Recycle Bin Options | Spring Into Windows XP Service Pack 2

File deletion is part of computer use, just as surely as file installation. Reasons to delete files are numerous, but at its core, file deletion serves two purposes: it clears unwanted and unneeded files so that you don't confuse them with useful files, and it reclaims disk space that these unneeded files occupy.

But deletion is not necessarily as straightforward as it sounds. As you know, there's a file purgatory called the Recycle Bin, where files are sent that are marked for deletion. That's rightWindows doesn't actually delete a file when you tell it to. Instead, Windows marks the file for deletion and sends it to the Recycle Bin.

In fact, you must take four separate actions to actually eliminate a file:

First, you need to delete the file either by selecting it and pressing the Delete key or by right-clicking a file or folder and choosing Delete.
You then must confirm your choice of file deletion. After these initial steps are complete, you are only halfway there.
To complete the file deletion process, you need to empty out the Recycle Bin by right-clicking its Desktop icon and choosing Delete. Alternatively, you can open the Recycle Bin and delete individual files.
You then must confirm that decision in another dialog box.

As you may have encountered, this rather lengthy process is occasionally a lifesaver, giving files a reprieve before accidental deletion. But it can also be time-consuming. It can be especially irritating for more experienced computer users, who wish to delete files right away.

Furthermore, you should probably understand that deleting a file from the Recycle Bin doesn't actually destroy the physical information on the disk. Rather, Windows marks the file's disk space as available for the storage of other files. It is unlikely that the disk space that is marked as available will be written over soon. This is why organizations and individuals with the right software tools are able to access hard disks where files have been deleted and still retrieve those files.