Disk Clean up tool does not empty recycle bin on one of my drives

Windows 10 pro
Version 10.0.18363

I have a 4tb drive with over 576gb in the recycle bin according to treesize free.
Disc clean up won't empty it. all the rest of the drives have nothing in the recycle bin but can't get rid of this one.
Really need that space!

I tried deleting some other large files and tree size added them to the figure in the bin so I tried disc clean again and it seemed to work but only the new ones got removed the 576gb is still there.

Oh and BTW the 576gb is really there ,as I calculated it from how much windows is telling me I have free on the drive.

would really appreciate some advice

thanks

Mike

Can't you just empty it manually????

Thanks!
Unfortunately not. I tried doing it from within treesize free. That usually works for normal folders but doesn't here.
I can't see the folder in explorer so can't delete it.
Am I missing something obvious?

Mike

But what happens when you click on the recycle bin and do and "empty bin"??? Nothing??? No error, no message?


This might help:

Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows

mpooley said:

I have a 4tb drive with over 576gb in the recycle bin according to treesize free.
Disc clean up won't empty it. all the rest of the drives have nothing in the recycle bin but can't get rid of this one.

When you use Disk Clean up to empty the recycle bin it only empties your recycle bin. Every user account has it's own Recycle bin, and each user account can only empty their own one.

The problem comes if you delete an account before it has emptied its bin. there is now no account that has the permissions necessary to do so.

I can't see the folder in explorer so can't delete it.

You need to 'show hidden items' AND turn off 'Hide protected operating system files (recommended)'.



The folder you are looking for is called $RECYCLE.BIN and is on the root of the drive. First turn off recycling for the drive concerned, then you should be able to delete the $RECYCLE.BIN folder. It will be recreated when you turn recycling back on.

Set Recycle Bin to Permanently Delete Files Immediately in Windows 10

If you still can't delete it, then boot to Advanced Startup, then delete the folder from the command prompt.

Open Command Prompt at Boot in Windows 10

xaccell said:

But what happens when you click on the recycle bin and do and "empty bin"??? Nothing??? No error, no message?


This might help:

Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows

Thanks Very much
I followed the instructions in the link and it worked a treat..

Thanks to all those who replied I didn't get to try your suggestions but much appreciated .

Mike

RolandJS said:

Bree, would the built-in admin acct be powerful to tree-climb to the stubborn Recycle Bin folders and delete the contents?

Any administrator account should do, the main difference for built-in Administrator is that it's not subject to UAC, not that it has any higher file or folder permissions. There should be no problem deleting a drive's $RECYCLE.BIN with any normal administrator account as long as you turn off recycling for that drive first.