files stuck on desktop

spinningplates · Jan 14, 2003, 10:51 PM

i saw this thread about a month ago recommending "get info" from bare bones, but my demo has expired. why are files stuck on the desktop in the first place? "The item 'a' is being used by another task right now." Does anyone know the source of the problem and know how to fix it? Any software that doesn't expire?? I'm a mac newbie and would appreciate any help you can give. thanks.

bennetsaysargh · Feb 1, 2003, 09:53 PM

this happened to me once
i had a bunch of files stuck on my desktop and couldn't get them off. what i did was i rebooted into OS 9 and went onto my OS X desktop and dragged them into the trash.

MrMacMan · Feb 1, 2003, 10:08 PM

If you need to delete it they use either the sudo command or get one of those 'delete' programs that do it for you.
Look for 'Delete It' for one of those progs.

If you want to move it there is a command but you should just boot into 9.

beez7777 · Feb 1, 2003, 11:24 PM

i had this problem as well. the easiest thing to do, as bennetsaysargh said, is to go into OS 9, locate your OS X desktop folder (its in your user folder) and to just drag the files into the trash.

macfreek57 · Feb 1, 2003, 11:51 PM

or you could use the "top" command in the terminal to find the pid number (in the far left column) of "a" and use the "kill" command to quit it

hit q while running top to quit it and the syntax for the kill command is "kill" and then a space and the the pid number of the process that you want to end

after doing this you should be able to do whatever you want with the file (assuming you have permissions)

mc68k · Feb 2, 2003, 01:39 AM

if you're an admin user, open up Terminal.app and type in:

Code:

sudo rm -rf

with a space after f. Then drag the file or multiple selected files into the terminal window. Enter your admin password.

Gone.

spinningplates · Feb 2, 2003, 10:37 PM

thank you so much! terminal.app did a wonderful job! what relief! the files are gone! freedom! thanks again!

rainman::|:| · Feb 2, 2003, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by macfreek57
or you could use the "top" command in the terminal to find the pid number (in the far left column) of "a" and use the "kill" command to quit it

hit q while running top to quit it and the syntax for the kill command is "kill" and then a space and the the pid number of the process that you want to end

after doing this you should be able to do whatever you want with the file (assuming you have permissions)

a lot of times stuck files are due to permission problems and not processes accessing the files. you should be able to put a file that's in use in the trash, and a reboot should then make the file inaccessible to the program. doesn't always work like this, and messing around with killing processes can be very bad to your system...

pnw

jaykk · Feb 2, 2003, 11:10 PM

rm -rf can be dangerous if u dont use it cautiously

u can delete entire hardrive if u drag a wrong icon

spinningplates · Feb 3, 2003, 12:22 AM

hmm, thanks for the advice. i'll be sure to be careful.

Jan 14, 2003, 10:51 PM	#1
spinningplates macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2002	files stuck on desktop i saw this thread about a month ago recommending "get info" from bare bones, but my demo has expired. why are files stuck on the desktop in the first place? "The item 'a' is being used by another task right now." Does anyone know the source of the problem and know how to fix it? Any software that doesn't expire?? I'm a mac newbie and would appreciate any help you can give. thanks.

Feb 1, 2003, 10:08 PM	#3
MrMacMan macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1 Block away from NYC.	If you need to delete it they use either the sudo command or get one of those 'delete' programs that do it for you. Look for 'Delete It' for one of those progs. If you want to move it there is a command but you should just boot into 9. __________________ There is a little Steve in all of us! -->Folding is Fighting Against Disease and help MacRumors. Join Today!<-- Props to --> Shadowfax For Making My Avatar! IM Me On AIM Already!

Feb 2, 2003, 01:39 AM	#6
mc68k macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, Calif.	if you're an admin user, open up Terminal.app and type in: Code: sudo rm -rf with a space after f. Then drag the file or multiple selected files into the terminal window. Enter your admin password. Gone.

Feb 2, 2003, 11:10 PM	#9
jaykk macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chandler, AZ	be careful with rm -rf though :) rm -rf can be dangerous if u dont use it cautiously u can delete entire hardrive if u drag a wrong icon

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Feb 1, 2003, 09:53 PM	#2
bennetsaysargh macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York	this happened to me once i had a bunch of files stuck on my desktop and couldn't get them off. what i did was i rebooted into OS 9 and went onto my OS X desktop and dragged them into the trash.

Feb 1, 2003, 11:24 PM	#4
beez7777 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Notre Dame	i had this problem as well. the easiest thing to do, as bennetsaysargh said, is to go into OS 9, locate your OS X desktop folder (its in your user folder) and to just drag the files into the trash.

Feb 1, 2003, 11:51 PM	#5
macfreek57 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana	or you could use the "top" command in the terminal to find the pid number (in the far left column) of "a" and use the "kill" command to quit it hit q while running top to quit it and the syntax for the kill command is "kill" and then a space and the the pid number of the process that you want to end after doing this you should be able to do whatever you want with the file (assuming you have permissions)

Feb 2, 2003, 10:37 PM	#7
spinningplates Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2002	thank you so much! terminal.app did a wonderful job! what relief! the files are gone! freedom! thanks again!

Feb 3, 2003, 12:22 AM	#10
spinningplates Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2002	hmm, thanks for the advice. i'll be sure to be careful.