# Win2k Recycle Bin Issue

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 20, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759 "2003-01-20T06:17:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759/1 "2003-01-20T06:17:47Z")

</div>

I was deleting files from an old installation of Win2k, proceeding fine until I got an error: “Cannot delete SZGTEJ8T: The filename you specified is invalid or too long. Specify a different filename.” Now, this would be fine and dandy if I could remove the (23) files remaining from the Recycle Bin, but I can’t. They don’t show up in the Recycle Bin dialog - the sidebar says “There are no items in the Recycle Bin.” But the icon shows full, and when I try to empty the Bin it works for a second and then gives me the error.

How do I either remove these files from the Recycle Bin, or alternatively, force them to delete?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759/2 "2003-01-20T06:26:56Z")

</div>

I’ve had it get stuck in a similar manner to that. All I did to get out of it was reboot and try again. Worked for me. YMMV

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759/3 "2003-01-20T07:54:03Z")

</div>

That didn’t work. :x  
The way I repaired my previously corrupted Win2k install wasn’t very clean, and I was probably deleting things I shouldn’t have. This Recycle Bin issue is just in addition to speed issues I’m noticing. But I’d really like to avoid reformatting :o

For the moment I’m just bypassing the Recycle Bin when I delete files. :shrug:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-recycle-bin-issue/149759/4 "2003-01-20T10:56:54Z")

</div>

Can you use Windows Explorer to look at the Recycle Bin directory (C:\Recycler or C:\Recycled) and delete them from there?