Eraser complains about Recycle Bin Files with access denied

[Joel]

You seem to get a problem - error erasing file X and that file is from the recycle bin. You check the recycle bin and see nothing. What do you do?

The first thing to do is to run Eraser as an administrator and re-run the Erase. That should resolve most cases of this issue.

If that does not work, chances are the recycle bin has been corrupt (it happens with time.) What you should do is ensure that every user on your computer has emptied their recycle bin and then delete the $RECYCLE.BIN folder or the RECYCLED folder in the root all drives on your computer. If they do not exist:

Under Vista

• go to Organise | Folder and Search Options | View
• Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System files
• Check Show Hidden files, folders (and Drives, for Windows 7)

Under XP

• go to Tools | Folder Options | View
• Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System files
• Check Show Hidden files and folders

This will reset the recycle bin database on your computer and should solve the problem of those ghost files. If you are unsure whether the file data is on the drive, do run an unused space erase after that.

Joel