A server-side recycle bin system for retaining computer files and information is disclosed. The system comprises a local computer system, and a server including a server-side recycle bin. One or more persistent storage devices, providing the files and directories to be protected, are present either as part of the local computer system or as part of the server. The local computer system and the server may be connected via a wide area computer network, a local area network, the Internet, of any other method or combination of methods. A file manager application running on the local computer system interacts with a file serving application on the server such that there is generated a retained file in the server-side recycle bin.