Automatically Pin Recycle Bin to Start Menu using PowerShell, Batch, or VBScript
Have you ever wondered why the Recycle Bin is not pinned to the Start Menu by default in Windows? It seems incredibly moronic that we have to manually pin it to the Start Menu. In this article, we will explore how to automatically pin the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using PowerShell, Batch, or VBScript.
Why is the Recycle Bin not pinned to the Start Menu by default?
Microsoft has not provided a clear answer as to why the Recycle Bin is not pinned to the Start Menu by default. Some speculate that it is to prevent users from accidentally deleting files. However, this argument is weak, as the Recycle Bin can still be accessed through the Desktop or File Explorer. Others suggest that it is a design choice to keep the Start Menu clean and uncluttered. Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the Recycle Bin is not pinned to the Start Menu by default, and many users find this annoying.
Pinning the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using PowerShell
PowerShell is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to automate various tasks in Windows. To pin the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using PowerShell, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + X and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the menu.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Recycle Bin.lnk" -Target "shell:RecycleBinFolder"This command creates a symbolic link in the Start Menu's Programs folder that points to the Recycle Bin folder. The next time you open the Start Menu, you should see the Recycle Bin pinned to the top of the list.
Pinning the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using Batch
Batch is a scripting language that is built into Windows. To pin the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using Batch, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R and type "cmd" in the Run dialog box. Press Enter.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
mklink /D "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Recycle Bin.lnk" "shell:RecycleBinFolder"This command creates a symbolic link in the Start Menu's Programs folder that points to the Recycle Bin folder. The next time you open the Start Menu, you should see the Recycle Bin pinned to the top of the list.
Pinning the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using VBScript
VBScript is a scripting language that is built into Windows. To pin the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using VBScript, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R and type "notepad" in the Run dialog box. Press Enter.
- Type the following code and save the file with a .vbs extension:
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.CreateShortcut "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Recycle Bin.lnk"
SetShortcut.TargetPath = "shell:RecycleBinFolder"
SetShortcut.SaveThis script creates a shortcut in the Start Menu's Programs folder that points to the Recycle Bin folder. The next time you open the Start Menu, you should see the Recycle Bin pinned to the top of the list.
In this article, we have explored how to automatically pin the Recycle Bin to the Start Menu using PowerShell, Batch, or VBScript. These methods take advantage of Windows' built-in functionality to create a symbolic link or shortcut in the Start Menu's Programs folder. This way, the Recycle Bin is always easily accessible from the Start Menu.