How to Undelete the Recycle Bin Icon in Vista

Quickly restore the Recycle Bin icon to your Windows Vista desktop.

The Recycle Bin is a feature common to all modern versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. First introduced with the release of Windows 95, the Recycle Bin provides temporary storage for deleted files and folders. Its icon sits on the desktop by default, but can disappear as a result of spyware or simply by executing the "Delete" command by mistake. Fortunately, Windows Vista allows you to restore a missing Recycle Bin icon with just a few clicks.

Instructions

1. Right-click in a blank area on your Windows Vista desktop.

2. Select "Personalize."

3. Click the "Change desktop icons" item found at the top-left corner of the Personalization menu.

4. Check the box labeled "Recycle Bin."

5. Click "Apply" to restore the icon to your desktop.

6. Click "OK" to close the Desktop Icon Settings menu.

7. Click the red "X" in the top-right corner of the Personalization menu to close it and return to the desktop.

References

• How-To Geek: Restore Missing Desktop Icons in Windows 7 or Vista
• Tech Republic: How to Recover the Recycle Bin if You Delete It From the Windows Vista Desktop