how to permanently empty trash

[Matt Mullen]

Hold down the option key while emptying the trash.

[David Edri]

thanks for the response-but it is still here
nothing seems to work

[Matt Mullen]

Does it give you any dialogue when you try to empty the trash?

What is the file it won’t delete?

[David Edri]

there is about 75 gb in the trash. it is mixed from files and videos and installer packages from all sorts.
the only dialogue box is “are you sure…?” – you cannot undo this action”
and it makes the sound but the files are still there

[Matt Mullen]

Are you an admin user?

If you are sure you want to delete everything you can try emptying the trash via the terminal.

Launch the terminal and type this command: rm -rf ~/.Trash/*

This should empty the trash.

[Curtis Thompson]

hello…

[david edri] “there is about 75 gb in the trash.”

you don’t want to secure empty the trash when you have that amount. secure empty works by overwriting all sectors on the disk that contained the files in the trash numerous times with gibberish, so that you can’t ever read the original info. doing that for that amount of trash would take an insanely long time, and it might not be working because you have so much in there…

try smaller chunks if you can and see how that goes. you can also select “secure empty trash” from the finder menu.

sitruc

[David Edri]

hi,
it says “illegal action”

[David Edri]

hi,
thanks but nothing works
what should i do?
thanks
david

[Matt Mullen]

Try repairing permissions using disk utility. Make sure you are and admin and reboot.

Does it allow you now?

[David Edri]

it has repaired it and was completed successfully
but it does not disappear when i’m emptying it or securely emptying