Disable Recycle Bin Deletion - Windows Vista
Preventing Accidental Recycle Bin Deletion in Windows Vista
A modification introduced in Windows Vista allowed users to easily remove the Recycle Bin icon from their desktop with a simple right-click and delete action. However, this convenience inadvertently led to a new issue. Users began unintentionally deleting the Recycle Bin itself, rather than simply emptying its contents.
Many found themselves unable to restore the deleted Recycle Bin and subsequently sought assistance. The frequency of these inquiries prompted the creation of a solution to prevent the Recycle Bin's deletion. One user even expressed considerable frustration, resulting in a rather colorful exchange.
Disabling the Delete Option via Registry Edit
The following method involves a minor adjustment to the Windows Registry. This will disable the "Delete" option in the Recycle Bin's context menu, rendering it inoperative. While the menu item will remain visible, attempting to use it will no longer result in deletion.
It's important to note that users can still delete the Recycle Bin by clicking the icon and pressing the Delete key on their keyboard; this behavior cannot be altered through this method.
Manual Registry Hack Instructions Begin by opening the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) through the Start Menu search or the Run dialog box. Navigate to the following key – searching for it may be the most efficient approach:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
On the left-hand pane, create a new key named "Shell". Within "Shell", create another key named "Delete". Finally, create a key named "command" inside "Delete".
Set the default value of the "Delete" key to "Delete". Then, set the default value of the "command" key to "rundll32.exe". This process effectively replaces the original delete command with a new function.
By configuring it to execute rundll32.exe, we prevent any error messages from appearing, as it initiates a valid process that immediately terminates, remaining unnoticed by the user.
The only noticeable change will be the repositioning of the "Delete" menu item, which will now appear above the "Empty Recycle Bin" option.
Pre-Made Registry Tweak for Convenience
For a simplified implementation, a downloadable registry tweak is available. Simply download the file, extract its contents, and double-click "DisableRecycleBinDelete.reg" to import the necessary changes into the registry.
An accompanying file, "EnableRecycleBinDelete.reg", is also included to restore the Recycle Bin's delete functionality to its original state.
Download DisableRecycleBinDelete Registry Hack
