How do I make the Recycle Bin appear on my desktop in Windows Vista or in Windows XP?

1. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab, and then click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.
3. Click Yes when you receive the warning message, and then click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box.
4. Click Folders on the toolbar.
   
   Note If Folders is not visible on the toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Standard Buttons.
5. In the left navigation pane, under Folders, locate the Recycle Bin folder, and then drag the Recycle Bin folder to the desktop.
6. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
7. Click the View tab, and then click to select the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box. ClickOK.

Note This procedure does not re-create the original icon. However, this procedure restores most of the features of the Recycle Bin. This includes the following:

• Delete a file by dragging it to the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop.
• Retrieve a file that you deleted by double-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop, right-clicking the file that you want to retrieve, and then clicking Restore.
• Empty the Recycle Bin by right-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop, and then clicking Empty Recycle Bin.

Note When you use these step to work around this problem, you cannot right-click the Recycle Bin shortcut to access the Recycle Bin Properties. To set properties for the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

1. Double-click the Recycle Bin shortcut on the Desktop. The Recycle Bin folder opens.
2. In the upper-left corner of the Recycle Bin folder, right-click the Recycle Bin icon, and then click Properties.

Posted in: Windows