Can't empty the Recycle Bin in Windows XP or in Windows Vista

Symptoms

You cannot empty the Recycle Bin on a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Vista.

This issue occurs because the Recycle Bin folder is corrupted.

To fix this problem, follow these steps to regenerate the Recycle Bin folder by using the command prompt:

Open an elevated command prompt. To do this, Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
Type the appropriate command for your operating system, and then press ENTER.

Windows XP

rd /s C:\recycler

Windows Vista

rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin

Note For hard drives with other letters, substitute C: for the desired hard drive letter.
Close the Command Prompt window.
Right-click an empty area of the desktop and then click Refresh.

Note The Recycle Bin should be empty now. If not, repeat these steps for any other hard drive letter that you have.

The MATS package scans your computer and detects if the computer is running Windows XP or Windows Vista.
The MATS package starts to regenerate the Recycle Bin folder.

Note During this process, a dialog box appears. This dialog box gives you the option to fix the issue automatically (This is the recommended option) or to manually select individual issues to fix. If you manually select individual issues to fix, you have to select the Problems with deleting files and folders or the Others or I don’t know option from the dialog box.
The MATS package verifies that the Recycle Bin folder was regenerated successfully.

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