Windows XP: Limit Recycle Bin size

As most people know, you can limit the size of your recycle bin by right-clicking on it, going into the properties and moving the slider for Maximum size of Recycle Bin. The problem is that anyone that logs on to the computer can change the setting. Another issue is that if one person changes the setting it affects all users. What if you want to lock down the max amount of disk space used?

The answer can be found in the Group Policy Editor. You can use the Group Policy Editor to specify a maximum percentage of disk space that can be used by the recycle bin. By using a Group Policy, the setting is fixed and cannot be changed by the users.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Open the Group Policy Editor (on the local maching, Start -> Run -> gpedit.msc).
  2. Expand (click the plus (+) sign) next to Administrative Templates under User Configuration.
  3. Expand Windows Components.
  4. Click the Windows Explorer folder.
  5. In the right pane, double click on Maximum allowed Recycle Bin size.
  6. Click the radio button next to Enabled.
  7. Set the Maximum Recycle Bin size: to whatever percentage you want. Note that the arrow buttons move it in increments of 10% but you can type a number manually. The percentage must be a whole number like 2%, not like 2.5%.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. Click OK and exit the GP Editor.

The setting affects all volumes on which the recycle bin resides. No restart is necessary for this to take effect. If this is done on a Windows 200x domain, the policy will take effect when the next policy update or login (per machine) takes place.

Right-click on your Recycle Bin and go into the Properties. You will now see the max size set to whatever you set it to in the GP. Not even administrators can change this value unless they change the GP entry.

Screenshot
Maximum allowed Recycle Bin size, Group Policy Editor:
Maximum allowed Recycle Bin size

(Article 6, Day 8 )

28.Mar.06 Tech Tip, Windows

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4 Responses to “Windows XP: Limit Recycle Bin size”

  1. Vasile Boros | July 16th, 2007 at 5:55 am

    hy,

    I’m trying to put the size for recycle bin in MB, not in percentage.
    Does anybody know how to do that? And I want to do that with less administrative effort.

    I admit I didn’t look how this it’s possible.

    Maybe somebody has an ideea.

    Thanks in advance and I’m waiting for a response.

  2. wyckedone | July 17th, 2007 at 11:29 pm

    Unless there is a 3rd party program, managing the Recycle Bin size using GP (or RB properties) is by percentage only. If you are dealing with a lot of machines, I would find out what the smallest hard drive size is out of all of the systems. Set the percentage according to the smallest drive size.

  3. etc | July 25th, 2007 at 4:59 am

    Hi

    I had the same problem. Yes, it’s possible to do that if you create a script that will modify the registry settings, but it’s very tricky to do that.
    Have fun

  4. Daily Digest for 2008-10-22 » Yerse | October 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am

    [...] Windows XP: Limit Recycle Bin size [...]

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