"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Windows Vista - Recycle Bin

Delete Files Immediately - Do Not Move Them to the Recycle Bin

SUMMARY: Prevent Windows Vista from moving files to the Recycle Bin instead of deleting them from your system.

By default, when you delete files via Explorer or most applications on your Windows Vista system, files are not immediately deleted but moved to the Recycle Bin. This way you can recover files later if accidentally removed.

To store deleted files, the Recycle Bin takes up space on your hard drives. If you would like to reclaim this space, albeit removing this deletion safeguard, do the following:

1. Right-click the "Recycle Bin" icon on the Desktop and choose "Properties".

2. The "Recycle Bin Properties" dialog box appears. Select a drive.

3. Click the following radio button:

"Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted."

Disabling the Recycle Bin for a particular drive.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 for each drive.

5. Click "OK" to save your settings.

Note that any files still in the Recycle Bin should remain - you will have to delete these files manually when needed.