How can I delete the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop in Windows XP/2003?
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To delete the Recycle Bin icon from the Windows XP/2003 desktop follow these steps:
- Open Registry Editor.
- In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace |
- Find the following key:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
- Delete the above key.
Note: As always, before making changes to your registry you should always make sure you have a valid backup. In cases where youre supposed to delete or modify keys or values from the registry it is possible to first export that key or value(s) to a .REG file before performing the changes.
- Close Registry Editor.
There is no need to reboot. Just wait a few seconds and see how the icon disappears from the desktop.
- In order to restore the Recycle Bin icon to the desktop just re-create the missing key (or import it back to the registry in case youve exported it earlier).
In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace |
- Create the following key:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
(just copy/paste, including the brackets).
Done!
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