Tech Tips

Deleting Without the Recycle Bin

Question: How can I delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin first?

Answer: When you delete a file in Windows, it is first moved to the Recycle Bin and not actually deleted until you "empty" the Recycle Bin. That way, if you delete a file and then later realize you need keep it, you can just restore it from the Recycle Bin. There could be times, however, when you are certain that you want to delete the file and don't need a safety net - for those times, Windows provides a way around the Recycle Bin.

To delete a file immediately, press and hold your Shift key and then press the delete key. Windows will ask if you're sure that you want to delete the file - click on the OK button and the file will be erased.

While this feature can come in handy, you should be VERY careful when using it because there is no way to recover a file that you have erased this way.

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