Why Can't I REALLY Take Out the Trash?

dalchina · 22 Jul 2023

And the chkdsk scan?

I think the basic cause is that the files shown are from a different user id.
See:
command line - Recycling bin access denied on windows 10 - Super User

More:
Windows - Can't delete folder from Recycle Bin and it won't restore - Super User

jmrathbun · 22 Jul 2023

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:
net user administrator /active:yes
DONE

Logoff and login as the Administrator
DONE

Try to clean the bin
The bin shows as empty for drive D and I can't see the folder $Recycle.bin anywhere.

When done, logoff and login as the user.
DONE
Disable the built Administrator
DONE

Now I see $Recycle.bin on drive D as before.

- - - Updated - - -

The users I see are below:

Why Can't I REALLY Take Out the Trash?-users.png

Megahertz · 22 Jul 2023

jmrathbun said:

The users I see are below:

That is the normal users. Administrator is normally deactivated.

As Administrator did you change the Explorer settings to show hidden and system files?

jmrathbun · 22 Jul 2023

"As Administrator did you change the Explorer settings to show hidden and system files?"

Yes. There is no hidden folder on drive D.

Now when I log on to my normal user account, I get

Why Can't I REALLY Take Out the Trash?-corrupted.png

If I say "No" it goes away. If I say "Yes" I sometimes get a strange version of Windows Explorer that has the circling icon and shows nothing else. Or I get the "Requires administrator permission" message and can't go forward from there.

Additionally, if I try throwing something into the trash on drive C, I get a return of the message above which refers to drive D.

spunk · 22 Jul 2023

Start a Command Prompt as Admin
Type the following Bold command and press ENTER:

rd /s /q D:\$Recycle.bin

• (This clears out the $Recycle.bin folder for the D:\ drive.

You may have to change the drive letter and do this for each hard disk partition in your system.)

Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

Megahertz · 22 Jul 2023

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:
chkdsk c: /f
It will say your disk is in use and ask if you want to schedule to next start = yes
Restart

Back to Windows, open a CMD window as administrator and type:
sfc /scannow

If it finds any corrupted files, fixing or not, reboot and run again

Then run
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
and
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

jmrathbun · 22 Jul 2023

It didn't find any corrupted files on drive D. Now what?

Megahertz · 22 Jul 2023

Create a new user to see if still happens.

x509 · 22 Jul 2023

dalchina said:

If you believe your Recycle bin is corrupted, see

Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows

- from the huge searchable Tutorials section here. (Do feel free to have a look- fully illustrated!).

As you are (quite resonably) concerned as to how your disk space is used, try
Wiztree (free) - excellent- the 3D cushion map displayable after a scan very clearly shows you large files/folders.

I found some surprises- large dmp files produced by certain programs that weren't deleted, for example.
Attachment 394102

To avoid detritus (files, folders, registry keys..) accumulating due to poorly written uninstall sequences, I recommend routinely using a 3rd party uninstall tool which (a) runs the standard uninstaller and (b) runs a scan and offers to delete items found.
E.g. Geek Uninstaller, Revo Uninstaller. Both have free versions.

I highly recommend the paid version of Revo Uninstaller.

dalchina · 22 Jul 2023

Repeat post #11 - 1st link - as possible cause of access denied:

They are from a different user ID, that's why you did not have access. You can Take ownership on $Recycle.Bin, and propagate it down, and then delete them if you want.

However I don't favour the solution offered there. There are other ways of deleting those files e.g. I believe it's possible if you use Wiztree (free). Or from a command prompt outside Windows. Or by booting your PC from a live boot disk.