Windows XP: What is the Recycle Bin?

Lesson 19: What is the Recycle Bin?

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The Recycle Bin, the desktop icon that resembles a wastebasket, is where you put a file or folder if you want to delete it.

Open the Recycle Bin anytime and see what’s inside by double-clicking the Recycle Bin icon located on the desktop or using Windows Explorer.

Inside, you’ll see a list of deleted items.

Recycle Bin
To move an item to the Recycle Bin from the Desktop, Windows Explorer, or My Computer:
  • Click and drag the file or folder to the Recycle Bin.

OR

  1. Right-click the file or folder you want to delete.
  2. When the pop-up menu appears, choose Delete.
  3. A dialog box appears asking, Are sure you want to send the file or folder to the Recycle Bin?
  4. Click Yes.

OR

To move an item to the Recycle Bin from Windows Explorer or My Computer:
  1. Click the file or folder you want to delete.
  2. The file or folder darkens.
  3. Choose Delete this file (or Delete this folder) from the File and Folder Tasks list.

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