How to Bypass the Recycle Bin When Deleting Files

Last reviewed: August 14, 1997
Article ID: Q171051

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0
Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

When you delete files in the Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 operating systems graphical user interface, your files first go to the Recycle Bin so that they may be recovered. When deleting a large amount of files, this process may not be desirable because of the amount of time it takes to move them to the Recycle Bin and then empty the Recycle Bin, essentially deleting them twice. There is an easy way to bypass the Recycle Bin altogether.

MORE INFORMATION

When deleting a folder or group of files:

Select the folder or group of files to be deleted.
Hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the DELETE key.

-or-

Open a command prompt window.
Use the MS-DOS command DEL to delete the folder or files.

NOTE: Be aware that after files are deleted in this manner, they cannot be undeleted or recovered.

Additional query words: win95 deleting permanent
Keywords : nthowto NTSrvWkst ntui prodnt kbui kbusage
Version : 4.0 95
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: August 14, 1997
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