Right Click the Desktop, then click on Personalize, at the upper left click on Change Desktop Icons. If Recycle Bin is not check, click on the box beside it. See if that helps.

 

 

Inspiron 1501, TL-50, 2gigs of RAM
Seagate Momentus 7200 RPM HD 160 Gigs
Windows XP Media Center & Vista Home Premium

Right click on the desktop>Personalize>Change desktop icons (left side of window under Tasks) and make sure Recycle Bin is checked.

This disappearing Recycle Bin is a recurring saga in first time vista users!!

Most often people are clicking on "Delete" where as in vista they should click on "Empty the Bin"

 

In my opinion it is easily done because if any program has to be "deleted" first, so it goes into the Bin.

Now the quick fingers click on the Bin to see if it is there and an immediate action by the finger again to delete-[instead it should be empty the bin in vista] this is when the Recycle Bin Disappears.

 

snow

:smileysad: That has become a past time for me. I never did it in XP, but seem to delete my trash can a lot in Vista!! :smileyvery-happy:

WHen I first did it I said to myself, "don't tell anyone....they'll laught that you could be so stupid as to delete it."  So about a week later my son says, "Hey Dad...I did something stupid.  I deleted my recycle bin."  I laughed and realized that no matter what you do in life, you aren't the only one.

Case in point...this thread with 3 or 4 people admitting to it.  :smileyvery-happy:

Lost the icon that enables you to switch between windows. any help apprieciated.