Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows  

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    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows

    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows

    How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows
    Published by Category: Performance & Maintenance
    29 Jan 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows


    The Recycle Bin provides a safety net when deleting files or folders. When you delete any of these items from a hard disk, Windows places it in the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin icon changes from empty to full.

    If you have multiple hard drives, partitions, or an external hard drive connected to your PC, each location will have its own $Recycle.Bin and Recycle Bin settings. Removable drives, such as USB flash drives and memory cards, will not have a Recycle Bin. Files deleted from removable drives are permanently deleted.

    Items in the Recycle Bin still take up hard disk space and can be undeleted or restored back to their original location. When the Recycle Bin of a drive reaches its maximum storage size, Windows will automatically permanently delete (empty) older files in the Recycle Bin location to accommodate the most recently deleted files and folders.

    When you manually empty the Recycle Bin, all files in the Recycle Bin deleted by your account will be permanently deleted to free up disk space.

    If you are unable to empty the Recycle Bin or delete an item inside the Recycle Bin, then the Recycle Bin may be corrupted.

    This tutorial will show you how to fix a corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to perform the steps in this tutorial.


    This will permanently delete all files currently in the Recycle Bin for all users on the PC.




    Here's How:

    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Type the commands below one at a time into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter after each command.

    If you got a The Recycle Bin on <drive letter> is corrupted. Do you want to empty the Recycle Bin for this drive? error message, then you can skip this step, and just do step 4 below for only this drive letter (ex: "E") instead.
    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-recycle-bin-corrupted.jpg

    diskpart

    list volume

    exit

    3 Make note of all the drive letters (ex: "C" and "E") in the Ltr column for Partition "Type" volumes. Ignore the drive letters (ex: "D") for Removable "Type" volumes. (see screenshot below)

    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-diskpart.png

    4 Type the command below for each drive letter (ex: "C" and "E") from step 3 above into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter after each command. (see screenshot below)

    rd /s /q <drive letter>:\$Recycle.bin

    Substitute <drive letter> in the command above with a drive letter from step 3 above.

    For example with the drive letters "C" and "E":

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

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

    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-delete_-recycle.bin.png

    5 Open the Recycle Bin to refresh it and confirm that it is now empty. (see screenshot below)

    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-recycle_bin.png

    6 If you are still having an issue with the Recycle Bin, then run a sfc /scannow command in the elevated command prompt.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 180
    W10 22H2 primary, W8.1 secondary
       #1

    I carried out the command session as above, but got a message "The system cannot find file specifed". What the message is indicating is true because there is no file. The $Recycle.bin has only sub-folders and no files in any of the sub-folders.

    Any suggestion would be appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello churin,

    Let's see a screenshot of your command prompt and location of your $Recycle.bin to see if anything may stand out.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #3

    Just a guess, but he may be typing the command instead of copy/paste. Easy to miss a space or insert one, or a typo. And I've found in the past that a reboot is required to let Windows re-create it. Deleting the $Recycle in C:, with reboot, should take care of all drives.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 180
    W10 22H2 primary, W8.1 secondary
       #4

    Brink said:
    Hello churin,
    Let's see a screenshot of your command prompt and location of your $Recycle.bin to see if anything may stand out.
    Hello Brink,
    Requested snap shots as follows:
    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-ddrive.jpgFix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-error.jpg
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Do you have US English set as your display language?

    If so, then it looks like there's an issue with Japan characters in your command prompt.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 180
    W10 22H2 primary, W8.1 secondary
       #6

    Brink said:
    Do you have US English set as your display language?

    If so, then it looks like there's an issue with Japan characters in your command prompt.
    Yes, I do. See below. I have never had any problem since Windows 2000. The Japanese language pack can be removed.
    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-language.jpg
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    As a test, you might temporarily remove the Japanese language pack to see if the command prompt returns back to normal and hopefully allows the command to run properly.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 180
    W10 22H2 primary, W8.1 secondary
       #8

    I find a machine which allows \ instead of Yen sign. But result is the same.
    Fix Corrupted Recycle Bin in Windows-command.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    You're command has been entered incorrectly. It should be this below instead.

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


 

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