Delete files you don't need anymore

If you don't get rid of or recycle things in your house from time to time, you eventually run out of room. This is true for your computer as well. Whether it's a digital picture with everyone’s eyes closed, an outdated resume, or a song you're tired of, at some point everyone needs to delete files. Deleting a file removes it from your computer and frees up space for more files, just like getting rid of old clothes and shoes frees up room in your closet.
To help you avoid accidentally deleting a file, Windows automatically moves a deleted file to the Recycle Bin, rather than removing it from your computer. You can then choose to restore it from the Recycle Bin or permanently remove it by emptying your Recycle Bin. The sections that follow describe how to delete files and use the Recycle Bin.
Note: The following types of files are not placed in the Recycle Bin:

•	Files stored on removable disks
•	Files stored on network drives
•	Files deleted from compressed (zipped) folders

How to delete a file

1.	To delete a file, click it to select it, and then press the DELETE key.
2.	When prompted, click Yes.

When you delete a file, Microsoft Windows XP moves it to the Recycle Bin so you can recover it later, as described in the next section. If you want to permanently remove a file, empty your Recycle Bin.
Tip: To bypass the Recycle Bin when deleting a file, hold down the SHIFT key while pressing DELETE. When prompted, click Yes to immediately remove the file from your computer.

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How to restore a file from the Recycle Bin

If you deleted the wrong file, don't panic. Deleted files are temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin. To protect you from accidentally deleting a file, the Recycle Bin stores a copy of the files you delete.
To restore your file from the Recycle Bin

1.	On your desktop, double-click the Recycle Bin.
2.	In the Recycle Bin, you will see every file you have recently deleted. (As the Recycle Bin fills, Windows will automatically delete the oldest items first.) Find the file you want to recover, right-click it, and then click Restore.
3.	Your file is returned to its original location. You can close the Recycle Bin

Tip: You can easily access your desktop by right-clicking your clock and then clicking Show The Desktop.

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How to empty the Recycle Bin

Rather than wait for Windows to automatically delete files when your Recycle Bin is full, you can free up space for new files by emptying it.
To empty your Recycle Bin

1.	On your desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin, and then click Empty Recycle Bin.
2.	When prompted to confirm the action, click Yes.

Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently removes your files, making them unavailable to most users. However, skilled computer users might be able to recover files even after they have been removed from the Recycle Bin. Therefore, while emptying the Recycle Bin frees up disk space, it is not sufficient for removing highly confidential information. To remove every trace of a file, use a tool such as Cipher.exe to permanently overwrite deleted data.