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How do I get Windows 7 to NOT use the recycling Bin on a removable drive? I've already told Windows to not use the function on that drive but Windows still creates the "Recycling Bin" folder. It stays empty, but I don't want it there at ALL. Simply hiding it won't do. I'm using that removable drive in my car stereo and that "recycled" folder locks up the machine.

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2 Answers

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Recycle Bin is a system directory and gets created anyway. There may be a registry hack, but restoring the OS, or installing a hotfix may reset it - so don't bother.

To avoid seeing the Recycle Bin, do the following:

  1. Hide operating system files in "Folder and search options":

    enter image description here

  2. Make sure deleted files do not get copied to the Recycle Bin (by right-clicking it):

    enter image description here

  3. Hide the Recycle Bin by personalizing the desktop:

    enter image description here

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That's good info but the reason I'm looking for it to NOT be there at all is because when I plug that removable drive into my car stereo, that folder crashes it. I know it sounds funny to say your car stereo crashes, but it doesn't know how to deal with that folder. Your steps above only "hide" that folder. I need for it to not exist at all. But thanks. – JimDel Nov 30 '09 at 0:34
Ok - I assume your device gets shot by the $ in front of the directory name. Try this: before unplugging the removable drive, open a command prompt by right clicking it and selecting run as administrator, then type the following rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin (or whatever the drive you want) and disconnect. If this works, you can roll this into a batch script and add a task that will run upon device disconnect. – Traveling Tech Guy Nov 30 '09 at 1:22
Another thing which may work for you is renaming the recycle bin's folder name to a normal string (no $ or .) - try this tip: computerfreetips.com/window_xp/c_bin_xp.html – Traveling Tech Guy Nov 30 '09 at 1:25
If you follow step 2, then forcibly remove the directory, does it get recreated the next time you insert the disk? – Jason R. Coombs Nov 30 '09 at 4:01
Yes (too short padding to get to 15 chars :)) – Traveling Tech Guy Nov 30 '09 at 7:09
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up vote 3 down vote

but Windows still creates the "Recycling Bin" folder

That is pretty easy to be avoided:

Delete the folder, open Notepad and save the blank file as $Recycle.Bin in the root directory of the drive in question, now Windows cannot create the folder.

enter image description here

If you want to use the Recycle Bin again on this drive, just delete the file.

enter image description here

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