Cannot delete Empty Folders from Trash on Mac 10.5

Discussion in 'macOS' started by earthbourne, Jul 27, 2010.

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  1. earthbourne, Jul 27, 2010

    earthbourne macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    #1
    Please Help! I cannot delete EMPTY folders from my Trash ( mac 10.5) I read all the threads in Macforum. Tried every possible code in Terminal, external programs that were advised.
    I found using
    ls -alO
    that one of my folder is hidden that's about it.
    But I have 5 folders in the Trash ( Zero KB), notdeletable!

    Please help, if you can!
    Thank you in advance!
     
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  2. filmweaver, Jul 28, 2010

    filmweaver macrumors regular

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2008
    #2
    Could they be system files? Try to PUT BACK by right clicking them in the trash then click the PUT BACK button. Let us know if that worked.
     
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  3. Playgear, Jul 28, 2010

    Playgear macrumors regular

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2010
    #3
    Tried this?
    Code:
    sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*
    You'll need to enter your password; it will be invisible. Don't worry, just keep typing. :)
     
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  4. earthbourne, Jul 28, 2010

    earthbourne thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Jul 27, 2010
    #4
    they are not system files

    no, they are not system files, they are folders that I created in Windows and then transferred to Mac, then I deleted them, but they are still there, even though the contact was deleted:( please help
     
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  5. GGJstudios, Jul 28, 2010

    GGJstudios macrumors Westmere

    GGJstudios

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    May 16, 2008
    #5
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  6. earthbourne, Jul 28, 2010

    earthbourne thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Jul 27, 2010
    #6
    Didn't Work

    Tried! Didn't work. That is actually the first thing I tried. I also moved folders into terminal and found out that they were created on the hard drive that I used on my old pc, what to do? ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO DELETE EMPTY FOLDERS CREATED IN WINDOWS FROM MAC?
     
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  7. earthbourne, Jul 28, 2010

    earthbourne thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Jul 27, 2010
    #7
    terminal

    i tried in Terminal sudo chflags -R nouchg
    then i dragged the nondeletable folder ("X") into Terminal window

    here is the message

    usage: chflags [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file ...
    el-earthbournes-macbook-pro:~ ELENA$ /Volumes/WD\ Passport/.Trashes/501/x
    -bash: /Volumes/WD Passport/.Trashes/501/x: is a directory

    so Volumes/WD\ is the hard drive that I used on PC and then connected to Mac, the folder "X" is Zero KB, but I cannot delete it!

    I tried all the weapons listed on advised website, but non of them works.

    Is it like forever, I will be having this empty folders in my Trash?!:((
     
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  8. GGJstudios, Jul 28, 2010

    GGJstudios macrumors Westmere

    GGJstudios

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    May 16, 2008
    #8
    If you deleted files on the external drive, did you have the drive connected while you were emptying the trash?
     
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  9. chown33, Jul 28, 2010

    chown33 macrumors 604

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    Aug 9, 2009
    #9
    Judging by the error messages, you entered the command wrong.

    This message:
    Code:
    usage: chflags [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file ...
    suggests that you entered the 'chflags ...' command without a file, then hit Return.

    The subsequent command-line and message:
    Code:
    el-earthbournes-macbook-pro:~ ELENA$ /Volumes/WD\ Passport/.Trashes/501/x 
-bash: /Volumes/WD Passport/.Trashes/501/x: is a directory
    shows that you drag-n-dropped the name of the directory AFTER hitting Return, so the shell tries to interpret it as a command. Since a directory isn't a command, the shell responds with "is a directory".

    If you're following the instruction on this web page:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1526
    Read through the instructions very carefully BEFORE trying to perform the steps. Pay special attention at Step 1 where it says this:
    Note: Type one space (not pictured) after nouchg in the line above, so that it ends in "nouchg ". Do not press Return yet. [red hilite added]
    ​

    If you still can't get it to work, post again, and copy and paste the exact commands you entered, in full, and any messages that appeared. Precision is important, and details matter.

    Also copy and paste the following command EXACTLY, then post its output:
    Code:
    sudo ls -alO "/Volumes/WD Passport/.Trashes/501/"
     
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  10. earthbourne, Jul 28, 2010

    earthbourne thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Jul 27, 2010
    #10
    Hi, Thanks for the advice. This time I did follow exactly the instructions ( did type the space after "nouchg" and pressed return only after nondeletable items from Trash were drugged into Terminal. However with Step 6 ( in the instructions) I wasn't able to Empty Trash, computer keeps telling me that I don't have sufficient privileges to do it!!!

    Here is the code that I got in terminal after I posted suggested by you code

    total 512
    drwxrwxrwx@ 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 07:18 .
    drwxrwxrwx@ 1 _unknown _unknown hidden 32768 Jun 23 2008 ..
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 06:57 x
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 06:55 x2
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 24 2008 x3
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 06:57 x4
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 06:57 x5
    drwxrwxrwx 1 _unknown _unknown - 32768 Jul 28 06:57 x6
    el-earthbournes-macbook-pro:~ ELENA$

    All this empty nondeletable files are from 2008, may be the hidden one is the one, but I don't know how to deal with it.
    PLEASE HELP!
     
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  11. chown33, Jul 28, 2010

    chown33 macrumors 604

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    #11
    The hidden attribute is not the problem.

    I can also see by the lack of attributes on the other folders, that a 'uchg' flag is not preventing them from being deleted.

    Since you say you're getting a message about privileges, I tried a few things here, but could not replicate the problem. I was able to delete files I didn't own, files without write permissions, and so on, as long as the file was in the Trash.

    I ran my tests on an external Mac-formatted disk drive.

    Post the output from the following commands:
    Code:
    mount
id
    Also post the exact text of the message you see when the Finder tries to empty the trash but can't. Again, precision is important.
     
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