Windows – Recycle bin on transplanted drive

ntfswindows 10

I built a new machine (Windows 10), but I transplanted 2 HDDs from my old machine to the new one. (not the boot drive, that is a new drive)

I noticed that on the new build, the recycle bin doesn't display files that I deleted before I moved the drives to the new computer. I was definitely using the recycle bin on the old computer, in fact I restored a file just the other day.

I suspect that this is a permissions problem (I have already had to take ownership of some other folders because they had permissions associated that were from the old machine).

How do I regain access to the recycle bins?

Hardware information:

  • This is a home installation, so no Domains or AD are involved
  • Both machines were running Windows 10 Pro
  • The drives are formatted NTFS

Best Answer

Because the system was rebuilt the user account may have the same username but it will have a different UUID and the recycling bin is tied to the users UUID.

Each partition will have a hidden system folder under it called $Recycle.Bin with folders under it for each user. You would need to access the recycle bin folder and then find which folder under it had the files you are looking for.

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