"Recycle Bin Corrupted"

HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

I just finished doing a fresh OS install (WinXP SP2... in fact, I even did it TWICE), and I keep getting an error message that the "Recycle Bin is Corrupted". Microsoft paper says this "was addressed in WinXP SP1" and directs those with this problem to "install latest service pak". Hmmm.... I've got the latest SP and updates and still have this problem.

I've also got Norton Utilities (which I've used for years on several machines with no problem), and changes to its function make no difference.

Also, during the 2nd install, I got a couple of "svchost errors" early in the process and tried turning off hyperthreading (never got these errors during the 1st install), and the rest of the install went OK. In both cases, I finished with "Recycle Bin Corrupted" problem.

Anyone experience this before and know of the fix?

Thanks,

Hose

Google · Sponsor

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

By fresh install.......are you completely reformatting your hard drive, or just re-installing over the top of an existing XP installation?

Do NOT use Norton Utilities. There's various reasons, but the corrupted recycle bin is one of them. Disabling the "protected bin" in Norton doesn't uninstall it, it just leaves the crap in there, and if that's corrupting the Recycle Bin, disabling it won't fix the problem.

Reformat your drive, wipe it completely clean. Then, do a clean install of XP. Do NOT install Norton.

The best thing to do is use your drive's manufacturer's install utility (MaxBlast, LifeGuard, etc) to do a complete, low-level format and repartitioning. This will ensure that there's no crap left on the drive to cause problems, and will alert you to potential drive issues. Then, install XP. See if that fixes the problem (it should).
_________________
Big enough to scare you

HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

Thanks for the reply. I did everything you suggested already (except not installing Norton... I've always liked some of what it does, and I have it running on others now with no problem... Norton has never caused me a Recycle Bin problem before, so I'm hoping the trouble is elsewhere) Right now, I'm running with the Recycle Bin disabled... hoping for a better solution...

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Dump Norton.....trust me. I mean, what good does it do to have it installed, if you have to disable the recycle bin completely?

Norton is a resource hog, prone to corruption, and it's main "features" can be handled by much less intrusive and more stable programs. AVG antivirus, for one, is much better, and free.
_________________
Big enough to scare you

HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

Yeah, I hear you. I quit using Norton AV a few years ago, but still liked some of the utilities.

Plodding....

HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

Follow up....

Uninstalled/Reinstalled Norton... no change. I suspect using v2003 is the problem. Windows probably made some change that required Norton update, but as I'm not getting current updates with Norton, it left me vulnerable. Guess it's time to retire Norton.

So, I replaced Norton with System Mechanic.... seems to work just fine.

HoseB · SirTweaksabit Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 260

Follow Up....

Recycle Bin Corrupted problem resurfaced. Apparently others have suffered this malady, and certain spyware is suspected as culprit.

Deleted recycle bin from command line and let Windows recreate. Appears once again to be fixed.

FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject:

Hose norton prolly messed with your HDD some way or another full formatt your HDD and DO NOT INSTALL NORTON AT ALL, then see what happens.

FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject:

and btw PC Chillin is much better than Norton could ever be.