Learning the Computer - Beginning - Deleting/Recycle Bin

~Lesson 22~
Page 5

Review

Let's review what we've learned about deleting files and folders and using the Recycle Bin:

The Recycle Bin is a special folder, located on the Desktop, that holds files and folders until they are ready to be removed from the computer permanently (erased).

The Recycle Bin has two icons. One icon shows the Recycle Bin as empty and means that there are no files or folders in the Recycle Bin at that time. The other icon shows the Recycle Bin with trash in it, meaning there is at least one file or folder in the Recycle Bin at that time.

To open the Recycle Bin, either double-click on the Recycle Bin icon or right-click on the icon and select Open from the shortcut menu.

To close the Recycle Bin, click on the Close ("X") button in the upper right-hand corner of the window, or open the File menu and select Close.

Files and folders are placed in the Recycle Bin first, before being permanently deleted, so that you can change your mind about deleting them if you want to.

Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes ALL of the files and folders that are inside the Recycle Bin at the time it is emptied.

There are many files and folders on the computer that the computer needs in order to run smoothly. Deleting these files and folders can make your computer stop working completely, so it is very important to not delete anything unfamiliar to you.

There are two ways to move files and folders to the Recycle Bin. The first way is to right-click on the file or folder icon and select Delete from the shortcut menu. The second way is to drag-and-drop the file or folder into the Recycle Bin.

To drag-and-drop a file or folder, left-click on the icon, keep the left mouse button held down, and move the mouse until the file or folder is over the Recycle Bin. When the file or folder is over the Recycle Bin, the Recycle Bin darkens in color. When it darkens in color, release the file or folder and it will be placed inside the Recycle Bin. If after dragging-and-dropping the file or folder it still remains on the Desktop, you must repeat the drag-and-drop steps until the file or folder is no longer on the Desktop. You can open the Recycle Bin if you want to confirm that the file or folder has been placed there.

Files and folders that are in the Recycle Bin can be restored (placed back in their original locations on the computer) as long as the Recycle Bin has not yet been emptied. For example, if a file or folder is moved from the My Documents folder into the Recycle Bin, restoring it would place it back into the My Documents folder.

To restore all of the files and folders in the Recycle Bin, click the Restore All button in older versions of Windows, or on the "Restore all items" under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP.

To restore only one file or folder, left-click on the icon. The information in the Recycle Bin window will change to show the original location of the file or folder, the date it was deleted, and other information. To restore this file back to its original location, click the Restore button in older versions of Windows, or on the "Restore this item" under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP.

There are two ways to empty the Recycle Bin. The first way is to open the Recycle Bin and then click the Empty Recycle Bin button in older versions of Windows or click the "Empty the Recycle Bin" line under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP. The second way is to right-click over the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty Recycle Bin from the shortcut menu.

When you empty the Recycle Bin, the computer will give you one more chance to change your mind. A dialog box will appear, asking if you really want to permanently delete the file(s) and/or folder(s). Clicking the Yes button will permanently delete the files and folders; clicking the No button will cancel the action.

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	The Recycle Bin is a special folder, located on the Desktop, that holds files and folders until they are ready to be removed from the computer permanently (erased).
	The Recycle Bin has two icons. One icon shows the Recycle Bin as empty and means that there are no files or folders in the Recycle Bin at that time. The other icon shows the Recycle Bin with trash in it, meaning there is at least one file or folder in the Recycle Bin at that time.
	To open the Recycle Bin, either double-click on the Recycle Bin icon or right-click on the icon and select Open from the shortcut menu.
	To close the Recycle Bin, click on the Close ("X") button in the upper right-hand corner of the window, or open the File menu and select Close.
	Files and folders are placed in the Recycle Bin first, before being permanently deleted, so that you can change your mind about deleting them if you want to.
	Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes ALL of the files and folders that are inside the Recycle Bin at the time it is emptied.
	There are many files and folders on the computer that the computer needs in order to run smoothly. Deleting these files and folders can make your computer stop working completely, so it is very important to not delete anything unfamiliar to you.
	There are two ways to move files and folders to the Recycle Bin. The first way is to right-click on the file or folder icon and select Delete from the shortcut menu. The second way is to drag-and-drop the file or folder into the Recycle Bin.
	To drag-and-drop a file or folder, left-click on the icon, keep the left mouse button held down, and move the mouse until the file or folder is over the Recycle Bin. When the file or folder is over the Recycle Bin, the Recycle Bin darkens in color. When it darkens in color, release the file or folder and it will be placed inside the Recycle Bin. If after dragging-and-dropping the file or folder it still remains on the Desktop, you must repeat the drag-and-drop steps until the file or folder is no longer on the Desktop. You can open the Recycle Bin if you want to confirm that the file or folder has been placed there.
	Files and folders that are in the Recycle Bin can be restored (placed back in their original locations on the computer) as long as the Recycle Bin has not yet been emptied. For example, if a file or folder is moved from the My Documents folder into the Recycle Bin, restoring it would place it back into the My Documents folder.
	To restore all of the files and folders in the Recycle Bin, click the Restore All button in older versions of Windows, or on the "Restore all items" under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP.
	To restore only one file or folder, left-click on the icon. The information in the Recycle Bin window will change to show the original location of the file or folder, the date it was deleted, and other information. To restore this file back to its original location, click the Restore button in older versions of Windows, or on the "Restore this item" under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP.
	There are two ways to empty the Recycle Bin. The first way is to open the Recycle Bin and then click the Empty Recycle Bin button in older versions of Windows or click the "Empty the Recycle Bin" line under "Recycle Bin Tasks" in Windows XP. The second way is to right-click over the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty Recycle Bin from the shortcut menu.
	When you empty the Recycle Bin, the computer will give you one more chance to change your mind. A dialog box will appear, asking if you really want to permanently delete the file(s) and/or folder(s). Clicking the Yes button will permanently delete the files and folders; clicking the No button will cancel the action.

Deleting Files & Folders/Using the Recycle Bin

Review