Restore Recycle Bin icon in Windows Vista / XP

So you lost your Recycle Bin icon. Maybe you deleted it on purpose, or maybe you do not know how it disappeared. Assuming you did not turn off all your desktop icons (right-click your desktop, choose View from the menu, and choose Show Desktop Icons if it does not have a check next to it, which will turn them back on), it is easy to get back, so stop your sweating and follow these simple steps.

1. Restore Recycle Bin icon in Windows Vista
   
   
2. Restore Recycle Bin icon in Windows XP

Restore Recycle Bin icon in Windows Vista :

1. Right-click on your desktop and choose personalize
   
   http://gallery.techarena.in/data/516...in_Vista_1.jpg
   
   
   
2. Click on the Change Desktop Icons link in the upper left hand corner
   
   http://gallery.techarena.in/data/516...in_Vista_2.jpg
   
   
   
3. In the Desktop Icons Settings window, check the Recycle Bin box and click OK.
   
   http://gallery.techarena.in/data/516...in_Vista_3.jpg

Thats it, the Recycle Bin is there on your desktop!

Restore Recycle Bin icon in Windows XP :

Method 1:

1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Click the Desktop tab
4. Click the Customize button
5. Click Restore Default
6. Exit all windows and restart your computer

Method 2:

Quote:

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Note: Be sure to make a backup copy of your registry prior to making any changes.

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1. Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter]
   
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Desktop \ Namespace
   
3. Hold the mouse on Namespace and right-click once. From the resulting menu, select Edit>> New>> Key
   
4. Copy and Paste the following Key code (including the brackets): (645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E)
   
5. Press Enter on your keyboard, exit the registry editor and restart your system.

Method 3:

Download this registry fix to repair or replace the recycle bin: Download