' and reselect icons for Recycle Bin

That doesn't work either???

takeahike

bighorn1
Great to see you've made it here!

px_eliezer_

Oldtimers will recognize the great freeware (Power Tools) from Karenware (Karen Kenworthy) who sadly passed away back in 2011.

The Windows Recycler tool may be worth a try.
https://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptrecycler

It's old, but so is your Windows 7 system....

Somewhat-Reticent

px_eliezer_ Oldtimers will recognize the great freeware (Power Tools) from Karenware (Karen Kenworthy)

Yes. Founded 1999 - Back in the Golden Age of freeware.

Zach3

px_eliezer_ The Windows Recycler tool may be worth a try.
https://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptrecycler

It's old, but so is your Windows 7 system....

I have been using Karen's Replicator for years!!!

Unfortunately I have no idea exactly what the "ptrecycler" does or how it works so I am a little nervous about running it. My version of Windows Pro is a much newer version than the ptrecycler version... I don't know exactly what it will do to my computer that runs fine currently other than this slight issue... It is something that I can live with but thought I would attempt to repair it if I would not harm the rest of the Windows Pro...

Anyone have any information on what the ptrecycler actually does and if I can recover my system if it messes it up???

Thanks,

Zach

px_eliezer_

Zach3

I installed the ptrecycler (the PT just stands for Power Tools) on my Windows 10 machine just now.

Did not need to install any of the extra programs, I [did] make the choice to keep a newer VB file compared to the older one that the installer would have put in.

It's a small program, easy to use, looks just like the picture, works fine.

Whether or not it will solve your issue I don't know, but this program seems fine.

If it's good for Windows 10 it should be fine for your Windows 7.

You should of course always have some backup of your system anyway.

Somewhat-Reticent

Explanation by Karen Kenworthy

Zach3

Somewhat-Reticent

Karen was always a "Champ"!!!