How to Restore the Recycle Bin in Windows
The Recycle Bin, like most other desktop icons, can be removed from the Windows desktop if you are running Windows Vista or 7. Additionally, it is possible to do this in Windows XP using an add-on program such as Microsoft TweakUI. Some users may choose to do this for a sleek no-icon appearance to the Windows desktop. However, doing so may result in a nasty surprise when you no longer have a way to access the Recycle Bin and the hard drive begins to fill up because of the files that are stuck in it. Restore the Recycle Bin to the Windows desktop to give yourself the ability to empty it of your deleted files.
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Instructions
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Windows Vista and 7
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1
Right click the desktop and click "Personalize."
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2
Click the "Desktop" tab, then click the "Customize Desktop" button.
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3
Click the "Change Desktop Icons" task on the left side of the window.
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4
Place a check in the box labeled "Recycle Bin" and click "OK." The Recycle Bin will once again be displayed on the desktop.
Windows XP
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5
Click "Start" and then "Run" to display the "Run" dialog box. Type "regedit" (without quotation marks) in the box and press "Enter." The Registry Editor appears.
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6
Use the folder tree on the left side of the window to navigate to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER," "Software," "Microsoft," "Windows," "CurrentVersion," "Explorer," "HideDesktopIcons" and "NewStartPanel." Click the "NewStartPanel" folder.
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7
Double click the value labeled "{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}" on the right side of the window.
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8
Change the number displayed in the "Value Data" box from "1" to "0."
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9
Click "OK" and close the Registry Editor. You may need to restart your computer before the Recycle Bin icon will be displayed.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you used a utility such as TweakUI to remove the Recycle Bin icon in Windows XP, that utility may override the registry change described in this article. Reverse the change that you made in the utility to prevent this from occurring.
References
- Photo Credit a blue recycle symbol image by wayne ruston from Fotolia.com
