Deleted files don't show up in Recycle Bin

[ms]

I have found the Recycle Bin in W98SE and ME is very easily corrupted, so what
caused the change in behavior this time, I don't recall.

When I delete files, at shutdown each day, my cleaner utility shows the combined
size of the files it cleans out of the Recycle bin, so I know the files are really
there.

But nothing shows.


Past advice in W98 ng gave this advice to solve the problem:
quote:
-----
Here is how to Deltree the Recycle Bin.
1. Use ME boot disk, start in A prompt
2. Enter "deltree C:\recycled"
3. Repeat for each partition you may have with a Bin,
for instance "Deltree D:\Recycled".
4. Shutoff, or EXIT to get back to Windows.
5. Create garbage.txt empty file.
6. Delete the file to recreate the Recycle Bin.
------
end quote

It does not work in ME, it works fine in W98SE.

Yes, I have checked "show all hidden files", etc. I have 75% free space on the
hard drive. Check shows no virus or spyware.

Advice?

TIA

MS

[Shane]

For a start I've never understood the need to boot to DOS to do this, as
I've always been able to do it from within Windows. In fact I wrote a batch
long ago that I use in both 98SE and ME (and to take into account a varying
no. of drives).

btw if you try this, the end is for working both with and without ANSI.COM.

<snip>

@echo off
cls
if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop
set bin_var=1
set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin
call delbin %bin_drv%
goto end

:loop
set bin_drv=%1
if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end
%comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
if errorlevel==1 goto end

attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled
deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled
shift
goto loop

:end
set bin_drv=
set bin_var=
cls
exit
cls

<snip>

Shane

"ms" > wrote in message
...
>I have found the Recycle Bin in W98SE and ME is very easily corrupted, so
>what caused the change in behavior this time, I don't recall.
>
> When I delete files, at shutdown each day, my cleaner utility shows the
> combined size of the files it cleans out of the Recycle bin, so I know the
> files are really there.
>
> But nothing shows.
>
>
> Past advice in W98 ng gave this advice to solve the problem:
> quote:
> -----
> Here is how to Deltree the Recycle Bin.
> 1. Use ME boot disk, start in A prompt
> 2. Enter "deltree C:\recycled"
> 3. Repeat for each partition you may have with a Bin,
> for instance "Deltree D:\Recycled".
> 4. Shutoff, or EXIT to get back to Windows.
> 5. Create garbage.txt empty file.
> 6. Delete the file to recreate the Recycle Bin.
> ------
> end quote
>
> It does not work in ME, it works fine in W98SE.
>
> Yes, I have checked "show all hidden files", etc. I have 75% free space
> on the hard drive. Check shows no virus or spyware.
>
> Advice?
>
> TIA
>
> MS

[Shane]

Oh yeah, it needs to be named DELBIN.BAT or it won't call itself!

Shane


"Shane" > wrote in message
...
> For a start I've never understood the need to boot to DOS to do this, as
> I've always been able to do it from within Windows. In fact I wrote a
> batch long ago that I use in both 98SE and ME (and to take into account a
> varying no. of drives).
>
> btw if you try this, the end is for working both with and without
> ANSI.COM.
>
> <snip>
>
> @echo off
> cls
> if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop
> set bin_var=1
> set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin
> call delbin %bin_drv%
> goto end
>
> :loop
> set bin_drv=%1
> if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end
> %comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
> if errorlevel==1 goto end
>
> attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled
> deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled
> shift
> goto loop
>
> :end
> set bin_drv=
> set bin_var=
> cls
> exit
> cls
>
> <snip>
>
> Shane
>
> "ms" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have found the Recycle Bin in W98SE and ME is very easily corrupted, so
>>what caused the change in behavior this time, I don't recall.
>>
>> When I delete files, at shutdown each day, my cleaner utility shows the
>> combined size of the files it cleans out of the Recycle bin, so I know
>> the files are really there.
>>
>> But nothing shows.
>>
>>
>> Past advice in W98 ng gave this advice to solve the problem:
>> quote:
>> -----
>> Here is how to Deltree the Recycle Bin.
>> 1. Use ME boot disk, start in A prompt
>> 2. Enter "deltree C:\recycled"
>> 3. Repeat for each partition you may have with a Bin,
>> for instance "Deltree D:\Recycled".
>> 4. Shutoff, or EXIT to get back to Windows.
>> 5. Create garbage.txt empty file.
>> 6. Delete the file to recreate the Recycle Bin.
>> ------
>> end quote
>>
>> It does not work in ME, it works fine in W98SE.
>>
>> Yes, I have checked "show all hidden files", etc. I have 75% free space
>> on the hard drive. Check shows no virus or spyware.
>>
>> Advice?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> MS
>
>

[ms]

Shane wrote:
> For a start I've never understood the need to boot to DOS to do this, as
> I've always been able to do it from within Windows. In fact I wrote a batch
> long ago that I use in both 98SE and ME (and to take into account a varying
> no. of drives).
>
> btw if you try this, the end is for working both with and without ANSI.COM.
>
> <snip>
>
> @echo off
> cls
> if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop
> set bin_var=1
> set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin
> call delbin %bin_drv%
> goto end
>
> :loop
> set bin_drv=%1
> if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end
> %comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
> if errorlevel==1 goto end
>
> attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled
> deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled
> shift
> goto loop
>
> :end
> set bin_drv=
> set bin_var=
> cls
> exit
> cls
>
> <snip>
>
> Shane
>
> "ms" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I have found the Recycle Bin in W98SE and ME is very easily corrupted, so
>>what caused the change in behavior this time, I don't recall.
>>
>>When I delete files, at shutdown each day, my cleaner utility shows the
>>combined size of the files it cleans out of the Recycle bin, so I know the
>>files are really there.
>>
>>But nothing shows.
>>
>>
>>Past advice in W98 ng gave this advice to solve the problem:
>>quote:
>>-----
>>Here is how to Deltree the Recycle Bin.
>>1. Use ME boot disk, start in A prompt
>>2. Enter "deltree C:\recycled"
>>3. Repeat for each partition you may have with a Bin,
>> for instance "Deltree D:\Recycled".
>>4. Shutoff, or EXIT to get back to Windows.
>>5. Create garbage.txt empty file.
>>6. Delete the file to recreate the Recycle Bin.
>>------
>>end quote
>>
>>It does not work in ME, it works fine in W98SE.
>>
>>Yes, I have checked "show all hidden files", etc. I have 75% free space
>>on the hard drive. Check shows no virus or spyware.
>>
>>Advice?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>MS
>

Thanks.

That goes in autoexec.bat ?

The contents of that batch file looks, ...... complex, if not scary.

Nothing simpler?

MS

[Shane]

> That goes in autoexec.bat ?

No, copy/paste it into Notepad and save it as "DELBIN.BAT" (including
quotemarks). Put it in C:\Windows\Command. Then, to run it, all you do is
type DELBIN in Start/Run and hit Enter. But (see below) I'm attaching a .txt
version.

>
> The contents of that batch file looks, ...... complex, if not scary.

Looks can be deceiving! It is a very simple batch - however, it is for
running regardless of how many partitions a user has and most of it is
concerned with achieving that. It tests each drive in turn for the existence
of a folder called RECYCLED and if it finds one, deletes it. If you have
more than one drive you may have still more (or fewer) in future. This batch
would still work.

>
> Nothing simpler?

The alternative to a batch file is manually typing in the commands which
isn't really simpler - especially if this is a regular requirement.

I'm attaching this batch as a text file, with inline explanation. Save
Delbin.txt and rename it to Delbin.bat. Place it in C:\Windows\Command, in
Start/Run type "DELBIN" without the quotes and it'll run.

Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>That goes in autoexec.bat ?
>
>
> No, copy/paste it into Notepad and save it as "DELBIN.BAT" (including
> quotemarks). Put it in C:\Windows\Command. Then, to run it, all you do is
> type DELBIN in Start/Run and hit Enter. But (see below) I'm attaching a .txt
> version.
>
>
>>The contents of that batch file looks, ...... complex, if not scary.
>
>
> Looks can be deceiving! It is a very simple batch - however, it is for
> running regardless of how many partitions a user has and most of it is
> concerned with achieving that. It tests each drive in turn for the existence
> of a folder called RECYCLED and if it finds one, deletes it. If you have
> more than one drive you may have still more (or fewer) in future. This batch
> would still work.
>
>
>>Nothing simpler?
>
>
> The alternative to a batch file is manually typing in the commands which
> isn't really simpler - especially if this is a regular requirement.
>
> I'm attaching this batch as a text file, with inline explanation. Save
> Delbin.txt and rename it to Delbin.bat. Place it in C:\Windows\Command, in
> Start/Run type "DELBIN" without the quotes and it'll run.
>
> Shane
>
>
>
Thanks, Shane. My server does not see attachments, so I don't see anything but
your message..

Please post the text of what you did, that will help.

TIA

MS

[Shane]

> Thanks, Shane. My server does not see attachments, so I don't see anything
> but your message..

I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net so
anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos - and, come to
think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).

>
> Please post the text of what you did, that will help.
>

Yeah, OK. This is the same batch but with comments interspersed - which I
should have done originally anyway. So, again, copy the text and save it as
delbin.bat.

Incidentally, I got a Recycle Bin error yesterday booting Win 98SE (poss. as
a result of fiddling with this file for Win XP and it did something to a
shared drive's Recycle Bin?). Although I ran delbin.bat to fix it, I had to
restart in DOS and run from there for it to succeed. In Windows it ran but
did not correct the error. It has always worked from Windows, in Win ME,
though.

The error was - showing the bin as full, but empty when opened and, though
the selection to Empty Recycle Bin was available,*not* greyed out, it did
nothing. Creating in order to delete a test file and then selecting Empty
Recycle Bin produced an access denied error. As I say, restarting in MS-DOS
mode, then running delbin.bat, fixed it.

Anyway, here are the contents of the delbin.txt attachment:

<snip>

@echo off
cls

if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop

:: The first pass is required to create variables and set their values.
:: %bin_var%
:: stands for Recycle Bin Variable, %bin_drv% for Recycle Bin Drive.

set bin_var=1
set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin

:: On the first pass %bin_var% does not equal 1, so instead of going to
:: "loop",
:: the command processor continues, creates and does set %bin_var% equal to
:: "1",
:: and creates and sets %bin_drv% as equal to a range of all possible fixed
:: drives.

call delbin %bin_drv%

:: Now Delbin.bat calls itself (so that the batch is briefly being processed
:: twice
:: simultaneously). On being 'called', the batch starts from the beginning
:: again,
:: only this time the variables exist and because %bin_var% is equal to "1"
:: the
:: processor jumps to the "loop" section. The calling is done such that the
:: command
:: processor has been instructed to begin processing the drive list.

goto end

:: The original run through the batch ends, leaving just the latter
:: instance,
:: which now has set variables. The first ran to initiate the routine and
:: set
:: the variables. The second uses the variables to complete the routine.

:loop
set bin_drv=%1

:: Setting the variable %bin_drv% as equal to %1 sets the value to the first
:: in the list, ie "c". %bin_drv%:\ is thus equivalent to c:\.

if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end

:: If every drive letter has an associated RECYCLED folder, %bin_drv% will
:: eventually
:: reach "z", and finally "no_bin", at which point the batch will exit.

%comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
if errorlevel==1 goto end

:: The command processor is now instructed to seek a folder called
:: "Recycled"
:: on the theoretical drive currently designated as %bin_drv%, using the DIR
:: command,
:: and then to search the result - using the FIND command - for the string
:: "Directory of ". If %bin_drv% does not represent a fixed drive, there
:: will not be
:: a folder "Recycled" on it and the Find result will not include the string
:: "Directory of ". An errorlevel of "1" will be returned and the batch will
:: exit.
:: Now all eventualities are taken into account from the drive being
:: unpartitioned, to
:: the drive having all available drive letters in use and a Recycle Bin on
:: every one!

attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled

:: This removes the attributes from the Recycle Bin folder that would
:: otherwise
:: interfere with the ability to delete it.

deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled

:: Deletes it (without user interaction).

shift

:: Shifting changes the value of the movable variable to the next in the
:: list,
:: thus %bin_drv% is now equal to "d".

goto loop

:: The command processor is then instructed to return to the label "loop", a
:: self-explanatory label, as it causes the batch to do just that. Next it
:: will
:: search for a folder called D:\Recycled. If a D:\Recycled exists then
:: %bin_drv%
:: will then equal "e" and DIR and FIND will test for E:\Recycled, and so
:: on,
:: looping through the list.

:end

:: By now all drive-letter/Recycle Bin combinations have been processed and
:: the
:: batch is about to exit.

set bin_drv=
set bin_var=

:: The two variables are reset to nul, whereby they cease to exist and the
:: small
:: amount of memory they used is released.

cls
exit
cls

:: A peculiarity of the popular ansi driver PCMag's ANSI.COM is that without
:: preceeding the 'exit' command with 'cls' (clear screen) rather than vise
:: versa,
:: the command processor will not exit. This way will work whether or not
:: ANSI.COM
:: is in use.

<snip>

If any of the comments seem a little basic, bear in mind I'm trying to make
it intelligible to any who read it. Though in that I expect to fail <vbg> It
isn't helped by the way OE apparently wraps nonsensically. You may or may
not know that :: is the equivalent to rem and that lines in a batch
beginning with either rem or :: are not processed, so commands can be
temporarily disabled or lines added to be read as comments. I have just gone
through the text to insert further double semi-colons because OE screwed up
the formatting! If it's going to do that, I'm going to stop using it!

If the OE formatting pushes the comments beyond readability - or
usability! - e-mail me and I'll send the attachment to you.

I had begun answering your other question, as to why I prefer ME to 98SE,
but I've run out of time for now.


Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>Thanks, Shane. My server does not see attachments, so I don't see anything
>>but your message..
>
>
> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net so
> anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos - and, come to
> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).
>
>
>>Please post the text of what you did, that will help.
>>
>
>
> Yeah, OK. This is the same batch but with comments interspersed - which I
> should have done originally anyway. So, again, copy the text and save it as
> delbin.bat.
>
> Incidentally, I got a Recycle Bin error yesterday booting Win 98SE (poss. as
> a result of fiddling with this file for Win XP and it did something to a
> shared drive's Recycle Bin?). Although I ran delbin.bat to fix it, I had to
> restart in DOS and run from there for it to succeed. In Windows it ran but
> did not correct the error. It has always worked from Windows, in Win ME,
> though.
>
> The error was - showing the bin as full, but empty when opened and, though
> the selection to Empty Recycle Bin was available,*not* greyed out, it did
> nothing. Creating in order to delete a test file and then selecting Empty
> Recycle Bin produced an access denied error. As I say, restarting in MS-DOS
> mode, then running delbin.bat, fixed it.
>
> Anyway, here are the contents of the delbin.txt attachment:
>
> <snip>
>
> @echo off
> cls
>
> if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop
>
> :: The first pass is required to create variables and set their values.
> :: %bin_var%
> :: stands for Recycle Bin Variable, %bin_drv% for Recycle Bin Drive.
>
> set bin_var=1
> set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin
>
> :: On the first pass %bin_var% does not equal 1, so instead of going to
> :: "loop",
> :: the command processor continues, creates and does set %bin_var% equal to
> :: "1",
> :: and creates and sets %bin_drv% as equal to a range of all possible fixed
> :: drives.
>
> call delbin %bin_drv%
>
> :: Now Delbin.bat calls itself (so that the batch is briefly being processed
> :: twice
> :: simultaneously). On being 'called', the batch starts from the beginning
> :: again,
> :: only this time the variables exist and because %bin_var% is equal to "1"
> :: the
> :: processor jumps to the "loop" section. The calling is done such that the
> :: command
> :: processor has been instructed to begin processing the drive list.
>
> goto end
>
> :: The original run through the batch ends, leaving just the latter
> :: instance,
> :: which now has set variables. The first ran to initiate the routine and
> :: set
> :: the variables. The second uses the variables to complete the routine.
>
> :loop
> set bin_drv=%1
>
> :: Setting the variable %bin_drv% as equal to %1 sets the value to the first
> :: in the list, ie "c". %bin_drv%:\ is thus equivalent to c:\.
>
> if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end
>
> :: If every drive letter has an associated RECYCLED folder, %bin_drv% will
> :: eventually
> :: reach "z", and finally "no_bin", at which point the batch will exit.
>
> %comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
> if errorlevel==1 goto end
>
> :: The command processor is now instructed to seek a folder called
> :: "Recycled"
> :: on the theoretical drive currently designated as %bin_drv%, using the DIR
> :: command,
> :: and then to search the result - using the FIND command - for the string
> :: "Directory of ". If %bin_drv% does not represent a fixed drive, there
> :: will not be
> :: a folder "Recycled" on it and the Find result will not include the string
> :: "Directory of ". An errorlevel of "1" will be returned and the batch will
> :: exit.
> :: Now all eventualities are taken into account from the drive being
> :: unpartitioned, to
> :: the drive having all available drive letters in use and a Recycle Bin on
> :: every one!
>
> attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled
>
> :: This removes the attributes from the Recycle Bin folder that would
> :: otherwise
> :: interfere with the ability to delete it.
>
> deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled
>
> :: Deletes it (without user interaction).
>
> shift
>
> :: Shifting changes the value of the movable variable to the next in the
> :: list,
> :: thus %bin_drv% is now equal to "d".
>
> goto loop
>
> :: The command processor is then instructed to return to the label "loop", a
> :: self-explanatory label, as it causes the batch to do just that. Next it
> :: will
> :: search for a folder called D:\Recycled. If a D:\Recycled exists then
> :: %bin_drv%
> :: will then equal "e" and DIR and FIND will test for E:\Recycled, and so
> :: on,
> :: looping through the list.
>
> :end
>
> :: By now all drive-letter/Recycle Bin combinations have been processed and
> :: the
> :: batch is about to exit.
>
> set bin_drv=
> set bin_var=
>
> :: The two variables are reset to nul, whereby they cease to exist and the
> :: small
> :: amount of memory they used is released.
>
> cls
> exit
> cls
>
> :: A peculiarity of the popular ansi driver PCMag's ANSI.COM is that without
> :: preceeding the 'exit' command with 'cls' (clear screen) rather than vise
> :: versa,
> :: the command processor will not exit. This way will work whether or not
> :: ANSI.COM
> :: is in use.
>
> <snip>
>
> If any of the comments seem a little basic, bear in mind I'm trying to make
> it intelligible to any who read it. Though in that I expect to fail <vbg> It
> isn't helped by the way OE apparently wraps nonsensically. You may or may
> not know that :: is the equivalent to rem and that lines in a batch
> beginning with either rem or :: are not processed, so commands can be
> temporarily disabled or lines added to be read as comments. I have just gone
> through the text to insert further double semi-colons because OE screwed up
> the formatting! If it's going to do that, I'm going to stop using it!
>
> If the OE formatting pushes the comments beyond readability - or
> usability! - e-mail me and I'll send the attachment to you.
>
> I had begun answering your other question, as to why I prefer ME to 98SE,
> but I've run out of time for now.
>
>
> Shane
>
Thanks, Shane. I'll give it a try. Basic details are fine with me, age and bad
sleep cause that.

MS

[Noel Paton]

Shane - if you want, I'll put it up

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Shane" > wrote in message
...
> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net so
> anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos - and, come
> to
> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).

[Shane]

> Thanks, Shane. I'll give it a try. Basic details are fine with me,
> age and bad sleep cause that.
>

No prob. btw I just tested in 98SE again and got the same error (a File
System Error). Running delbin from 'Restart in MS-DOS Mode', only appears to
half-work, in that when Windows restarts (which the Exit command automates)
the bin still requires emptying but now it can be, without the
aforementioned error. Curious.

I've had errors before, emptying Recycle Bin in 98SE - particularly via a
Startup batch or EmptyTempFolders run at Startup, though neither seem like
they would. I'm beginning to suspect that I haven't actually run delbin.bat
in 98SE before - because I've never had the need (but I thought I had run it
before for testing - now I suspect not).

Delbin.bat seems to work perfectly in 98SE from a DOS boot - as opposed to
'Restart in MS-DOS Mode', the implication that the error occurs if Windows
(the registry, I imagine) is loaded in memory. Perhaps, then, that explains
why users have unnecessarily stipulated that one should boot from the
Startup Disk to delete the Recycle Bin in Win ME - they're familiar with the
need to do so in earlier versions.

Since the point of all this was to del the bin in ME, I guess it doesn't
really matter that it won't work in Windows in 98SE - but I think I'd better
amend instructions in future to specify running from a pure DOS boot in 98
versions.

Shane

[Shane]

Thanks for the offer, Noel. If you have a space that it could unobtrusively
fit! I'd have to specify - as I'm discovering - that in 98SE it *does* have
to be run from a DOS boot (as opposed to Restart in MS-DOS Mode).
Apparently.

Of course, the real point of it is to run from Windows - in Win ME - by
typing DELBIN in the Run box, and afaics it does that perfectly, so offered
as a file exclusively for Win ME - unless you have any suggestions for
commentary edits - the file is ready as-is.

I'd also have to try to remember who influenced it - probably Prof. Timo
Salmi. I can't even remember why I originally wanted the bit that I suspect
I largely borrowed from him, but I think I should add my traditional
acknowledgment to the fellow. He's influenced nearly every batch I've ever
written!

So, do you have a format in mind? Shame most of my batches are for use with
this DOS hack I use!

Shane



Noel Paton wrote:
> Shane - if you want, I'll put it up
>
>
> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
> NG's "Shane" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net
>> so anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos -
>> and, come to
>> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).

[Noel Paton]

my MSN IM addy is noeldp AT btopenworld.com - we can work it out!


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Shane" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the offer, Noel. If you have a space that it could
> unobtrusively
> fit! I'd have to specify - as I'm discovering - that in 98SE it *does*
> have
> to be run from a DOS boot (as opposed to Restart in MS-DOS Mode).
> Apparently.
>
> Of course, the real point of it is to run from Windows - in Win ME - by
> typing DELBIN in the Run box, and afaics it does that perfectly, so
> offered
> as a file exclusively for Win ME - unless you have any suggestions for
> commentary edits - the file is ready as-is.
>
> I'd also have to try to remember who influenced it - probably Prof. Timo
> Salmi. I can't even remember why I originally wanted the bit that I
> suspect
> I largely borrowed from him, but I think I should add my traditional
> acknowledgment to the fellow. He's influenced nearly every batch I've ever
> written!
>
> So, do you have a format in mind? Shame most of my batches are for use
> with
> this DOS hack I use!
>
> Shane
>
>
>
> Noel Paton wrote:
>> Shane - if you want, I'll put it up
>>
>>
>> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
>> NG's "Shane" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net
>>> so anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos -
>>> and, come to
>>> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).
>
>

[Shane]

Well, I'll certainly e-mail you, Noel - though I'm off to bed any moment
(probably *after* I've checked my messages!). But IM - there's something
I've never done so am a little vague as to what it involves! What is the
advantage anyway? Does that mean you're using Messenger? Every time I read
it I think 'In my' and wonder where the 'O' is!

God, I'm yawning so much here I feel I could give birth with my mouth! So,
until tomorrow...

Shane


"Noel Paton" > wrote in message
...
> my MSN IM addy is noeldp AT btopenworld.com - we can work it out!
>
>
> --
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)
>
> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
> http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>
> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
> "Shane" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Thanks for the offer, Noel. If you have a space that it could
>> unobtrusively
>> fit! I'd have to specify - as I'm discovering - that in 98SE it *does*
>> have
>> to be run from a DOS boot (as opposed to Restart in MS-DOS Mode).
>> Apparently.
>>
>> Of course, the real point of it is to run from Windows - in Win ME - by
>> typing DELBIN in the Run box, and afaics it does that perfectly, so
>> offered
>> as a file exclusively for Win ME - unless you have any suggestions for
>> commentary edits - the file is ready as-is.
>>
>> I'd also have to try to remember who influenced it - probably Prof. Timo
>> Salmi. I can't even remember why I originally wanted the bit that I
>> suspect
>> I largely borrowed from him, but I think I should add my traditional
>> acknowledgment to the fellow. He's influenced nearly every batch I've
>> ever
>> written!
>>
>> So, do you have a format in mind? Shame most of my batches are for use
>> with
>> this DOS hack I use!
>>
>> Shane
>>
>>
>>
>> Noel Paton wrote:
>>> Shane - if you want, I'll put it up
>>>
>>>
>>> Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
>>> NG's "Shane" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net
>>>> so anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos -
>>>> and, come to
>>>> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).
>>
>>
>
>

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>Thanks, Shane. My server does not see attachments, so I don't see anything
>>but your message..
>
>
> I must sort out webspace here and just post these things on the net so
> anyone can take a look (which I've previously done for photos - and, come to
> think of it, edited .infs for the Windows Security Update cd).
>
>
>>Please post the text of what you did, that will help.
>>
>
>
> Yeah, OK. This is the same batch but with comments interspersed - which I
> should have done originally anyway. So, again, copy the text and save it as
> delbin.bat.
>
> Incidentally, I got a Recycle Bin error yesterday booting Win 98SE (poss. as
> a result of fiddling with this file for Win XP and it did something to a
> shared drive's Recycle Bin?). Although I ran delbin.bat to fix it, I had to
> restart in DOS and run from there for it to succeed. In Windows it ran but
> did not correct the error. It has always worked from Windows, in Win ME,
> though.
>
> The error was - showing the bin as full, but empty when opened and, though
> the selection to Empty Recycle Bin was available,*not* greyed out, it did
> nothing. Creating in order to delete a test file and then selecting Empty
> Recycle Bin produced an access denied error. As I say, restarting in MS-DOS
> mode, then running delbin.bat, fixed it.
>
> Anyway, here are the contents of the delbin.txt attachment:
>
> <snip>
>
> @echo off
> cls
>
> if "%bin_var%"=="1" goto loop
>
> :: The first pass is required to create variables and set their values.
> :: %bin_var%
> :: stands for Recycle Bin Variable, %bin_drv% for Recycle Bin Drive.
>
> set bin_var=1
> set bin_drv=c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z no_bin
>
> :: On the first pass %bin_var% does not equal 1, so instead of going to
> :: "loop",
> :: the command processor continues, creates and does set %bin_var% equal to
> :: "1",
> :: and creates and sets %bin_drv% as equal to a range of all possible fixed
> :: drives.
>
> call delbin %bin_drv%
>
> :: Now Delbin.bat calls itself (so that the batch is briefly being processed
> :: twice
> :: simultaneously). On being 'called', the batch starts from the beginning
> :: again,
> :: only this time the variables exist and because %bin_var% is equal to "1"
> :: the
> :: processor jumps to the "loop" section. The calling is done such that the
> :: command
> :: processor has been instructed to begin processing the drive list.
>
> goto end
>
> :: The original run through the batch ends, leaving just the latter
> :: instance,
> :: which now has set variables. The first ran to initiate the routine and
> :: set
> :: the variables. The second uses the variables to complete the routine.
>
> :loop
> set bin_drv=%1
>
> :: Setting the variable %bin_drv% as equal to %1 sets the value to the first
> :: in the list, ie "c". %bin_drv%:\ is thus equivalent to c:\.
>
> if "%bin_drv%"=="no_bin" goto end
>
> :: If every drive letter has an associated RECYCLED folder, %bin_drv% will
> :: eventually
> :: reach "z", and finally "no_bin", at which point the batch will exit.
>
> %comspec% /f /c dir /-p %bin_drv%:\recycled | find /i "Directory of "
> if errorlevel==1 goto end
>
> :: The command processor is now instructed to seek a folder called
> :: "Recycled"
> :: on the theoretical drive currently designated as %bin_drv%, using the DIR
> :: command,
> :: and then to search the result - using the FIND command - for the string
> :: "Directory of ". If %bin_drv% does not represent a fixed drive, there
> :: will not be
> :: a folder "Recycled" on it and the Find result will not include the string
> :: "Directory of ". An errorlevel of "1" will be returned and the batch will
> :: exit.
> :: Now all eventualities are taken into account from the drive being
> :: unpartitioned, to
> :: the drive having all available drive letters in use and a Recycle Bin on
> :: every one!
>
> attrib -r -h -s %bin_drv%:\recycled
>
> :: This removes the attributes from the Recycle Bin folder that would
> :: otherwise
> :: interfere with the ability to delete it.
>
> deltree /y %bin_drv%:\recycled
>
> :: Deletes it (without user interaction).
>
> shift
>
> :: Shifting changes the value of the movable variable to the next in the
> :: list,
> :: thus %bin_drv% is now equal to "d".
>
> goto loop
>
> :: The command processor is then instructed to return to the label "loop", a
> :: self-explanatory label, as it causes the batch to do just that. Next it
> :: will
> :: search for a folder called D:\Recycled. If a D:\Recycled exists then
> :: %bin_drv%
> :: will then equal "e" and DIR and FIND will test for E:\Recycled, and so
> :: on,
> :: looping through the list.
>
> :end
>
> :: By now all drive-letter/Recycle Bin combinations have been processed and
> :: the
> :: batch is about to exit.
>
> set bin_drv=
> set bin_var=
>
> :: The two variables are reset to nul, whereby they cease to exist and the
> :: small
> :: amount of memory they used is released.
>
> cls
> exit
> cls
>
> :: A peculiarity of the popular ansi driver PCMag's ANSI.COM is that without
> :: preceeding the 'exit' command with 'cls' (clear screen) rather than vise
> :: versa,
> :: the command processor will not exit. This way will work whether or not
> :: ANSI.COM
> :: is in use.
>
> <snip>
>
> If any of the comments seem a little basic, bear in mind I'm trying to make
> it intelligible to any who read it. Though in that I expect to fail <vbg> It
> isn't helped by the way OE apparently wraps nonsensically. You may or may
> not know that :: is the equivalent to rem and that lines in a batch
> beginning with either rem or :: are not processed, so commands can be
> temporarily disabled or lines added to be read as comments. I have just gone
> through the text to insert further double semi-colons because OE screwed up
> the formatting! If it's going to do that, I'm going to stop using it!
>
> If the OE formatting pushes the comments beyond readability - or
> usability! - e-mail me and I'll send the attachment to you.
>
> I had begun answering your other question, as to why I prefer ME to 98SE,
> but I've run out of time for now.
>
>
> Shane
>
>
Sorry to report, it does not seem to help.

I created the delbin.bat with the batch file you first defined, guess that's OK?

I first put it in C root, windows RUN could not find it. I then copied it to the
Windows folder, ran it, got a DOS screen flash by, Recycled bin was gone. Fine so
far. I then rebooted, created a text file, deleted it, IT DID NOT SHOW UP!

So then I did a cold boot, created a file, deleted, it still does not show up.

Just before the above, today when I first cold booted, files did show up as DD23,
DD24, or similar, so something showed up for the first time.

Advice? (no, not a silver stake through the processor!)

Thanks,

MS

[Shane]

> Sorry to report, it does not seem to help.
>
> I created the delbin.bat with the batch file you first defined, guess
> that's OK?
>
> I first put it in C root, windows RUN could not find it. I then copied it

That *is* why I specified C:\Windows\Command. C:\ is not in the path.
C:\Windows is of course, but Command is a better place to keep batch files,
being - in effect - the DOS folder. But it's just my preference!

> to the
> Windows folder, ran it, got a DOS screen flash by, Recycled bin was gone.
> Fine so far. I then rebooted, created a text file, deleted it, IT DID NOT
> SHOW UP!
>
> So then I did a cold boot, created a file, deleted, it still does not show
> up.
>
> Just before the above, today when I first cold booted, files did show up
> as DD23, DD24, or similar, so something showed up for the first time.

Yes. That'd be DC23, DC24. That is how the system sees files and folders in
the Recycle Bin, in DOS.

>
> Advice? (no, not a silver stake through the processor!)
>

Very interesting. I am just checking messages before hitting the sack. I
will say the original
point of my posting the file was not to 'fix' the problem but to see if it
would.

For now, I think first thing you need to do is r-click the Recycle Bin
desktop icon, select Properties and make sure "Do not move files to the
Recycle Bin, remove files immediately when deleted" is unchecked.

If it was unchecked - without getting too deeply into it now - I suggest
first running Scandisk (Standard Mode is sufficient. If errors are found,
check the log afterwards and please post the results), then boot with the
boot floppy and type at the A:\> prompt,

SCANREG /FIX
<hit enter>
MD C:\RECYCLED
<hit enter>
ATTRIB +S +H C:\RECYCLED
<hit enter>

then reboot and see what that does. You should have had a Recycle Bin
recreated anyway after running the batch then creating and deleting a file -
you should certainly now have a folder called C:\Recycled, but do you now
have a working Recycle Bin?

I'm intrigued as to how you've got an error like this in the first place.
Registry cleaner, perhaps? Recent chipset or video driver installation? I
must read back through your original post, but I for now I'm off to bed!

Good luck!

Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>Sorry to report, it does not seem to help.
>>
>>I created the delbin.bat with the batch file you first defined, guess
>>that's OK?
>>
>>I first put it in C root, windows RUN could not find it. I then copied it
>
>
> That *is* why I specified C:\Windows\Command. C:\ is not in the path.
> C:\Windows is of course, but Command is a better place to keep batch files,
> being - in effect - the DOS folder. But it's just my preference!
>
>
>>to the
>>Windows folder, ran it, got a DOS screen flash by, Recycled bin was gone.
>>Fine so far. I then rebooted, created a text file, deleted it, IT DID NOT
>>SHOW UP!
>>
>>So then I did a cold boot, created a file, deleted, it still does not show
>>up.
>>
>>Just before the above, today when I first cold booted, files did show up
>>as DD23, DD24, or similar, so something showed up for the first time.
>
>
> Yes. That'd be DC23, DC24. That is how the system sees files and folders in
> the Recycle Bin, in DOS.
>
>
>>Advice? (no, not a silver stake through the processor!)
>>
>
>
> Very interesting. I am just checking messages before hitting the sack. I
> will say the original
> point of my posting the file was not to 'fix' the problem but to see if it
> would.
>
> For now, I think first thing you need to do is r-click the Recycle Bin
> desktop icon, select Properties and make sure "Do not move files to the
> Recycle Bin, remove files immediately when deleted" is unchecked.
>
It was unchecked.

> If it was unchecked - without getting too deeply into it now - I suggest
> first running Scandisk (Standard Mode is sufficient.

No errors found- in the Scandisk screen report.

If errors are found,
> check the log afterwards and please post the results), then boot with the
> boot floppy and type at the A:\> prompt,
>
> SCANREG /FIX
> <hit enter>

did that.

> MD C:\RECYCLED
> <hit enter>

I got the message "can't create directory" IIRC
It would not do it???

So I rebooted, the bin is there, still shows nothing.

> ATTRIB +S +H C:\RECYCLED
> <hit enter>
>
> then reboot and see what that does. You should have had a Recycle Bin
> recreated anyway after running the batch then creating and deleting a file -
> you should certainly now have a folder called C:\Recycled, but do you now
> have a working Recycle Bin?
>
> I'm intrigued as to how you've got an error like this in the first place.
> Registry cleaner, perhaps? Recent chipset or video driver installation? I
> must read back through your original post, but I for now I'm off to bed!
>
> Good luck!
>
> Shane
>
>
In the above, only thing is I ran a Reg cleaner a month ago, it's setting was
only to cleanout dead keys. But who knows.

My registry on both computers is way below the maximum size limit.

Is there any point in running a registry cleaner EVER in W98SE or ME?

And any comment on the REcycled bin?

TIA

MS

[Shane]

> > MD C:\RECYCLED
> > <hit enter>
>
> I got the message "can't create directory" IIRC
> It would not do it???
>

Means it already existed.

> So I rebooted, the bin is there, still shows nothing.
>
> > ATTRIB +S +H C:\RECYCLED
> > <hit enter>
> >

I'm not certain you applied these attributes, though I expect you did. otoh
it doesn't really matter, as the system should do that automatically!

> > then reboot and see what that does. You should have had a Recycle Bin
> > recreated anyway after running the batch then creating and deleting a
file -
> > you should certainly now have a folder called C:\Recycled, but do you
now
> > have a working Recycle Bin?
> >
> > I'm intrigued as to how you've got an error like this in the first
place.
> > Registry cleaner, perhaps? Recent chipset or video driver installation?
I
> > must read back through your original post, but I for now I'm off to bed!
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > Shane
> >
> >
> In the above, only thing is I ran a Reg cleaner a month ago, it's setting
was
> only to cleanout dead keys. But who knows.
>

I suppose the situation can occur, but it seems unlikely that you'd only now
be getting this error (unless you've hardly used the machine since then and
this is the first time you tried to use the Bin!).

> My registry on both computers is way below the maximum size limit.
>
> Is there any point in running a registry cleaner EVER in W98SE or ME?
>

Not really. Occasionally run SCANREG /OPT /FIX from DOS in 98 or from
Windows in ME. The only registry cleaners widely trusted don't do much! I
use jv16 powertools (regcleaner) only for deleting entries for software I
know I've uninstalled. That's it. Meanwhile I have had so much software
installed to Win ME that not all of the Start Menu was visible, even when
the longest prog names were shortened, but it hasn't impacted performance.
What impacts performance is how the majority of registry cleaners remove
entries they shouldn't!

> And any comment on the REcycled bin?
>

I'll get back to you.


Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>>MD C:\RECYCLED
>>><hit enter>
>>
>>I got the message "can't create directory" IIRC
>>It would not do it???
>>
>
>
> Means it already existed.
>
>
>>So I rebooted, the bin is there, still shows nothing.
>>
>>
>>>ATTRIB +S +H C:\RECYCLED
>>><hit enter>
>>>
>
> I'm not certain you applied these attributes, though I expect you did. otoh
> it doesn't really matter, as the system should do that automatically!
>
>
I just looked, the existing Bin has the usual Hidden attribute, System checked and
greyed out.


>>>then reboot and see what that does. You should have had a Recycle Bin
>>>recreated anyway after running the batch then creating and deleting a
>
> file -
>
>>>you should certainly now have a folder called C:\Recycled, but do you
>
> now
>
>>>have a working Recycle Bin?
>>>
>>>I'm intrigued as to how you've got an error like this in the first
>
> place.
>
>>>Registry cleaner, perhaps? Recent chipset or video driver installation?
>
> I
>
>>>must read back through your original post, but I for now I'm off to bed!
>>>
>>>Good luck!
>>>
>>>Shane
>>>
>>>
>>
>>In the above, only thing is I ran a Reg cleaner a month ago, it's setting
>
> was
>
>>only to cleanout dead keys. But who knows.
>>
>
>
> I suppose the situation can occur, but it seems unlikely that you'd only now
> be getting this error (unless you've hardly used the machine since then and
> this is the first time you tried to use the Bin!).
>
>
>>My registry on both computers is way below the maximum size limit.
>>
>>Is there any point in running a registry cleaner EVER in W98SE or ME?
>>
>
>
> Not really. Occasionally run SCANREG /OPT /FIX from DOS in 98 or from
> Windows in ME. The only registry cleaners widely trusted don't do much! I
> use jv16 powertools (regcleaner) only for deleting entries for software I
> know I've uninstalled. That's it. Meanwhile I have had so much software
> installed to Win ME that not all of the Start Menu was visible, even when
> the longest prog names were shortened, but it hasn't impacted performance.
> What impacts performance is how the majority of registry cleaners remove
> entries they shouldn't!
>

Good info. I use RegSeeker, a small executable, (delete only Green entries), what
I used above, but as you say, even safer to use only to clean up after a specific
uninstall.
>
>>And any comment on the REcycled bin?
>>
>
>
> I'll get back to you.
>
>
> Shane
>
>
Thanks,

MS

[Shane]

>>>And any comment on the REcycled bin?
>>>

I'm going to try to duplicate this. But it would be good to know what
backups you have for when you ran RegSeeker. I see from the home page -
where I just downloaded it (a beta) - it does cause avoidable,
long-known-about errors. It might be useful to zip that backup and mail it
to me so's I can peruse the keys involved?

As for looking back at your previous posts, it would be easier just to ask
you.

When did this problem start?
Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled, iirc)?
Do you have any rb???.cab files in C:\Windows\Sysbackup predating it?

Although we may hope to solve this, ie what caused it - if you don't have
Imaging or similar modern backup software, you really should get some. It's
much nicer to be able to restore an image less than one week old, in five or
ten minutes, than having to reinstall Windows (then all the after-market
stuff!).

Sorry if I take a while to respond. Lots to take care of away from the
computer lately!

Shane

[Shane]

Okay Mike,

I don't appear to be getting reliable results, but have you tried creating
and deleting a file from the root folder of C:\ rather than from the
desktop? If you do that and it still doesn't work, I'd be interested to know
what you get running

DIR /V C:\RECYCLED

from a DOS Prompt. You should have an INFO2 file, without extension, with A
and H attributes and a 65 byte Desktop.ini with S and H attributes. Removing
these produces a degree of the problem you've experienced. If one or both
are not being re-made, it explains why files deleted from the desktop do not
show in the recycle bin and why those you do see are listed as dc-whatever
rather than their 'friendly' names.

Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
> Okay Mike,
>
> I don't appear to be getting reliable results, but have you tried creating
> and deleting a file from the root folder of C:\ rather than from the
> desktop? If you do that and it still doesn't work, I'd be interested to know
> what you get running

When I cold booted this AM, a good sign, the recycle bin SHOWED the DEo... files,
like IIRC it is just simply corrupted, not seriously corrupted.

Then I went to real DOS prompt using boot disk, did the usual C:\ del recycled
I got the right "do you mean it".... message

when I rebooted, the bin is still there?????
and shows the files mentioned above. Except now, I delete a fine, it does now show
up, in the odd format.

So, there is progress.

>
> DIR /V C:\RECYCLED

Didn't do the above, not sure what it does.
>

> from a DOS Prompt. You should have an INFO2 file, without extension, with A
> and H attributes and a 65 byte Desktop.ini with S and H attributes. Removing
> these produces a degree of the problem you've experienced. If one or both
> are not being re-made, it explains why files deleted from the desktop do not
> show in the recycle bin and why those you do see are listed as dc-whatever
> rather than their 'friendly' names.
>
> Shane
>
I have the INFO2 file in recycled as you describe.
In Windows, desktop.ini has only H, 271 bytes size. There are scattered about 6
different desktop.ini files.

Comment?

Mike

[Shane]

"ms" > wrote in message
...
> Shane wrote:
>> Okay Mike,
>>
>> I don't appear to be getting reliable results, but have you tried
>> creating
>> and deleting a file from the root folder of C:\ rather than from the
>> desktop? If you do that and it still doesn't work, I'd be interested to
>> know
>> what you get running
>
> When I cold booted this AM, a good sign, the recycle bin SHOWED the DEo...
> files, like IIRC it is just simply corrupted, not seriously corrupted.
>
> Then I went to real DOS prompt using boot disk, did the usual C:\ del
> recycled
> I got the right "do you mean it".... message
>
> when I rebooted, the bin is still there?????
> and shows the files mentioned above. Except now, I delete a fine, it does
> now show up, in the odd format.
>
> So, there is progress.
>
>>
>> DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>
> Didn't do the above, not sure what it does.
>>
>
>> from a DOS Prompt. You should have an INFO2 file, without extension, with
>> A
>> and H attributes and a 65 byte Desktop.ini with S and H attributes.
>> Removing
>> these produces a degree of the problem you've experienced. If one or both
>> are not being re-made, it explains why files deleted from the desktop do
>> not
>> show in the recycle bin and why those you do see are listed as
>> dc-whatever
>> rather than their 'friendly' names.
>>
>> Shane
>>
> I have the INFO2 file in recycled as you describe.
> In Windows, desktop.ini has only H, 271 bytes size. There are scattered
> about 6 different desktop.ini files.
>
> Comment?
>

Well, Mike, my comment is that's why I asked you to do

DIR /V C:\RECYCLED

The Recycle Bin's Desktop.ini is not visible in Windows, except from a DOS
prompt. I don't see why you didn't run it because you're not sure what it
does? If you only did what you already knew to do, you wouldn't be asking
here, would you? If you don't know what DIR does, but won't do it without
explanation, there's no point doing this.

Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
> "ms" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Shane wrote:
>>
>>>Okay Mike,
>>>
>>>I don't appear to be getting reliable results, but have you tried
>>>creating
>>>and deleting a file from the root folder of C:\ rather than from the
>>>desktop? If you do that and it still doesn't work, I'd be interested to
>>>know
>>>what you get running
>>
>>When I cold booted this AM, a good sign, the recycle bin SHOWED the DEo...
>>files, like IIRC it is just simply corrupted, not seriously corrupted.
>>
>>Then I went to real DOS prompt using boot disk, did the usual C:\ del
>>recycled
>>I got the right "do you mean it".... message
>>
>>when I rebooted, the bin is still there?????
>>and shows the files mentioned above. Except now, I delete a fine, it does
>>now show up, in the odd format.
>>
>>So, there is progress.
>>
>>
>>>DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>>
>>Didn't do the above, not sure what it does.
>>
>>>from a DOS Prompt. You should have an INFO2 file, without extension, with
>>>A
>>>and H attributes and a 65 byte Desktop.ini with S and H attributes.
>>>Removing
>>>these produces a degree of the problem you've experienced. If one or both
>>>are not being re-made, it explains why files deleted from the desktop do
>>>not
>>>show in the recycle bin and why those you do see are listed as
>>>dc-whatever
>>>rather than their 'friendly' names.
>>>
>>>Shane
>>>
>>
>>I have the INFO2 file in recycled as you describe.
>>In Windows, desktop.ini has only H, 271 bytes size. There are scattered
>>about 6 different desktop.ini files.
>>
>>Comment?
>>
>
>
> Well, Mike, my comment is that's why I asked you to do
>
> DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>
> The Recycle Bin's Desktop.ini is not visible in Windows, except from a DOS
> prompt. I don't see why you didn't run it because you're not sure what it
> does? If you only did what you already knew to do, you wouldn't be asking
> here, would you? If you don't know what DIR does, but won't do it without
> explanation, there's no point doing this.
>
> Shane
>
>
I just ran it. Contents of Recycle bin:

DIR
.. DIR
... DIR

DC1 all these either text or exe, all have A attribute
DC8- DC11, DC13

If the files you mention are inside those directories (?), how to access them?

Mike

[Shane]

> > DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
> >
> > The Recycle Bin's Desktop.ini is not visible in Windows, except from a
DOS
> > prompt. I don't see why you didn't run it because you're not sure what
it
> > does? If you only did what you already knew to do, you wouldn't be
asking
> > here, would you? If you don't know what DIR does, but won't do it
without
> > explanation, there's no point doing this.
> >
> > Shane
> >
> >
> I just ran it. Contents of Recycle bin:
>
> DIR
> . DIR
> .. DIR
>
> DC1 all these either text or exe, all have A attribute
> DC8- DC11, DC13
>
> If the files you mention are inside those directories (?), how to access
them?
>

No, they're not inside the directories. Those are not subfolders anyway and
I'm not sure, off the top of my head - at this hour - how to describe them
But they're irrelevent, every directory has those.

When you run DIR /V C:\RECYCLED you should see an INFO2 and a desktop.ini,
like so:

<snip>

.. <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
..
... <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
...
INFO2 20 4,096 23/02/06 0:57 23/02/06 H A
INFO2
DESKTOP INI 65 4,096 23/02/06 1:19 23/02/06 HS A
desktop.ini

</snip>

The size of INFO2 varies depending on other contents, for instance delete a
file and the size of INFO2 will increase, until you empty the Recycle Bin,
when it'll go back to default. The above is how the system creates the
files, eg after deleting the Bin then deleting a file to recreate it. INFO2
has the Hidden and Archive attributes set and DESKTOP.INI has the Hidden and
Archive and also the System attributes set.

You don't appear to have a desktop.ini in the Recycle Bin, which would
certainly stop it from working correctly. I shall have to check if disabling
Web Content in folders affects it, but for now please create a text file
containing

[.ShellClassInfo]
CLSID={645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

and rename it desktop.ini. Copy it and put the copy somewhere safe. Put the
original in the Recycle Bin. Open a DOS Prompt or boot to DOS and type

ATTRIB +H +S +A C:\RECYCLED\DESKTOP.INI

then reboot and see what happens this time.

Meanwhile I've written a batch to create this desktop.ini if you'd rather
just copy and run that:

<snip>

@ECHO OFF
CLS
CD\
C:
CD RECYCLED

:: This overwrites desktop.ini with an empty copy
:: 2 bytes in size, but also creates a desktop.ini if
:: it didn't previously exist.
ECHO.>DESKTOP.INI

:: This strips it's attributes, including Read-Only
:: just in case someone had set that non-standard
:: attribute.
ATTRIB -R -H -S -A DESKTOP.INI

:: The following two lines write the correct data
:: into the Win ME Recycle Bin's desktop.ini,
:: in the process increasing it to 65 bytes in size.
ECHO.[.ShellClassInfo]>DESKTOP.INI
ECHO.CLSID={645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}>>DESKTOP.INI

:: This (re-)applies the correct attributes to the file.
ATTRIB +H +S +A DESKTOP.INI

CLS
EXIT
CLS

<snip>

Just tried it, it works.


Shane

[Shane]

Just in case you were wondering, the single dot, double dot, INFO2 and
desktop.ini are one above another due to Outlook Express wrapping the lines.
In DOS, running DIR /V the second of each folder/file is at the end of the
previous line, not the beginning of the next.

If that makes sense!

> <snip>
>
> . <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
> .
> .. <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
> ..
> INFO2 20 4,096 23/02/06 0:57 23/02/06 H
A
> INFO2
> DESKTOP INI 65 4,096 23/02/06 1:19 23/02/06 HS
A
> desktop.ini
>
> </snip>

Shane

[Noel Paton]

"Shane" > wrote in message
...

> If that makes sense!

About as much as usual, Sir Parsifal!
<vbeg>
(actually, I think I understand it - which is good for this time of the
morning!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

[Shane]

"Noel Paton" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Shane" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> If that makes sense!
>
> About as much as usual, Sir Parsifal!
> <vbeg>
> (actually, I think I understand it - which is good for this time of the
> morning!)
>

I hope you'll explain it to me sometime! I'm almost too tired to stay awake
enough to go to bed!


Shane

[ms]

Thanks for all the info. Below, if incorrect, please correct:

Shane wrote:
>>>DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>>>
>>>The Recycle Bin's Desktop.ini is not visible in Windows, except from a
>
> DOS
>
>>>prompt. I don't see why you didn't run it because you're not sure what
>
> it
>
>>>does? If you only did what you already knew to do, you wouldn't be
>
> asking
>
>>>here, would you? If you don't know what DIR does, but won't do it
>
> without
>
>>>explanation, there's no point doing this.
>>>
>>>Shane
>>>
>>>
>>
>>I just ran it. Contents of Recycle bin:
>>
>> DIR
>>. DIR
>>.. DIR
>>
>>DC1 all these either text or exe, all have A attribute
>>DC8- DC11, DC13
>>
>>If the files you mention are inside those directories (?), how to access
>
> them?
>
>
> No, they're not inside the directories. Those are not subfolders anyway and
> I'm not sure, off the top of my head - at this hour - how to describe them
> But they're irrelevent, every directory has those.
>
> When you run DIR /V C:\RECYCLED you should see an INFO2 and a desktop.ini,
> like so:
>
> <snip>
>
> . <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
> .
> .. <DIR> 23/02/06 0:53 23/02/06 D
> ..
> INFO2 20 4,096 23/02/06 0:57 23/02/06 H A
> INFO2
> DESKTOP INI 65 4,096 23/02/06 1:19 23/02/06 HS A
> desktop.ini
>
> </snip>
>
> The size of INFO2 varies depending on other contents, for instance delete a
> file and the size of INFO2 will increase, until you empty the Recycle Bin,
> when it'll go back to default. The above is how the system creates the
> files, eg after deleting the Bin then deleting a file to recreate it. INFO2
> has the Hidden and Archive attributes set and DESKTOP.INI has the Hidden and
> Archive and also the System attributes set.
>
> You don't appear to have a desktop.ini in the Recycle Bin, which would
> certainly stop it from working correctly. I shall have to check if disabling
> Web Content in folders affects it, but for now please create a text file
> containing
>
> [.ShellClassInfo]
> CLSID={645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
>
> and rename it desktop.ini. Copy it and put the copy somewhere safe. Put the
> original in the Recycle Bin. Open a DOS Prompt or boot to DOS and type
>
> ATTRIB +H +S +A C:\RECYCLED\DESKTOP.INI
>
> then reboot and see what happens this time.
>
> Meanwhile I've written a batch to create this desktop.ini if you'd rather
> just copy and run that:
>

I took this route, copying all between snips to delin2.bat, put it in Windows/Command.

In windows, I ran it. see below

> <snip>
>
> @ECHO OFF
> CLS
> CD\
> C:
> CD RECYCLED
>
> :: This overwrites desktop.ini with an empty copy
> :: 2 bytes in size, but also creates a desktop.ini if
> :: it didn't previously exist.
> ECHO.>DESKTOP.INI
>
> :: This strips it's attributes, including Read-Only
> :: just in case someone had set that non-standard
> :: attribute.
> ATTRIB -R -H -S -A DESKTOP.INI
>
> :: The following two lines write the correct data
> :: into the Win ME Recycle Bin's desktop.ini,
> :: in the process increasing it to 65 bytes in size.
> ECHO.[.ShellClassInfo]>DESKTOP.INI
> ECHO.CLSID={645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}>>DESKTOP.INI
>
> :: This (re-)applies the correct attributes to the file.
> ATTRIB +H +S +A DESKTOP.INI
>
> CLS
> EXIT
> CLS
>
> <snip>
>
> Just tried it, it works.
>
>
> Shane
>
I rebooted, then deleted a file, then an odd thing- the mouse cursor *and* the
processing
hourglass symbol both began blinking, they were transparent.
That continued until I focused on some other folder. When I focused on the
Recycled
Bin, it had stopped blinking. The files in the recycled bin were still the DEo1
format.

I then rebooted to a DOS C prompt, ran DIR /V C:\RECYCLED, rebooted, looked at the
contents, those files are still missing.

Then I rebooted and deleted the recycled bin in DOS. All the messages I saw are
usual. But when I rebooted in windows, the recycle bin is still there, now shows
empty again when there are really contents.

Sorry I'm taking so much of your time and I really appreciate your help on this.

I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day- I've been here before.

TIA

Mike

[Shane]

> I rebooted, then deleted a file, then an odd thing- the mouse cursor *and*
> the processing
> hourglass symbol both began blinking, they were transparent.
> That continued until I focused on some other folder. When I focused on
> the Recycled
> Bin, it had stopped blinking. The files in the recycled bin were still the
> DEo1 format.
>
> I then rebooted to a DOS C prompt, ran DIR /V C:\RECYCLED, rebooted,
> looked at the contents, those files are still missing.
>

What did DIR /V C:\RECYCLED report? Not sure what you're doing here (and I
need to be). Not that it's gonna matter much, but when I keep saying a DOS
Prompt, I mean without booting to DOS. No need to keep doing that, just
Start\Programs\Accessories\MS-DOS Prompt will do. Rebooting is unnecessary
for running DIR.

What do you mean by 'rebooted, looked at the contents'? Neither INFO2 or
desktop.ini should be visible in Windows (except via the MS-DOS
Prompt...btw, quicker to do Start\Run type COMMAND and hit Enter).

> Then I rebooted and deleted the recycled bin in DOS. All the messages I
> saw are usual. But when I rebooted in windows, the recycle bin is still
> there, now shows empty again when there are really contents.

Recycle Bin still there as C:\Recycled? You know the desktop icon remains
even before the Recycle Bin is recreated?

>
> Sorry I'm taking so much of your time and I really appreciate your help on
> this.
>

No problem. But I can't see that you answered my questions, viz:

When did this problem start?
Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled, iirc)?
Do you have any rb???.cab files in C:\Windows\Sysbackup predating it?

Going back to the beginning of the thread I didn't see this info. Perhaps
there's something in another thread, but I don't have the time to search the
group for info that may never have been cited anyway. By rb???.cab is meant,
eg rb001.cab, rb002.cab etc. These are registry backups, though by now you
won't have any predating this problem. You may still in System Restore
though, assuming you didn't disable it.

> I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day- I've been here before.
>

Well don't go driving off any quarry cliffs, eh, with or without a
groundhog!

Shane

[ms]

Shane wrote:
>>I rebooted, then deleted a file, then an odd thing- the mouse cursor *and*
>>the processing
>> hourglass symbol both began blinking, they were transparent.
>> That continued until I focused on some other folder. When I focused on
>>the Recycled
>>Bin, it had stopped blinking. The files in the recycled bin were still the
>>DEo1 format.
>>
>>I then rebooted to a DOS C prompt, ran DIR /V C:\RECYCLED, rebooted,
>>looked at the contents, those files are still missing.
>>
>
>
> What did DIR /V C:\RECYCLED report? Not sure what you're doing here (and I
> need to be). Not that it's gonna matter much, but when I keep saying a DOS
> Prompt, I mean without booting to DOS. No need to keep doing that, just
> Start\Programs\Accessories\MS-DOS Prompt will do. Rebooting is unnecessary
> for running DIR.
>
> What do you mean by 'rebooted, looked at the contents'? Neither INFO2 or
> desktop.ini should be visible in Windows (except via the MS-DOS
> Prompt...btw, quicker to do Start\Run type COMMAND and hit Enter).
>
Looking in windows/dos prompt as you mentioned, DIR /V C:\RECYCLED reports as before-
DIR
.. DIR
... DIR

DC1
DC8- DC11, DC13 etc.

below that, a free disk space summary of the hard drive

>
>>Then I rebooted and deleted the recycled bin in DOS. All the messages I
>>saw are usual.

Above is what I meant.

But when I rebooted in windows, the recycle bin is still
>>there, now shows empty again when there are really contents.
>
>
> Recycle Bin still there as C:\Recycled? You know the desktop icon remains
> even before the Recycle Bin is recreated?
>
In W98, when recycle bin is deleted, it is gone until a file is deleted, that
recreates it. In ME, it seems to be recreated automatically on reboot?
>
>>Sorry I'm taking so much of your time and I really appreciate your help on
>>this.
>>
>
>
> No problem. But I can't see that you answered my questions, viz:
>
> When did this problem start?
About a month ago, sorry, I can't any longer recall that. There hasn't been a
crash, etc. though. I cold boot each time I use the computer, my main computer is
a different one.

> Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled, iirc)?

After Rick suggested it, I disabled System Restore last week, but it must have
been not active before, as the System Restore points were all dated 5/05, before I
got the computer. Nothing more recent, so I deleted them.
All the folders are dated 12/03
In Restore/Temp folder, the files are dated 2/16/06, although I've used the
computer right up to today.

> Do you have any rb???.cab files in C:\Windows\Sysbackup predating it?

In Sysbackup, there are cab files dated from 2/18 to today, but I've had the
problem for about a month.
>
> Going back to the beginning of the thread I didn't see this info. Perhaps
> there's something in another thread, but I don't have the time to search the
> group for info that may never have been cited anyway. By rb???.cab is meant,
> eg rb001.cab, rb002.cab etc. These are registry backups, though by now you
> won't have any predating this problem. You may still in System Restore
> though, assuming you didn't disable it.
>
>
>>I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day- I've been here before.
>>
>
>
> Well don't go driving off any quarry cliffs, eh, with or without a
> groundhog!
>
> Shane
>
>
Hope there's something of help here.

Mike

[Shane]

> Looking in windows/dos prompt as you mentioned, DIR /V C:\RECYCLED reports
> as before-
> DIR
> . DIR
> .. DIR
>
> DC1
> DC8- DC11, DC13 etc.
>
> below that, a free disk space summary of the hard drive
>

OK. But after running the last batch file I posted? Run it then check with
DIR /V C:\RECYCLED and a desktop.ini ought to exist! Guess I'll have to
investigate this aspect.

I'm torn between thinking either this is something so simple I'm not seeing
the wood for the trees, or it's so critical that re-installation would be
the only sensible approach.

> In W98, when recycle bin is deleted, it is gone until a file is deleted,
> that recreates it. In ME, it seems to be recreated automatically on
> reboot?

No, same as in Win 98. Only difference I see on my systems is in ME you
don't have to boot to DOS to do the deleting.

>> When did this problem start?
> About a month ago, sorry, I can't any longer recall that. There hasn't
> been a crash, etc. though. I cold boot each time I use the computer, my
> main computer is a different one.
>

Okay. I asked before if you'd used a Registry Cleaner and you said about a
month ago. Coincidence? Maybe.

Does it have a backup you can restore? If so, do e-mail a copy to me! I can
edit it to delete reg keys from a test ME system and see what happens.

>> Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled, iirc)?
>
> After Rick suggested it, I disabled System Restore last week, but it must
> have been not active before, as the System Restore points were all dated
> 5/05, before I got the computer. Nothing more recent, so I deleted them.

Right. I begin to suspect this system was pretty screwed up before you got
it.

Rick may be a user who disables System Restore who knows what he's doing,
but most of them are irresponsible children. You know the way teenagers
think they should be running the world?

You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's designed
for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in previous versions of
Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened disabling System Restore to
throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe Olympic-standard swimmers may reasonably
do so, but if they advise everyone else to, they must be somewhere around
moron level. Great swimmers but stupid as hell! ;-)

But, no, yours can't have been running anyway. Shame, as it's the source of
registry backups older than five days or so, though whether it'd be a good
idea restoring back more than a month in this situation, who knows?

> All the folders are dated 12/03
> In Restore/Temp folder, the files are dated 2/16/06, although I've used
> the computer right up to today.

Nothing large, I suppose. It's disabled in My
Computer\Properties\...etc...\Troubleshooting (the precise wording of the
path escapes me for the moment here in XP)? I can quite imagine small temp
files still being made. Perhaps you should re-enable it and verify that it
works. Is the system up-to-date, all critical-and-security updates
installed?

What CD do you have with this system?Do you have
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL\BASE2.CAB or C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\BASE2.CAB
and about 121 other files?

Shane

[Mike M]

> You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's
> designed for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in previous
> versions of Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened disabling
> System Restore to throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe Olympic-standard
> swimmers may reasonably do so, but if they advise everyone else to,
> they must be somewhere around moron level. Great swimmers but stupid
> as hell! ;-)

Shane,

I've a rough idea of what I'm doing yet I've just had to use SR three
times in the last hour or so on an XP box here where I was attempting to
update the usb driver and player for a Compro 2200 DVB-T TV receiver
connected to a usb 2 port. After the upgrade no errors reported but no
sound or vision. SR enabled me to roll back to a working system and then
retry the install. After 3 attempts I'm convinced the update doesn't work
with PAL devices.

I could have restored system images (I use BING) but an SR restore taking
less than 2 minutes is quicker.
--
Mike


Shane > wrote:

>> Looking in windows/dos prompt as you mentioned, DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>> reports as before-
>> DIR
>> . DIR
>> .. DIR
>>
>> DC1
>> DC8- DC11, DC13 etc.
>>
>> below that, a free disk space summary of the hard drive
>>
>
> OK. But after running the last batch file I posted? Run it then check
> with DIR /V C:\RECYCLED and a desktop.ini ought to exist! Guess I'll
> have to investigate this aspect.
>
> I'm torn between thinking either this is something so simple I'm not
> seeing the wood for the trees, or it's so critical that
> re-installation would be the only sensible approach.
>
>> In W98, when recycle bin is deleted, it is gone until a file is
>> deleted, that recreates it. In ME, it seems to be recreated
>> automatically on reboot?
>
> No, same as in Win 98. Only difference I see on my systems is in ME
> you don't have to boot to DOS to do the deleting.
>
>>> When did this problem start?
>> About a month ago, sorry, I can't any longer recall that. There
>> hasn't been a crash, etc. though. I cold boot each time I use the
>> computer, my main computer is a different one.
>>
>
> Okay. I asked before if you'd used a Registry Cleaner and you said
> about a month ago. Coincidence? Maybe.
>
> Does it have a backup you can restore? If so, do e-mail a copy to me!
> I can edit it to delete reg keys from a test ME system and see what
> happens.
>>> Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled,
>>> iirc)?
>>
>> After Rick suggested it, I disabled System Restore last week, but it
>> must have been not active before, as the System Restore points were
>> all dated 5/05, before I got the computer. Nothing more recent, so I
>> deleted them.
>
> Right. I begin to suspect this system was pretty screwed up before
> you got it.
>
> Rick may be a user who disables System Restore who knows what he's
> doing, but most of them are irresponsible children. You know the way
> teenagers think they should be running the world?
>
> You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's
> designed for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in previous
> versions of Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened disabling
> System Restore to throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe Olympic-standard
> swimmers may reasonably do so, but if they advise everyone else to,
> they must be somewhere around moron level. Great swimmers but stupid
> as hell! ;-)
> But, no, yours can't have been running anyway. Shame, as it's the
> source of registry backups older than five days or so, though whether
> it'd be a good idea restoring back more than a month in this
> situation, who knows?
>> All the folders are dated 12/03
>> In Restore/Temp folder, the files are dated 2/16/06, although I've
>> used the computer right up to today.
>
> Nothing large, I suppose. It's disabled in My
> Computer\Properties\...etc...\Troubleshooting (the precise wording of
> the path escapes me for the moment here in XP)? I can quite imagine
> small temp files still being made. Perhaps you should re-enable it
> and verify that it works. Is the system up-to-date, all
> critical-and-security updates installed?
>
> What CD do you have with this system?Do you have
> C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL\BASE2.CAB or
> C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\BASE2.CAB and about 121 other files?
>
> Shane

[Shane]

"Mike M" > wrote in message
...
>> You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's
>> designed for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in previous
>> versions of Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened disabling
>> System Restore to throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe Olympic-standard
>> swimmers may reasonably do so, but if they advise everyone else to,
>> they must be somewhere around moron level. Great swimmers but stupid
>> as hell! ;-)
>
> Shane,
>
> I've a rough idea of what I'm doing yet I've just had to use SR three
> times in the last hour or so on an XP box here where I was attempting to
> update the usb driver and player for a Compro 2200 DVB-T TV receiver
> connected to a usb 2 port. After the upgrade no errors reported but no
> sound or vision. SR enabled me to roll back to a working system and then
> retry the install. After 3 attempts I'm convinced the update doesn't work
> with PAL devices.
>

Great example, Mike. Yes, I love the driver rollback in XP, I wish it could
be retro-fitted to ME - but it's never going to happen, is it <sigh>

> I could have restored system images (I use BING) but an SR restore taking
> less than 2 minutes is quicker.

Hard to argue with the convenience of it!

I should probably state for the record that, while Olympic-standard swimmers
*may* have some justification for throwing away the lifeboat, personally I
think they'd be nuts too! Maybe if their boat went down on the Serpentine...

I really musy get up on the current tv/computer technology. Obviously I
can't do a lot, I can't build bikes, I can't ride them and I can't get out
of it, so I watch a lot of Sky (although I did finally read a few chapters
of A Canticle For Leibowitz). I keep wishing I could just block certain
programs so that I never see their names again! I'm thinking more and more
that I ought to have it connected to the computer.

Shane

[Mike M]

Shane > wrote:

> Great example, Mike. Yes, I love the driver rollback in XP, I wish it
> could be retro-fitted to ME - but it's never going to happen, is it
> <sigh>

The problem doesn't I think involve the drivers (which are the same as
before) but rather the new version of the Compro viewer. I just can't get
it to show anything although it says my signal strength is OK (but that's
another very long story) and identifies the channel. One thing about this
particular device is that it seems to be really power hungry. It's self
powered from the usb socket but needs two cables to two different usb
sockets so I'm guessing it needs to draw up to an amp given the 500mA
limit for each usb port.

>> I could have restored system images (I use BING) but an SR restore
>> taking less than 2 minutes is quicker.
>
> Hard to argue with the convenience of it!
>
> I should probably state for the record that, while Olympic-standard
> swimmers *may* have some justification for throwing away the
> lifeboat, personally I think they'd be nuts too! Maybe if their boat
> went down on the Serpentine...

But without a lifeboat, even on the Serpentine, one would get wet. <g>

> I really musy get up on the current tv/computer technology. Obviously
> I can't do a lot, I can't build bikes, I can't ride them and I can't
> get out of it,

Sadly that sounds a bit like me too.

> so I watch a lot of Sky

Since I don't have a dish, no Sky just DVB-T (terrestrial digital). I do
seem to have aerial problems, both to the PC and also to the TV and can't
help but wonder if getting a dish might be the way to go. I get great
picture and sound most of the time and then suddenly get a glitch even
though signal strength seems to be good. Makes for some lousy captures,
especially when the glitch ends up with me having audio synch problems as
well as the all too familiar video decoding blotchy streak.

> (although I did finally read a
> few chapters of A Canticle For Leibowitz). I keep wishing I could
> just block certain programs so that I never see their names again!
> I'm thinking more and more that I ought to have it connected to the
> computer.

I've been reading a fair bit recently but nothing particularly memorable -
mainly visual wallpaper. :-)
--
Mike

[[email protected]]

Hi,


You should mind if the files are erased it is still possible to restore
using data recovery tools such as Active@ Undelete and Uneraser(DOS).
These are mighty utils that never failed me before and worked simply
great, never allowing data loss. Give it a try in need.

http://www.active-undelete.com/

http://www.uneraser.com/

[ms]

Sorry I am late in responding, terribly busy on my W98 P166 doing file work to
prepare for new W98SE computer.

I ran ME this morning, results inline:

Shane wrote:
>>Looking in windows/dos prompt as you mentioned, DIR /V C:\RECYCLED reports
>>as before-
>> DIR
>>. DIR
>>.. DIR
>>
>>DC1
>>DC8- DC11, DC13 etc.
>>
>>below that, a free disk space summary of the hard drive
>>
>
>
> OK. But after running the last batch file I posted? Run it then check with
> DIR /V C:\RECYCLED and a desktop.ini ought to exist! Guess I'll have to
> investigate this aspect.

I ran delin.bat , then ran DIR /V C:\RECYCLED from a windows dos prompt as you
said. Here is what I see:
----------------------
Volume Serial Number is 7616-5134
Directory of C:\Recycled
File Name Size Allocated Modified Accessed Attrib


.. <DIR> 02-16-06 4:20p 02-16-06 D
..
... <DIR> 02-16-06 4:20p 02-16-06 D
...
DC1 <DIR> 02-20-06 11:17a 02-20-06 D
Dc1
DC9 <DIR> 12-01-05 2:36p 12-01-05 D
Dc9
DC10 <DIR> 02-28-06 9:36a 02-28-06 D
Dc10
DC11 TXT 0 0 02-28-06 9:55a 02-28-06 A
Dc11.txt
DC8 8 <DIR> 02-20-06 11:37a 02-20-06 D
Dc8.8
1 file(s) 0 bytes
6 dir(s) 0 bytes allocated
14,744.84 MB free
19,075.66 MB total disk space, 22% in use

C:\WINDOWS>
---------
>
> I'm torn between thinking either this is something so simple I'm not seeing
> the wood for the trees, or it's so critical that re-installation would be
> the only sensible approach.
>
>
>>In W98, when recycle bin is deleted, it is gone until a file is deleted,
>>that recreates it. In ME, it seems to be recreated automatically on
>>reboot?
>
>
> No, same as in Win 98. Only difference I see on my systems is in ME you
> don't have to boot to DOS to do the deleting.
>
>
>>>When did this problem start?
>>
>>About a month ago, sorry, I can't any longer recall that. There hasn't
>>been a crash, etc. though. I cold boot each time I use the computer, my
>>main computer is a different one.
>>
>
>
> Okay. I asked before if you'd used a Registry Cleaner and you said about a
> month ago. Coincidence? Maybe.
>
> Does it have a backup you can restore? If so, do e-mail a copy to me! I can
> edit it to delete reg keys from a test ME system and see what happens.
>
>
>>>Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled, iirc)?
>>
>>After Rick suggested it, I disabled System Restore last week, but it must
>>have been not active before, as the System Restore points were all dated
>>5/05, before I got the computer. Nothing more recent, so I deleted them.
>
>
> Right. I begin to suspect this system was pretty screwed up before you got
> it.
>
> Rick may be a user who disables System Restore who knows what he's doing,
> but most of them are irresponsible children. You know the way teenagers
> think they should be running the world?
>
> You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's designed
> for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in previous versions of
> Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened disabling System Restore to
> throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe Olympic-standard swimmers may reasonably
> do so, but if they advise everyone else to, they must be somewhere around
> moron level. Great swimmers but stupid as hell! ;-)
>
Strange, last week I did disable it, just went to that screen to enable it, it IS
enabled!!!! I dunno. But there are no restore points created, though. I looked in
the Restore folder, each subfolder, only the same cab files from several weeks ago
that I described earlier.

> But, no, yours can't have been running anyway. Shame, as it's the source of
> registry backups older than five days or so, though whether it'd be a good
> idea restoring back more than a month in this situation, who knows?
>
>
>>All the folders are dated 12/03
>>In Restore/Temp folder, the files are dated 2/16/06, although I've used
>>the computer right up to today.
>
>
> Nothing large, I suppose. It's disabled in My
> Computer\Properties\...etc...\Troubleshooting (the precise wording of the
> path escapes me for the moment here in XP)? I can quite imagine small temp
> files still being made. Perhaps you should re-enable it and verify that it
> works. Is the system up-to-date, all critical-and-security updates
> installed?
>
> What CD do you have with this system?Do you have
> C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL\BASE2.CAB or C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\BASE2.CAB
> and about 121 other files?
>
No CD, but I do have 63 files in the INSTALL folder. I see setup.exe

Hopefully this muddle won't result in reinstall, then I would want to install W98SE.


Advice, and thanks.

Mike

[Shane]

Mike,

I'd be surprised if you're still there and more surprised if this is still
ongoing. I have post marked as read once it's a week or two old and,
frankly, if I'd thought this was going to last as long as it has I'd never
have posted to begin with - in part because I always knew my father would be
undergoing open heart surgery and sure enough the last weeks I've been
travelling a great deal and not had time for posting. I still don't, beyond
a short response such as this.

You almost seemed to refuse to answer re the backup for that registry
cleaning operation, that I asked you - twice now - to send me. It recalls to
mind the command you didn't run because you didn't know what it did, ie you
seem to be willing to waste my time and yours.

Whatever, this to me is one of those operations that is not worth
troubleshooting beyond a certain period, and rather warrants
re-installation. Whether you have the installation files to begin with, is
another matter. I would not bother with an Operating System that did not
have the installation files. The contents of the Install\CABS folder you
mention are almost certainly the files placed there by updates only and the
question would be whether you have a hidden partition containing the full
setup files. Except, that is, you say you'd rather install Win 98 than
re-install ME anyway.

So. That's that. Shame I can't hang about and fail to contract so much as a
tracking cookie, but time marches on it's stomach and all that!


Shane

> Sorry I am late in responding, terribly busy on my W98 P166 doing
> file work to prepare for new W98SE computer.
>
> I ran ME this morning, results inline:
>
> Shane wrote:
>>> Looking in windows/dos prompt as you mentioned, DIR /V C:\RECYCLED
>>> reports as before-
>>> DIR
>>> . DIR
>>> .. DIR
>>>
>>> DC1
>>> DC8- DC11, DC13 etc.
>>>
>>> below that, a free disk space summary of the hard drive
>>>
>>
>>
>> OK. But after running the last batch file I posted? Run it then
>> check with DIR /V C:\RECYCLED and a desktop.ini ought to exist!
>> Guess I'll have to investigate this aspect.
>
> I ran delin.bat , then ran DIR /V C:\RECYCLED from a windows dos
> prompt as you said. Here is what I see:
> ----------------------
> Volume Serial Number is 7616-5134
> Directory of C:\Recycled
> File Name Size Allocated Modified Accessed Attrib
>
> . <DIR> 02-16-06 4:20p 02-16-06 D .
> .. <DIR> 02-16-06 4:20p 02-16-06 D ..
> DC1 <DIR> 02-20-06 11:17a 02-20-06 D Dc1
> DC9 <DIR> 12-01-05 2:36p 12-01-05 D Dc9
> DC10 <DIR> 02-28-06 9:36a 02-28-06 D
> Dc10
> DC11 TXT 0 0 02-28-06 9:55a 02-28-06 A
> Dc11.txt
> DC8 8 <DIR> 02-20-06 11:37a 02-20-06 D
> Dc8.8
> 1 file(s) 0 bytes
> 6 dir(s) 0 bytes allocated
> 14,744.84 MB free
> 19,075.66 MB total disk space, 22% in use
>
> C:\WINDOWS>
> ---------
>>
>> I'm torn between thinking either this is something so simple I'm not
>> seeing the wood for the trees, or it's so critical that
>> re-installation would be the only sensible approach.
>>
>>
>>> In W98, when recycle bin is deleted, it is gone until a file is
>>> deleted, that recreates it. In ME, it seems to be recreated
>>> automatically on reboot?
>>
>>
>> No, same as in Win 98. Only difference I see on my systems is in ME
>> you don't have to boot to DOS to do the deleting.
>>
>>
>>>> When did this problem start?
>>>
>>> About a month ago, sorry, I can't any longer recall that. There
>>> hasn't been a crash, etc. though. I cold boot each time I use the
>>> computer, my main computer is a different one.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Okay. I asked before if you'd used a Registry Cleaner and you said
>> about a month ago. Coincidence? Maybe.
>>
>> Does it have a backup you can restore? If so, do e-mail a copy to
>> me! I can edit it to delete reg keys from a test ME system and see
>> what happens.
>>>> Do you have any System Restore points predating it (alas disabled,
>>>> iirc)?
>>>
>>> After Rick suggested it, I disabled System Restore last week, but
>>> it must have been not active before, as the System Restore points
>>> were all dated 5/05, before I got the computer. Nothing more
>>> recent, so I deleted them.
>>
>>
>> Right. I begin to suspect this system was pretty screwed up before
>> you got it.
>>
>> Rick may be a user who disables System Restore who knows what he's
>> doing, but most of them are irresponsible children. You know the way
>> teenagers think they should be running the world?
>>
>> You should re-enable your SR - this is the kind of problem it's
>> designed for, the kind that only *experts* recovered from in
>> previous versions of Windows. Mike Maltby has memorably likened
>> disabling System Restore to throwing away the lifeboat. Maybe
>> Olympic-standard swimmers may reasonably do so, but if they advise
>> everyone else to, they must be somewhere around moron level. Great
>> swimmers but stupid as hell! ;-)
> Strange, last week I did disable it, just went to that screen to
> enable it, it IS enabled!!!! I dunno. But there are no restore
> points created, though. I looked in the Restore folder, each
> subfolder, only the same cab files from several weeks ago that I
> described earlier.
>> But, no, yours can't have been running anyway. Shame, as it's the
>> source of registry backups older than five days or so, though
>> whether it'd be a good idea restoring back more than a month in this
>> situation, who knows?
>>> All the folders are dated 12/03
>>> In Restore/Temp folder, the files are dated 2/16/06, although I've
>>> used the computer right up to today.
>>
>>
>> Nothing large, I suppose. It's disabled in My
>> Computer\Properties\...etc...\Troubleshooting (the precise wording
>> of the path escapes me for the moment here in XP)? I can quite
>> imagine small temp files still being made. Perhaps you should
>> re-enable it and verify that it works. Is the system up-to-date, all
>> critical-and-security updates installed?
>>
>> What CD do you have with this system?Do you have
>> C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL\BASE2.CAB or
>> C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\BASE2.CAB and about 121 other files?
>>
> No CD, but I do have 63 files in the INSTALL folder. I see setup.exe
>
> Hopefully this muddle won't result in reinstall, then I would want to
> install W98SE.
>
> Advice, and thanks.
>
> Mike