Cannot "Move to Trash"

[cr2sh]

I've got an .sit document on my desktop that I downloaded, its a game that came off Apple.com. Well anyways, the file is corrupt and it will not expand properly, so I tried to delete it... well it gives me an error :

"The item is being used by another task right now. (Other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the trash.) Try again when the other task is complete."

So I close down every application I have open, its just me and finder... and it still will not "move to trash".. gives me the same error. I emptied my trash.. still the same error.

What is going on and how do I delete this file? Thanks.

 

[johnnowak]

open the terminal

type "sudo rm -rf " (yes, space after the 'f')

drag the file onto the terminal window

hit return

enter your admin password and hit enter

gone!

 

[cr2sh]

that's so cool... i gotta buy a book to learn this stuff
thanks!

 

[BenWakin]

That is way cool.

 

[bograt]

Re: Cannot "Move to Trash"

Originally posted by cr2sh
I've got an .sit document on my desktop that I downloaded, its a game that came off Apple.com. Well anyways, the file is corrupt and it will not expand properly, so I tried to delete it... well it gives me an error :

"The item is being used by another task right now. (Other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the trash.) Try again when the other task is complete."

What is going on and how do I delete this file? Thanks.

Well someone else has already answered how to delete it, so I will cover what is going on.

This file I could have looked smart and told you it was a download, the reason for this is because downloads when they are not properly finished mess up a little and become corrupt or something similar. In essence it is down to not being properly downloaded (no fault of anyone, it just happens). I had a file on my otherwise clear desktop for a few months before I found information on what the problem was.

 

[pauld]

in relation to files not deleting...
Quite often when I drag a file to trash the dock wont appear so i have to "turn hiding off" and then bin it.
No big deal, but it shouldn't happen, right?

Right?

 

[evolu]

Originally posted by johnnowak
open the terminal

type "sudo rm -rf " (yes, space after the 'f')

drag the file onto the terminal window

hit return

enter your admin password and hit enter

gone!

what if doing this still doesn't get rid of the file?

 

[cr2sh]

Originally posted by evolu
what if doing this still doesn't get rid of the file?

But it did get rid of the file...
I'd guess you're doing it wrong. Try harder!

 

[johnnowak]

Originally posted by evolu
what if doing this still doesn't get rid of the file?

Have fun reformatting.