Can't Delete Files in Trash!!!!

MattyMac · Jul 21, 2006, 04:06 PM

I was cleaning up my jumpdrive and accidently put a locked safegaurd file in the trash so when I went to empty the trash it emptied everything but that. Then I went in and moved a copy of the safegaurd file from the trash to the desktop then to the jumpdrive. Now the file is safely back on my jumpdrive, but I have useless files in my trash that I can't delete. How do I do it??

Anyone know what I can do? Thanks in advance.

yellow · Jul 21, 2006, 04:07 PM

Are they "locked"? Hold down Option and select Empty Trash from the Finder pull-down menu.

MattyMac · Jul 21, 2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow

Are they "locked"? Hold down Option and select Empty Trash from the Finder pull-down menu.

Yes, they are "locked" this is why it won't let me delete them.

Any suggestions?

WildCowboy · Jul 21, 2006, 04:17 PM

Try some of the suggestions in this thread...

MattyMac · Jul 21, 2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildCowboy

Try some of the suggestions in this thread...

Thanks...read the thread and found a solution!

Killyp · Jul 21, 2006, 05:05 PM

Apple should have an 'Incinerate Trash' option under the finder menu. This would make it really easy to do things like this, which seems to be a quite common problem...

someguy · 05:37 PM

I just wish there was a way to permanently remove individual items from the trash instead of the entire trash bin at once. I know I can move everything out of the trash except what I want permanently removed, then move the rest back into the trash, but that way sucks.

Is there any other way?

JVRosenman@gmai · Jul 21, 2006, 05:26 PM

I downloaded iShred express, a freeware program from Big Fat Stinking Software. You just open the program, and drag the file you want to shred onto its dock icon. You click yes, and Bam! the file is gone. It is un-recoverable. The program can even delete files that are in use (I don't know how, but it does).

Killyp · Jul 21, 2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy

I just wish there was a day to permanently remove individual items from the trash instead of the entire trash bin at once. I know I can move everything out of the trash except what I want permanently removed, then move the rest back into the trash, but that way sucks.

Is there any other way?

There is, for me it's a monday...

I see it like this, would you go through your rubbish at the end of every day and sort out what needs to be incinerated and what doesn't? No, just shred what needs to be shredded when you go to remove it...

someguy · Jul 21, 2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killyp

There is, for me it's a monday...

Smartass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killyp

I see it like this, would you go through your rubbish at the end of every day and sort out what needs to be incinerated and what doesn't? No, just shred what needs to be shredded when you go to remove it...

I'll probably download that iShred thing, but I need to be careful because I find myself taking items back out of the trash quite often.

acourtman · Jan 8, 2009, 01:52 PM

I took mp3 files from a friends computer, when i try to delete them it says they are locked. At first they appear as folders but when opened mp3 files appear then quickly disappear. Am very concerned about viruses have tried most of the tricks previously listed. Any ideas (thanks)

xgman · Jan 9, 2009, 12:54 PM

Leopard Cache Cleaner is very good about clearing locked trash files. Mac Pilot has a separate feature to unlock files in any directory.

guzforster · Dec 10, 2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow

Are they "locked"? Hold down Option and select Empty Trash from the Finder pull-down menu.

I just did that and it solved the problem. It was like, the FIRST solution on the thread, and people keep asking how to solve the problem...

GGJstudios · Dec 10, 2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guzforster

I just did that and it solved the problem. It was like, the FIRST solution on the thread, and people keep asking how to solve the problem...

Thanks for resurrecting a 5 year old thread. Perhaps people keep asking because that issue may not be their particular problem. That's only one possibility.

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
Solving Trash Problems

BreckSkiBum · Jan 29, 2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellow

Are they "locked"? Hold down Option and select Empty Trash from the Finder pull-down menu.

Works like a charm!

sikwe Gh · 08:16 PM

step 1. Open terminal. It’s in your Applications. You can quickly bring it up
through Spotlight search on the top right of the menu bar.

step 2. In the terminal type :

sudo rm -rf

followed by a space.

step 3. Open trash, and drag over your file or file(s) onto the Terminal
window.

step 4. Hit Enter on your keyboard, and you will be prompted for your
account password. Input your password.
Hit the Enter key again, and you’re done!
Check the trash to see the file is gone.

NB Careful, cos it deletes items PERMANENTLY

Jul 21, 2006, 04:06 PM	#1
MattyMac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ/NYC	Can't Delete Files in Trash!!!! I was cleaning up my jumpdrive and accidently put a locked safegaurd file in the trash so when I went to empty the trash it emptied everything but that. Then I went in and moved a copy of the safegaurd file from the trash to the desktop then to the jumpdrive. Now the file is safely back on my jumpdrive, but I have useless files in my trash that I can't delete. How do I do it?? Anyone know what I can do? Thanks in advance. __________________ 
	0

Jul 21, 2006, 04:07 PM	#2
yellow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: I love you, food.	Are they "locked"? Hold down Option and select Empty Trash from the Finder pull-down menu. __________________ WWJS: What would Jesus shoot? TRGCS
	0

Jul 21, 2006, 04:17 PM	#4
WildCowboy macrumors god Join Date: Jan 2005	Try some of the suggestions in this thread... __________________ Editor in Chief, MacRumors
	0

Jul 21, 2006, 05:17 PM	#7
someguy macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Still here.	I just wish there was a way to permanently remove individual items from the trash instead of the entire trash bin at once. I know I can move everything out of the trash except what I want permanently removed, then move the rest back into the trash, but that way sucks. Is there any other way? __________________  Last edited by someguy; Jul 21, 2006 at 05:37 PM.
	0

Jan 9, 2009, 12:54 PM	#12
xgman macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2007	Leopard Cache Cleaner is very good about clearing locked trash files. Mac Pilot has a separate feature to unlock files in any directory. __________________ {2012 27imac-3.4i7-680mx-32gb ram-768SSD+External TB Samsung840pro ssd + TB velociraptors-UAD Apollo/Marantz/Amphion/Bowers&Wilkins Sound-Impulse 61} {ipads}{iphones}
	0

Jul 21, 2006, 05:05 PM	#6
Killyp macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jun 2006	Apple should have an 'Incinerate Trash' option under the finder menu. This would make it really easy to do things like this, which seems to be a quite common problem...
	0

Jul 21, 2006, 05:26 PM	#8
JVRosenman@gmai macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2006	I downloaded iShred express, a freeware program from Big Fat Stinking Software. You just open the program, and drag the file you want to shred onto its dock icon. You click yes, and Bam! the file is gone. It is un-recoverable. The program can even delete files that are in use (I don't know how, but it does).
	0

Jan 8, 2009, 01:52 PM	#11
acourtman macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2009	I took mp3 files from a friends computer, when i try to delete them it says they are locked. At first they appear as folders but when opened mp3 files appear then quickly disappear. Am very concerned about viruses have tried most of the tricks previously listed. Any ideas (thanks)
	0

Aug 3, 2012, 08:09 PM	#16
sikwe Gh macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012	step 1. Open terminal. It’s in your Applications. You can quickly bring it up through Spotlight search on the top right of the menu bar. step 2. In the terminal type : sudo rm -rf followed by a space. step 3. Open trash, and drag over your file or file(s) onto the Terminal window. step 4. Hit Enter on your keyboard, and you will be prompted for your account password. Input your password. Hit the Enter key again, and you’re done! Check the trash to see the file is gone. NB Careful, cos it deletes items PERMANENTLY Last edited by sikwe Gh; Aug 3, 2012 at 08:16 PM. Reason: addition
	2

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