An odd damage/corruption to some functions of the Recycle Bin

ineuw · 16 Jul 2018

Installed Windows 10 Pro 1803 (newly purchased software. not upgraded) some weeks ago, and like everyone else I faced a number of minor issues, most of which were resolved, but there are some, this in particular, I can't.

I lost the desktop recycle bin folder icon (empty or full) and in its place there is the same simple document icon, regardless of the folder's status.
The folder "Properties" displays "The properties for this item are not available."
The open recycle bin folder is partially functional. The "Restore" is on the context menu and works, but is missing the "Empty Recycle bin" control on the menu/toolbar.
The Desktop context menu item "Empty Recycle bin" works.
The desktop settings show both recycling bin icons correctly, and their checkboxes are selected.

I had this identical issue in Windows 7, and I tried every utility dealing with Recycle bin issues from Windows Vista, Windows 7 and 8, but nothing helped. It was fixed unexpectedly by a small freeware utility (possibly for XP), which installed a toilet icon, displaying the folder status with either a seat up or down. I didn't care for it and uninstalled it. And "lo and behold," the original icons and functions returned. But now, I can't find this freeware. Perhaps someone can help to resolve this issue?

Bree · 16 Jul 2018

Uninstalling that utility would have updated the icon cache. Try rebuilding your icon cache. See this tutorial.

Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 10

Try3 · 16 Jul 2018

If I had this problem and if Bree's suggestion did not solve it, I would create a new user account to see if that performed correctly.
1 If the new account behaved correctly, I would use that instead.
2 If the new account also had the problem I would do a R epair install [aka an InPlace upgrade].

Best of luck,
Denis

lx07 · 17 Jul 2018

You could also (if you don't want anything in it) try to delete the recycle bin. Windows will make a new one.

From elevated command prompt, changing C to the relevant drive:

Code:

takeown /f  C:\$RECYCLE.BIN /r
icacls      C:\$RECYCLE.BIN /grant administrators:(F) /t
rmdir /q /s C:\$RECYCLE.BIN

That would solve any authority issues you may have with it.

ineuw · 17 Jul 2018

Thanks for all the advice, I tried them all, but sadly none worked. Everything remained the same until I downloaded this Microsoft cumulative update windows10.0-kb4345421 which is only offered as a manual download and install. And after reboot this resolved the issue. http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/...c4f6e8a1a6.msu

Another possible solution I found was this article https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-recycle-bin-icon-windows-10-fix/