Can't delete files from desktop....

[Keukasmallie]

When I attempt to delete files that I've placed on the desktop (El Capitan), I get the following error message:

The operation can’t be completed because one or more required items can’t be found.
(Error code -43)

What can I do to remedy this problem?

 

[DeltaMac]

Can you tell us what type of file you have?
The error "file can't be found" may mean that you don't have permission to do what you want to do (trash the file)
You can likely get rid of the file by using a terminal command, and you may need to use a sudo with that command to delete the file. Here's an article that will help you out.

 

[Keukasmallie]

Both files are .odt format.

I created the files and placed them on the desktop. One is a photo copied to a LibreOffice form saved as .odt; the other is a recipe I cut from the Internet and pasted on a LibreOffice Writer Document page.

Both are copies of files that I have in a folder in Finder. I placed copies on the desktop for ease of use.

 

[DeltaMac]

Can you do a normal delete (drag the file to the trash, then empty the trash), after you restart your Mac?

If that doesn't work, what happens when you try the terminal command to delete your files

 

[Keukasmallie]

I've now discovered I can't delete several other files, files not on the desktop. Something in El Capitan...?

No, I can't drag the file to the trash and have it delete. I do a restart and check again.

Thanks for your suggestions to date!!

 

[dsemf]

I've now discovered I can't delete several other files, files not on the desktop. Something in El Capitan...?

No, I can't drag the file to the trash and have it delete. I do a restart and check again.

Thanks for your suggestions to date!!

Sounds like it might be a permissions problem of some sort.

Open a terminal window and do the following commands:

cd
ls -l
cd Desktop
ls -l

The character after the dash is a lower case el.

Copy the results from the terminal window and paste in a response. Use the code option.

DS

 

[Keukasmallie]

The restart appears to have solved the problem. I was able to delete both files from the desktop!

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to hold on to the reference to the article.

 

[eneisch]

I had this same problem this weekend trying to delete files from my downloads folder. Got the exact same error message. I noticed I was able to delete them using the new "Delete Immediately" option in El Capitan (option Key + file menu changes "Move to Trash" to "Delete Immediately"). Restart of MacBook Pro restored the ability to send files to trash normally. Really concerned it when it happened - I thought my system was hosed! Guess it is a El Capitan bug. Hope Apple squashes it (and a couple of others)!

 

[tgor11]

I had the same problem with jpeg and zip files on my desktop. The option key, file menu and immediately move to trash worked for me. I'll cross my fingers.

 

[dholaday]

I had the same problem with jpeg and zip files on my desktop. The option key, file menu and immediately move to trash worked for me. I'll cross my fingers.

eneisch & tgor11: Thanks for the info. After selecting the files I wanted to delete, command+option+delete brought up the 'delete immediately' choice and allowed me to get around the -43 error.

I agree that it must be some sort of El Capitan bug