Can't trash a file?

VegasMac · May 4, 2005, 12:55 AM

Hello, so for some reason my windows media player didn't work so i redownloaded, and now it works fine, but the old folder is still on my powerbook G4, for some reason when i go to delete it, it says that it's locked how do I unlock it and delete is there a simple way?

840quadra · May 4, 2005, 01:00 AM

Right click (or Control I) get info on the locked file.

After you are in the Get information window, uncheck the "locked" option in the main Get info window.

Benjamin · May 4, 2005, 01:02 AM

or.. hold down option when emptying the trash.

VegasMac · May 4, 2005, 01:46 AM

The problem is I already tried all that and nothing keeps saying it's locked, and there's no even a check mark next to the lock under get info. Now what?

Benjamin · May 4, 2005, 01:48 AM

what are the permissions for the file(s)? are they owned by you or the system.

840quadra · May 4, 2005, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin

what are the permissions for the file(s)? are they owned by you or the system.

Also, is there an active process related to this program that you are trying to delete?

VegasMac · May 4, 2005, 02:38 AM

No there shouldnt be anything running, and i went to disk utility and repaired permissions, I'm guessing there microsoft permissions, and still nothing, i've been looking everywhere, I did find that theres a bug in WMP, something about when deleting it creates another file. I don't know this is pretty new to me I can't believe I can't just delet an old file?

VegasMac · May 4, 2005, 02:46 AM

Ok sorry learning as i'm going, so the permissions are set to my computer. Something is locked and i cant get to it.?

Sedulous · May 4, 2005, 02:51 AM

I would think that the file is being used by something. This has happened to me: A file isn't locked, permissions are correct, but won't delete. The "cure all" solution was to restart and delete.

Benjamin · May 4, 2005, 03:01 AM

I have to agree with the above, restart and try.

VegasMac · May 4, 2005, 03:44 PM

I'll see whats up when i get home. Thanks guys.

Claudia · May 5, 2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VegasMac

I'll see whats up when i get home. Thanks guys.

This happened to me too! and i am SO mad at microsoft because they admit to doing this on purpose! Anyway, the trick is to follow the directions that the other people have given you BUT when you delete you must chose "trash" instead of "Secure trash." I know when this happened to me ( i found another thread in this community about it) everyone was telling me that they swore by this method. I kept re-trying and it took me about 2-3 hours of retrying and then finally! after doing the same thing over and over it finally went away. I wish you the best of luck!

VegasMac · May 6, 2005, 12:47 PM

Wow sweet well thank you so much.

monkoverboard · May 7, 2005, 01:24 AM

I think i sent you this email, but just to be sure

I had the same problem, I don't know if you have solved it by now, but this what worked for me:

this is frm the following article: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...num=106272%20:)

Advanced tip about deleting locked files

If there are several locked files in the Trash, you can unlock them all at the same time at the command line. Follow these steps:

1 Open Terminal. It's located in /Applications/Utilities.

Type: chflags -R nouchg
Note: Type one space (not pictured) after nouchg in the line above, so that it ends in "nouchg ". Do not press Return yet.

2 Double-click the Trash icon in the Dock to reveal the contents of the Trash. If necessary, arrange the Finder window so that a portion of the Terminal window is still visible.
3 Press the Command-A key combination to select all files in the Trash.
4 Drag the files from the Trash to the Terminal window.
Note: This automatically enters the pathname for each file. This eliminates the need to individually empty multiple Trash directories, particularly when multiple disks or volumes are present.

5 Press Return. No special text message will be shown indicating that the command was successful.
6 Empty the Trash.

If the Trash does not empty or if you see a message in Terminal that says "usage: chflags [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file..." you most likely did not type the text in step 2 as indicated or did not leave a space. Repeat the steps if this happens.
--------------------------------------------------------

like I said, I had the exact same problem, & this worked the 1st time

May 4, 2005, 12:55 AM	#1
VegasMac macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	Can't trash a file? Hello, so for some reason my windows media player didn't work so i redownloaded, and now it works fine, but the old folder is still on my powerbook G4, for some reason when i go to delete it, it says that it's locked how do I unlock it and delete is there a simple way? __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 4, 2005, 01:00 AM	#2
840quadra Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN	Right click (or Control I) get info on the locked file. After you are in the Get information window, uncheck the "locked" option in the main Get info window. __________________ Introducing Macintosh Quadra. The power to be your best. Just avoid holding it in that way -- Steve Jobs
	0

May 4, 2005, 01:02 AM	#3
Benjamin macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Portland, OR	or.. hold down option when emptying the trash. __________________ http://ben.lawtonic.com/
	0

May 4, 2005, 01:46 AM	#4
VegasMac Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	The problem is I already tried all that and nothing keeps saying it's locked, and there's no even a check mark next to the lock under get info. Now what? __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 4, 2005, 01:48 AM	#5
Benjamin macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Portland, OR	what are the permissions for the file(s)? are they owned by you or the system. __________________ http://ben.lawtonic.com/
	0

May 4, 2005, 02:38 AM	#7
VegasMac Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	No there shouldnt be anything running, and i went to disk utility and repaired permissions, I'm guessing there microsoft permissions, and still nothing, i've been looking everywhere, I did find that theres a bug in WMP, something about when deleting it creates another file. I don't know this is pretty new to me I can't believe I can't just delet an old file? __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 4, 2005, 02:46 AM	#8
VegasMac Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	Ok sorry learning as i'm going, so the permissions are set to my computer. Something is locked and i cant get to it.? __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 4, 2005, 02:51 AM	#9
Sedulous macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2002	I would think that the file is being used by something. This has happened to me: A file isn't locked, permissions are correct, but won't delete. The "cure all" solution was to restart and delete.
	0

May 4, 2005, 03:01 AM	#10
Benjamin macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Portland, OR	I have to agree with the above, restart and try. __________________ http://ben.lawtonic.com/
	0

May 4, 2005, 03:44 PM	#11
VegasMac Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	I'll see whats up when i get home. Thanks guys. __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 6, 2005, 12:47 PM	#13
VegasMac Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Las Vegas	Wow sweet well thank you so much. __________________ If your into the Indy scene check this show out. VegasIndiesTV I have a powerMac G3, and a powerbook G4.
	0

May 7, 2005, 01:24 AM	#14
monkoverboard macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: Morgan City, LA	this worked in just secs. I think i sent you this email, but just to be sure I had the same problem, I don't know if you have solved it by now, but this what worked for me: this is frm the following article: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...num=106272%20:) Advanced tip about deleting locked files If there are several locked files in the Trash, you can unlock them all at the same time at the command line. Follow these steps: 1 Open Terminal. It's located in /Applications/Utilities. Type: chflags -R nouchg Note: Type one space (not pictured) after nouchg in the line above, so that it ends in "nouchg ". Do not press Return yet. 2 Double-click the Trash icon in the Dock to reveal the contents of the Trash. If necessary, arrange the Finder window so that a portion of the Terminal window is still visible. 3 Press the Command-A key combination to select all files in the Trash. 4 Drag the files from the Trash to the Terminal window. Note: This automatically enters the pathname for each file. This eliminates the need to individually empty multiple Trash directories, particularly when multiple disks or volumes are present. 5 Press Return. No special text message will be shown indicating that the command was successful. 6 Empty the Trash. If the Trash does not empty or if you see a message in Terminal that says "usage: chflags [-R [-H \| -L \| -P]] flags file..." you most likely did not type the text in step 2 as indicated or did not leave a space. Repeat the steps if this happens. -------------------------------------------------------- like I said, I had the exact same problem, & this worked the 1st time
	0


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