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Deleting Files in the Trash
Hello,
I have a corrupted file that I managed to find that was jacking my system up. After much effort I managed to get it into the Trash. When I try to empty the Trash I get, “The operation cannot be completed because the item Folder is in use.”
The Folder in question is in the trash and I can’t get rid of it. Is there a Force Delete or something that I can do to get this thing off my computer?
Keith Hill
https://www.LightedPath.biz
Dallas, TX
Final Cut Pro 5.0.2, Motion 2.0.1, Combustion (MAC-v3.0.4), Cinema 4D r9.5, DVD StudioPro 4 (v 3.0.2); MAC G5 (v10.4.3-Tiger) 2Ghz, 1.5 RAM -
8 Replies
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Say Curtis,
This is most serious what you have revealed 🙂 Hopefully one of the suggestions will work for me. I will post back if it does. Thanks.
Keith Hill
https://www.LightedPath.biz
Dallas, TX
Final Cut Pro 5.0.2, Motion 2.0.1, Combustion (MAC-v3.0.4), Cinema 4D r9.5, DVD StudioPro 4 (v 3.0.2); MAC G5 (v10.4.3-Tiger) 2Ghz, 1.5 RAM -
Curtis,
I’ve tried to use the info (which was extensive) but it seems that my problem may be unique or I haven’t seen the area that addresses it.
Let me decribe the problem. On the Desktop is copy of a folder (with no contents in it) that was accidently copy-created while trying to drag the original folder to the Trash to be deleted. This may have happened because everytime I tried to move the Original Folder barely moving it caused the ‘spinning’ wheel to appear. So, I believe an accidental copy was created on the Desktop somehow. In the trash is the FOLDER I am trying to delete that won’t delete. In addition to the error message I described in the 1st post it says that the Foder cannot be deleted because the Folder is in use – making reference to the Folder on the desktop that I can’t move without the spinning wheel showing up and stopping all progress.
Man, I don’t know how to come at this. This is the 1st time I’ve had a corrupted item on my system like this.
Any ideas?
Keith Hill
https://www.LightedPath.biz
Dallas, TX
Final Cut Pro 5.0.2, Motion 2.0.1, Combustion (MAC-v3.0.4), Cinema 4D r9.5, DVD StudioPro 4 (v 3.0.2); MAC G5 (v10.4.3-Tiger) 2Ghz, 1.5 RAM -
hello…
you could try using the command line to get rid of it – here’s an introduction to the command line:
https://www.macobserver.com/tips/macosxcl101/2002/20020524.shtml
basically open the terminal, and type the follwing (one per line):
cd ~/.Trash/
rm -r [FILE]where [FILE] is the name of the folder – so if it’s “Foo Bar”, then it would be:
rm -r Foo\ Bar
typically in most shells if you type the first letter or two and hit the tab key then it will fill in the rest…or you can use a wildcard:
rm -r *
that will delete everything in your trash…
give that a shot and see if it works…
sitruc
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I hasn’t worked but let me make sure I am entering the info into Darwin correctly.
You stated that I should open the Terminal and the (described) “one per line”. When you say “one per line” am I to take that as typing
cd[space]~/.Trash/[hit return then type] rm[space]-r* to delete everything in the Trash.
What would be the command line for deleting a Folder from the Desktop? That’s where the problem is because the Folder in the trash says that this Folder is in use because it is on the Desktop.
Keith Hill
https://www.LightedPath.biz
Dallas, TX
Final Cut Pro 5.0.2, Motion 2.0.1, Combustion (MAC-v3.0.4), Cinema 4D r9.5, DVD StudioPro 4 (v 3.0.2); MAC G5 (v10.4.3-Tiger) 2Ghz, 1.5 RAM -
Can’t you just start up using the system install disk(s) or something else that has an OS on it, like DiskWarroir and then empty the trash? It sounds like whatever you’re trying to delete is in use by your startup disk, so it would follow that you NOT make it in use by the startup disk.
– Don
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Sounds logical to me.
I’ll look through the instructions and find out how to do that. Hopefully, that will work. If you know the quick instructions let me know.
Keith Hill
https://www.LightedPath.biz
Dallas, TX
Final Cut Pro 5.0.2, Motion 2.0.1, Combustion (MAC-v3.0.4), Cinema 4D r9.5, DVD StudioPro 4 (v 3.0.2); MAC G5 (v10.4.3-Tiger) 2Ghz, 1.5 RAM -
Perhaps you can just try booting from the OS install disk and once you’re up and running check to see if that file you want to get rid of is still in the trash bin. Then hit command/shift/delete and see if the trash gets emptied. Since it’s no longer in use by the startup disk it should go bye bye.
– Don
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