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Easy way to empty Recycle Bin

Posted July 2003 by Steve Sinchak

NOTE: This option might work on all versions of XP. You will have to try on your version if it is different than XP Pro. There is a similar tweak as this for Windows 98 and possibly ME. DO NOT USE THE TWEAK FOR WINDOWS 98!! It will screw up the Open With option when right-clicking files.

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How would you like the option to be able to empty the Recycle Bin with just a right-click on a drive or folder in My Computer(Windows Explorer)? Here's how.

Copy this info into Notepad and save as a .reg file

For the option to appear when right-clicking a drive

;-----------------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]

;--------------------------------------------------------

For the option to appear when right-clicking a folder

;--------------------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]

;--------------------------------------------------------

For the option to appear for a drive and a folder

;--------------------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]

;--------------------------------------------------------

Right-click the .reg file and select merge.

Note: The option will only be highlighted if there are files in the Recycle Bin. This can also be used as a quick check whether you have files in your Recycle Bin.

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