PLEASE help me delete this file!

eroxx · Nov 10, 2012

This is a COMPLETE mystery.

I have a folder in my trash that I CANNOT delete. I moved it to my desktop, and here is a screenshot of the file. It says there is 0 bytes in it. I've tried terminal commands, onyx, all sorts of things. I THINK the issue is with the strange character in the filename. When I try and rename it, it won't let me. .. Like I said, I've tried everything... Here's a screenshot of the folder:

http://o7.no/Uv87UX

If I double click on it, it shows empty.

WizardHunt · Nov 10, 2012

eroxx said:
This is a COMPLETE mystery.

I have a folder in my trash that I CANNOT delete. I moved it to my desktop, and here is a screenshot of the file. It says there is 0 bytes in it. I've tried terminal commands, onyx, all sorts of things. I THINK the issue is with the strange character in the filename. When I try and rename it, it won't let me. .. Like I said, I've tried everything... Here's a screenshot of the folder:

http://o7.no/Uv87UX

If I double click on it, it shows empty.

It might be in use. Try rebooting then go to your trash and delete it.
If that does not work , try booting up in safe mode and then delete it. Make sure you empty your trash can afterwards.

eroxx · Nov 10, 2012

rebooting doesn't work (had already tried that)

how do you boot a mac in safe mode?

----------

got it ... ⇧ key... I'll try that, but not feeling highly confidant.

ConCat · Nov 10, 2012

There should never be a reason that a completely empty folder can't be deleted. At the very least it should be renameable. It sounds like filesystem corruption to me. I'd run a disk check just to be sure.

EDIT: Assuming that wasn't in the "everything" that you tried. Heh.

Occamsrazr · Nov 10, 2012

have you tried "rm -rf <dir>"

eroxx · Nov 10, 2012

ConCat · Nov 10, 2012

Okay, what's the output of:

Code:

ls -lO@ /path/to/folder/..

er, actually, the output of its entry in its parent directory. Details details...

iEdd · Nov 10, 2012

What does ls think it's called?

Assuming it's on desktop, type:

Code:

cd Desktop
ls -l

into Terminal.

Edit: Oops, beaten. Anyway, hopefully ls gives you a name (even if weird) that you can feed to rm -rf.

DisMyMac · Nov 11, 2012

Try duplicating the file, then deleting the duplicate. (Pointless?)

Alfred.Woodden · Nov 11, 2012

Trash-it mac app is by far the best for deleting "difficult" stubborn files. Works like a charm every single time.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/8214/trash-it!

ConCat · Nov 11, 2012

Okay, what's the output of:

Code:

ls -lO@

eroxx · Nov 11, 2012

Eric-iMac:contents ericuf$ ls -10@
ls: illegal option -- 0
usage: ls [-ABCFGHLOPRSTUWabcdefghiklmnopqrstuwx1] [file ...]

----------

This is what happens when using tra****:

http://o7.no/QywXBZ

I told you, this is the strangest problem ever

joe-h2o · Nov 11, 2012

eroxx said:
Eric-iMac:contents ericuf$ ls -10@
ls: illegal option -- 0
usage: ls [-ABCFGHLOPRSTUWabcdefghiklmnopqrstuwx1] [file ...]

----------

This is what happens when using tra****:

http://o7.no/QywXBZ

I told you, this is the strangest problem ever

That's a letter o not a zero. You should copy and paste the terminal command if you are unsure of the particular characters!

The "illegal option" has nothing to do with your stubborn file, it is the ls command telling you that zero is not a valid argument to pass to it.

eroxx · Nov 11, 2012

Got it, but the above post and the error was response to using tra****.app ...

mlynchmob16 · Nov 11, 2012

When I have had issues where things refuse to delete, I usually just open up Activity Monitor and Force Quit Finder. Finder automatically resets and has always let me delete/empty trash after this. Hope it helps!

eroxx · Nov 11, 2012

2 things:

1) I will try that - thanks for the idea (quitting finder)

2) Assuming it CAN'T delete, can it cause harm? I have it in a subfolder of my mac right now, so I won't "see" it, but if it's possible that it can jam up other things, that's a different story ...

ZMacintosh · Nov 11, 2012

try trashing it again and secure empty trash in standard user mode or if not safe mode and secure erase

Occamsrazr · Nov 11, 2012

Have you used tab complete? That will automatically escape any characters that need to be escaped.

Another thing you can do is "mv <weirdname> <normalname>" and then "rm -rf <normalname>"

Use tab completes or Ctrl-D completes for all files, just type the first few characters of the file name then do a tab or Ctrl-D

cfs112 · Nov 11, 2012

i suggest running disk utility and "repair disk permissions". then re-boot.

Techy66 · Dec 10, 2012

Can't Remove files from Trash

I have an external HD from which i sent many files to the trash. When i empty the trash either standard empty trash or via Terminal window using the many commands suggested in this forum, the files from my external drive still remain.

Is there any way to delete these files that the iMAC system does not seem to recognize as trash?
Thanks
Techy66

kaelell · Dec 10, 2012

I used a program called Trashme to solve problems with files that I could not delete.

highly recommended

simsaladimbamba · Dec 10, 2012

Techy66 said:
I have an external HD from which i sent many files to the trash. When i empty the trash either standard empty trash or via Terminal window using the many commands suggested in this forum, the files from my external drive still remain.

Is there any way to delete these files that the iMAC system does not seem to recognize as trash?
Thanks
Techy66

Have you checked Finder > select external HDD >> GET INFO >>> Format and Sharing & Permissions yet?

GGJstudios · Dec 10, 2012

kaelell said:
I used a program called Trashme to solve problems with files that I could not delete.

In most cases, app removal software like TrashMe doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:

Best way to FULLY DELETE a program

For problems deleting items or emptying the trash, you may find some useful ideas here:

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
Solving Trash Problems
Can't move files to trash
Can't Empty Trash on a Mac

kaelell · Dec 10, 2012

GGJstudios said:
In most cases, app removal software like TrashMe doesn't do a thorough job of finding and removing files/folders related to deleted apps. For more information, read this and this. If you just want to delete the app, drag the .app file to the trash. No other software needed. If you want to completely remove all associated files/folders, no removal apps will do the job.

The most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion:

Best way to FULLY DELETE a program

For problems deleting items or emptying the trash, you may find some useful ideas here:

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
Solving Trash Problems
Can't move files to trash
Can't Empty Trash on a Mac

cheers,

I must say however I tried many times to delete a particular empty folder that had a permissions issue. In the end it was Trashme that let me get rid of it.

GGJstudios · Dec 10, 2012

kaelell said:
I must say however I tried many times to delete a particular empty folder that had a permissions issue. In the end it was Trashme that let me get rid of it.

If you want to use it, that's your choice, but you don't need any 3rd party app to delete files on a Mac. You can also resolve permissions issues without 3rd party apps.

PLEASE help me delete this file!

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