I don't know what version of win you are running but on XP the recycle bin in in the root of C under recycled. To view though you have to have system files unhidden. If you have further questions the best resource usually is the knowledge base.

Here's exactly what you do to recover the missing Recycle Bin On Win2K:
 
Type regedit on RUN and then go to this directory in RegEdit..
 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr
entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace. In the left pane, right-click the NameSpace key and select New, Key. Type exactly:
 
 
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

that was something i did not know, i did a search on that key and came up to a norton removal page first off.
 
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=171
 
Interesting info ooops

Yo, "oooops"..........
 
Thanks for the heads-up. Went into the Registry as suggested, but found the file you mentioned (645FF040-5081-101B-9FO8-00AA002F954E) already there. Wasn't certain if you were suggesting that I select "NEW", re-type and enter the same data anyway.
 
Interestingly enough, while poking around inside W2K, I un-hid my "protected" Explorer files/folders.......and up pops a folder named "Recycled". When I opened it, there were some of the files I have been deleting.
 
Still can't get an Recycle Bin icon on my desktop, or erase the protected files within Norton AV's "Protected Recycle Bin". Norton's keeps responding with "Unexpected values found in the Recycle Bin data file".
 
When I try to "delete" the files located within the un-hidden "Recycled" folder from within Explorer, it removes the "deleted" folders, then re-inserts them under a new, consequtively numbered folder-name; i.e....I highlight and delete folder "DC1" within the "Recycled" folder. "DC1" is removed, but is then replaced with "DC2".
 
Hmmmmmmmmmm!

madacgrav -
 
Thanks. Followed the instructions, and it appears I've finally got the old Recycle Bin back.
 
Do you happen to know what file location Norton's Protected Recycle Bin stores to-be deleted files in?
 
One of the reasons I was trying to get back to the non-Norton's bin was that the Norton's version wouldn't let me truely delete 1500 files that it showed were being "protected". Those files still have to be out there somewhere. I just can't find them.

It looks like my standard Windows Recycle Bin is just screwed.
 
I have the icon back on the desktop; it shows up in Explorer in the directory tree; and, when I right-click the desktop icon then left-click "Empty Recycle Bin", "x" number of files are indicated as being available to delete, and I am give the option to delete them all. What I can't do is review the files to be deleted when I open the Recycle Bin itself. When I open it, "objects" shows "0".
 
Any ideas?
 
SnapperOne

I can't think of anything else dude. I would do one of two things.
 
1. Deal with it (Sucky option) and research some more (I will try to help)
2. Backup any important data and reinstall OS
 
Not the best of options. but personally i don't like to "deal" with anything, i would reformat.

I had the same problem and it took a while to figure it out. Here's how I solved it. Open Windows explorer and find the C:\RECYCLED folder. Drag it to the desktop and rename it( I renamed mine "problem"). Restart your computer and see if the recycle bin works. If it does, great. You may have to turn off Norton protection first. Next, restart your computer in Safe mode and run Scandisk. Have Scandisk automatically fix errors. When Scandisk is finished, restart your comp. and then you should be able to delete the "problem" folder. If you are asked for confirmation about deleting any files, you should be safe because Windows creates a new RECYCLED folder upon startup. It turns out that in my case, this all started because of bug that I had picked up and it was messing with my Norton Antivirus. Good Luck and Happy Computing!!