deleting files "in progress off desktop"

[Drummer281]

Hey I have started to download a file and now I have decided that I don't want it anymore. I tried to delete it but ofcourse you can't delete it while it is downloading. Is there a way I can force-delete it or something? How do I get rid of it aaaah?!

phil

[jelloshotsrule]

stop the download and try. if that doesn't work. quit the app downloading it and try. if that doesn't work, restart.

[alset]

I had this happen to me last month. If rebooting doesn't help you will have to delete it from the Terminal. CD to your Desktop, type "rm filename" and press return. That should do it.

Out of curiosity, what app created the file?

Dan

[Drummer281]

No that's not what I mean... Thisn is what it says when I want to move it into the trash:

"The item"..." is being used by another task right now. (Other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the Trash.)
Try again when the other task is complete.

--Well duuuh, ofcourse... it's tring to download... but how do I force delet it... it's just a video file that hasn't fully downloaded...

HELP!

[pmac933]

Originally posted by Drummer281
No that's not what I mean... Thisn is what it says when I want to move it into the trash:

"The item"..." is being used by another task right now. (Other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the Trash.)
Try again when the other task is complete.

--Well duuuh, ofcourse... it's tring to download... but how do I force delet it... it's just a video file that hasn't fully downloaded...

HELP!

I had the same problem with a text file that I downloaded. Since I'm not the most prolific unix user, I just booted my Mac into OS 9, deleted the file and emptied the trash, and then booted back into X. You can try this if you're uncomfortable using the Terminal (and if you have a dual-boot Mac).

[tjwett]

if you are using Safari click the little x next to the file in the download window, or in IE double click the file in the download window and hit Cancel. after the file has stopped there should be no reason why you can't trash it.

[Drummer281]

how do I get into OS 9?And then back to OS X? That sounds like a good idea...I just don't know how - rescue me,


Phil

[Drummer281]

HOW do I get into OS 9 if I have it installed and how do I get back into OS X?

Thank you!

[altivec 2003]

Originally posted by Drummer281
HOW do I get into OS 9 if I have it installed and how do I get back into OS X?

Thank you!
The suggestion of using the terminal to delete the file is better than going into mac os9, but if you feel more comfortable doing that you can click on the system preferences then on "startup disk" which is under "system". Wait a little bit as it scans your hard drive then click on mac os 9 icon. Of course this won't work if you don't have mac os 9 installed. If you don't then you should really go into the terminal and type "cd /users/(your user name)/desktop" then "rm (filename)". It has to work.... hope this helps

[pEZ]

Well, do you have OS 9 installed? A quick way to check is to go into System Preferences, and go to Startup Disk. If you have 9 installed, it will be an option, otherwise you're stuck in X. If 9 is an option, click on it and then click restart. You should be able to delete it from there. Follow a similar procedure to get back to X from 9 - go to Control Panels -> Startup Disk, switch back to X and restart.

[Spock]

CTRL Click the file go to get info, change the .mpg or wheatever to a .doc file and then open the file with text edit or whatever and delete all the text inside then file save changes and drag to trash.