Cant trash file, help!

[markjones05]

I have this file on my desktop that i cant seem to trash. Whenever i try to do so a message comes up saying the file is being used by another task although it is obviously not. What should i do, how can i get it off my desktop? I know that you can boot up into classic and go to the desktop and erase it but i am trying to avoid classic because whenever i go there my computer seems to crash.

[zbug]

hey try these

1) chk background proc see if its running
2) log in on another acct and del it ?
3) this always work :) log with roon and trash away :D

[timbloom]

Make sure there are no apps running, also, try force-quitting the finder and then trashing that file again.

If logging in as another user or rebooting does not fix it (which it should), you can use the terminal to do it

type:
sudo rm
followed by the path to the file.

but be sure you don't erase anything essential leaving just a '/' will erase your whole drive.

[markjones05]

thanx guys

[question fear]

you can try going to the terminal
and entering:
cd desktop (or wherever the file is located)
rm file name
that should eliminate it.
To make it clearer (i am in some pain from a fresh tongue piercing)
if your file is pdf.pdf, and it is on your desktop...
terminal
cd desktop
rm pdf.pdf
exit

let me know if this helps, and if any of those more versed in unix can better explain this, feel free.
--carly

[markjones05]

i cant log in on a different account and access my desktop through the users folder. I even made the second login an admin and i still was unable to acess it. I am afraid to access the terminal cause i am unfamiliar with it and would need very specific instructions. It is an avi file.

[markjones05]

Well i went into the termianl anyway and managed to figure it out after about 10 different attempts. Any way thanx for the tips i wouldnt have been able to do it without them.

[pseudobrit]

This works every time, and is very simple --

(in Terminal) type:

sudo rm -r

Make sure you put a space after the "r"

Then drag the file into the Terminal window to copy its path.

Hit enter. You may need to use your admin password.
Sorry I didn't get here earlier, this really is the easiest way to kill a locked file. It's so easy it's one of the few Terminal commands I know by heart.

[MrMacMan]

As for those who don't like the terminal stuff here is a graphical:

http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16188