A basket in Windows is not a trash can, but a lifebuoy

Accidental deletion of the file is often a mistake of the computer user. Click "delete" instead of "copy", swipe your mouse, click on a nearby object, or delete an entire folder, which, in addition to the old files will be and the needed - it's that simple. It is much more difficult to recover lost information. However, even inexperienced users know that the shopping cart in Windows is the easiest way to recover lost digital data by negligence. What is this useful tool?

Where files are deleted

When data is written to a hard disk, flash drive or other medium, they occupy the space assigned to them by the computer and do not disappear until other information is written over them. After deleting the file, we do not destroy it. Simply the place that it occupies, the computer now considers free and can use to record other data.

Thus, deleted files can sometimes be recovered. But even recently, a deleted file after recovery may be damaged - if it is partially overwritten or can not be restored if its location is completely occupied by new data. Therefore, accidental deletion of information is a big problem for both ordinary users and administrators of computer systems of organizations.

The basket comes to the rescue

Developers at Microsoft found a rather elegant solution to this problem: instead of deleting, move the files to a special folder called Recycle bin (in the Russian translation - the basket). In Windows, it's just a hidden folder, located at the root of each disk.

To restore deleted documents to the Recycle Bin, we do not even need to search for the appropriate folder - instead, it is better to use the tool of the same name on the desktop. Clicking on the label with the garbage bin, we get access to the deleted files from all disks at once. In the Explorer window that opens, you can sort the files by the deletion date or by the source folder, destroy them, but the main thing is to restore them. Recovery is performed in the folder from which the data was deleted.

Recycle bin and free disk space

The fact that the command "delete" files only move to the trash is good only as long as there is free space on the hard drive. But when the space becomes insufficient, the time of final data deletion comes.

To avoid too fast filling of the hard disk, the user can set the maximum size that the basket will occupy. In Windows, this default value is 5-10 percent of the size of each partition. When the basket is full, the files that were placed in it before the others will be permanently deleted from it.

To free up space on your hard disk, you can manually delete unnecessary files from the Recycle Bin. You can also clear the entire basket using the context menu that appears on the desktop when you right-click on its shortcut. But removing without looking at all files, there is a risk to lose the necessary data, and in fact the basket in Windows is what should prevent it.

Final deletion of files bypassing the shopping cart

If you have very little disk space or you are very confident in yourself, you can completely turn off the trash. To do this, through the context menu of the icon on the desktop go to its properties, specify the section for which we want to permanently delete the files, and then select the item "Delete files immediately after removal without putting them in the Trash." The consequences of such a step can be extremely sad, so we strongly warn you against it. Moreover, there is a way to destroy individual files so that the basket is not used. You can delete them by pressing Shift + Delete.

In addition, it should be remembered that the basket is not created and the files are always deleted irrevocably from removable media, in particular, flash drives. In addition, files that are larger than the maximum size reserved for the Recycle Bin in this section are permanently deleted.

Trash in Windows 7: Fine-Tuning Secrets

Most of the settings for the Recycle Bin can be accessed using the shortcut menu on the desktop icon.

So, we select the "Properties" item in the menu, a dialog box opens, which lists all the sections available in the system. For each of them you can choose the maximum size of deleted files that will be stored in the trash, or completely refuse to use it.

If you uncheck the box "Request confirmation for deletion," the usual warning "Do you really want to delete the file?" Ceases to appear. When you click the "Delete" button or the "Delete" key, the files will be immediately placed in the trash or permanently deleted, if the latter is disabled. This setting is effective for all partitions.

How to hide and how to restore the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop

Some users want the desktop to have no shortcuts at all. In Windows 7, remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop is not difficult. Just click on the table with the right mouse button, select the item "Personalization" in the appeared list, and then "Change desktop icons". Here it is enough to remove the checkmarks next to those items whose labels you do not want to see. In addition, you can change the icon by selecting one of the standard or your own.

Note that removing the icon does not affect the functioning of the basket itself. The files you delete will still be saved in it. Access to remote files can be obtained by going to the desktop through Explorer.

If you deleted the icon in the manner described above, you know how to restore the Windows 7 recycle bin - just re-install the previously unchecked check box. Worse if the disappearance of the label is associated with the actions of the virus or reckless editing of the registry. Then the described method can and does not help.

Experienced users with administrative rights can be recommended to use the Registry Editor or the Group Policy Editor. For those who do not have administrative privileges or are afraid of further damage to the system, it is recommended to perform system restoration: the action is safe and usually very effective.