When you choose to delete files, Windows "recycles" rather than
permanently deletes them. You send files to a "recycling bin" (similar to
the MacIntosh trashcan) and later empty the bin or restore the files to
their original location. The recycling bin icon appears empty when empty,
and appears full when one or more files have been "recycled" - deleted,
but not yet permanently deleted.

If you are sure you want to permanently delete a file and wish to save
yourself a step, you can immediately delete a file by using shift delete -
select the file, then holding shift, press the delete key. (Note: This
keyboard shortcut is unreliable at best; it doesn't always work!)

You can also disable the recycling bin entirely - right click the Recycle
Bin, choose properties, and indicate that you wish to permanently
delete rather than recycle all files (in global) or files on particular drives
(on the tab for that drive).

Note that files on a floppy disk (and files accessed via Windows 3.1's File
Manager) will always be permanently deleted immediately - not recycled.
Files deleted through your word processing program or other programs
(especially if they are Windows 3.1 programs) may also be deleted rather
than recycled, depending upon the program.

USING THE RECYCLING BIN
To EMPTY the Recycle Bin:
1. Right click the Recycle Bin icon, and choose empty recycle bin.
2. OR Double click the Recycle Bin to open it and choose empty recycle bin.
3. OR Double click the Recycle Bin icon to open it, select the files you wish
    to delete, and press the delete key.

To RESTORE files to their original location:
1. Open the Recycle Bin, and select the file or files you wish to restore.
2. Then choose file, restore.
Your files will now be visible again in their original location.

CHANGING RECYCLING BIN PROPERTIES
Since the recycle bin by default reserves 5% of your hard drive (which
is 50MB if you have a 1GB hard drive), you may want to save hard drive
storage space by changing the default for all drives or for one drive in
particular. You do so in Recycle Bin's properties.

To CHOOSE Recycle Bin Properties
1. Right click on the Recycle Bin icon and choose properties
2. OR Double click to open Recycle Bin, right click its icon at the top left
    of your screen, and choose properties
3. OR Double click to open Recycle Bin, and if you have set view, toolbar
    so that your toolbar is visible, click the properties icon.



SCREEN SHOT: This Windows user chose one
recycle bin setting - 3% - for all her hard drives. If you
only have one hard drive (apart from a cd-rom drive),
you will only have one drive listed here.


To CHANGE Recycle Bin Properties
1. If you wish to be questioned each time you delete a file,
    be sure to check the delete confirmation box.
2. Use the global tab to change properties for all drives, or
    each drive tab to change properties for individual drives.
    (This means reserving a different percentage for each drive).
3. Move the size indicator from 5% to 2-3%.
    (Consider the size of your hard drive, how much space you're
    willing to reserve for the recycle bin, and how large the files
    are that you usually delete. For most people, 1% is enough. )
4. Click apply for each change, and o.k. when done.

PRACTICE EXERCISE:
1. Create a new text document on your desktop. Drag it into
    the recycle bin.
2. Double click on recycle bin to open it.
3. Select the new text document, then choose file, restore. Notice
     that it returns to your desktop.
4. Choose file, empty recycle bin. When the windows is empty,
    close the recycle bin.
5. Select the to do scrap you created previously on your desktop,
     and drag it to the recycle bin.
6. Right click the recycle bin, and choose empty recycle bin.
7. Right click the recycle bin, and choose properties. Note your
    choices in the global tab.

NEXT:   Finding Files       continue

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