Nevertheless, your solution, as a general matter, is going to come in handy! a.k.a.
I even tried as the link: 'explorer C:\$Recycle.Bin' but it just caused problems when you're not running as the Admin. At least WE tells you the status of the RB.
I downloaded mine from Icon Archive but you are welcome to get them anywhere you like, this is not advertisement for Icon Archive just trying to make your life easier. Easiest to go back to using the Windows Explorer -> RT-CLICK ON WE -> RT-CLICK ON RECYCLE BIN -> EMPTY RECYCLE BIN. How to change Windows Recycle Bin icon First you will have to download 2 icons from internet, FULL and EMPTY icon and they will have to be ICO files not PNG or any other image file. The whole point under Vista was that you didn't have to open / move any windows to get to the trash. You can change the icon to a 'full'/'empty' Recycle Bin and make believe you know what's in there, but then you'll spend your hours opening up a window to check. Under this scenario, it's DOUBLE-CLICK -> (RB OPENS) -> CLICK 'EMPTY RECYCLE BIN'.
Under Vista, it was a simple RT-CLICK -> EMPTY RECYCLE BIN. It would of course be better if the Windows 7 team made the Recycle Bin pinnable to the Quicklaunch / Taskbar. I just experimented with it, and there are only two complaints. That sounds like a good workaround in all sorts of situations.
