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Windows users who have wanted a clean desktop have always been stopped by one thing: the recycle bin. That is the one icon on the desktop that you cannot remove, or at least that's what Microsoft intended. I tried Robertwan's method for hiding the recycle bin, but changing the recycle bin icon to blank and hiding the remaining text behind the taskbar was a bit too cheap for me, and it wouldn't even work in my case because the taskbar was at the top (i was changing my system to look like Mac OS X). So, i did a little research and it turns out that the recycle bin can actually be taken off the desktop by deleting a simple registry value.
Note that this is a computer wide setting. Turning off the Recycle Bin will do it for all the users on your computer. Also note that in the pictures you see, it will look like i'm using Windows 7, but it's actually just XP with a Windows 7 theme on it.
How this works (technical):
There is a Class ID in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID that defines a sort of virtual recycle bin folder which will display the actual contents in C:\RECYCLER. That Class ID is referenced in explorer's local machine registry settings, which makes it appear on your desktop. Deleting this reference will take care of that (or in this case, we will simply rename it so it will be invalidated, that way we can easily name it back later to restore the reference), however, it will not delete the actual referenced key in Classes Root, so programs such as RocketDock that will try to open the recycle bin will still be able to since that is what they are referencing.
Also, ever heard of the expression "Out of sight, out of mind"? That can apply here. The most probable reason why Microsoft didn't want users taking the recycle bin off their desktop is because, outside of going to the hidden system folder C:\RECYCLER, that is the only way you can get to your recycle bin. And, that means you will have no way of emptying the recycle bin. So, you go about your business, you delete files and forget to empty the recycle bin every once and and while (because you can't), and pretty soon your recycle bin will get full, and you'll have no way to empty it. That is why i strongly suggest you have some other way to get to it. One way is to put the recycle bin in your quick launch. Drag the Recycle Bin icon down to your quick launch bar. Another way is to have some sort of launch bar application (like RocketDock or RK Launcher) and have the recycle bin on there. You can put it there the same way as in your quick launch, just drag it.
Note that this is a computer wide setting. Turning off the Recycle Bin will do it for all the users on your computer. Also note that in the pictures you see, it will look like i'm using Windows 7, but it's actually just XP with a Windows 7 theme on it.
How this works (technical):
There is a Class ID in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID that defines a sort of virtual recycle bin folder which will display the actual contents in C:\RECYCLER. That Class ID is referenced in explorer's local machine registry settings, which makes it appear on your desktop. Deleting this reference will take care of that (or in this case, we will simply rename it so it will be invalidated, that way we can easily name it back later to restore the reference), however, it will not delete the actual referenced key in Classes Root, so programs such as RocketDock that will try to open the recycle bin will still be able to since that is what they are referencing.
Also, ever heard of the expression "Out of sight, out of mind"? That can apply here. The most probable reason why Microsoft didn't want users taking the recycle bin off their desktop is because, outside of going to the hidden system folder C:\RECYCLER, that is the only way you can get to your recycle bin. And, that means you will have no way of emptying the recycle bin. So, you go about your business, you delete files and forget to empty the recycle bin every once and and while (because you can't), and pretty soon your recycle bin will get full, and you'll have no way to empty it. That is why i strongly suggest you have some other way to get to it. One way is to put the recycle bin in your quick launch. Drag the Recycle Bin icon down to your quick launch bar. Another way is to have some sort of launch bar application (like RocketDock or RK Launcher) and have the recycle bin on there. You can put it there the same way as in your quick launch, just drag it.
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Signing UpStep 1Opening Registry Editor
First, you'll need to open up the Windows Registry Editor. For all you supergeeks that could do this in your sleep (like me), continue on.
Now, to open registry editor, first press Windows+R (or go to Start->Run). Then type "regedit" in the box that comes up (Picture 1), and click OK. It should look something like the 2nd picture.
And it should go without saying, don't start pressing buttons in regedit if you don't know what your doing. You can really mess up a lot of stuff pretty easily.
Now, to open registry editor, first press Windows+R (or go to Start->Run). Then type "regedit" in the box that comes up (Picture 1), and click OK. It should look something like the 2nd picture.
And it should go without saying, don't start pressing buttons in regedit if you don't know what your doing. You can really mess up a lot of stuff pretty easily.
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1.Open up My Computer
2.Click Organize>Folder and search options
3.Click the View tab, and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and a message should pop up. Click yes.
4.Go to the directory were your system folder is, (in this case recycle bin should be right in the C:\ drive (or hard drive)) and delete it.
Note: you may have to be an administrator, since you are at school. In that case, try administrator as a username and sysadmin as a password. Good day