Can't Delete Trash

[brendajo]

Can't delete the trash, says I don't have permissions?? Tried holding down option key with delete, no luck. Tried to drag items out of trash, they seem to stay in??

Any suggestions. Have repaired permissions, still no luck.

 

[jon08]

Often a simple restart will fix things like this. Give it a try...

 

[Riverrun]

If the restart doesn't work, open Terminal and type: sudo rm -R . Leave a space after the -R and drag the items in trash into the Terminal. Press "Enter."
Type in your password, press enter again and volia.

 

[LPZ]

If the restart doesn't work, open Terminal and type: sudo rm -R . Leave a space after the -R and drag the items in trash into the Terminal. Press "Enter."
Type in your password, press enter again and volia.

Just make sure the only things you drag to the Terminal window are things you want deleted.

 

[mac2x]

If the restart doesn't work, open Terminal and type: sudo rm -R . Leave a space after the -R and drag the items in trash into the Terminal. Press "Enter."
Type in your password, press enter again and volia.

If you are going to that trouble, why not cd into .Trash first to make sure nothing bad happens?

 

[allan.nyholm]

Can't delete the trash, says I don't have permissions?? Tried holding down option key with delete, no luck. Tried to drag items out of trash, they seem to stay in??

Any suggestions. Have repaired permissions, still no luck.

Did you try holding the Command key instead. this initiates the Secure Empty function of the Trash. Eg. Hold the Command key then right click the Trash icon in the Dock.

 

[hedfelt384]

Did you try holding the Command key instead. this initiates the Secure Empty function of the Trash. Eg. Hold the Command key then right click the Trash icon in the Dock.

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Greetings. I also made the big mistake (unknowingly) of trying to Time Machine folders and now have many folder sitting in my Trash. When I attempt to trash the trash it is taking me a million years to remove them so i stopped trying. I tried following the advice of using the Command key with the right side of the mouse. It firstly says "Secure Empty Trash" and when I try to follow the first instruction to "Remove Unlocked Items" which I click on. That which stays open for around 3 seconds then closes and that does not unlock anything. Then I tried the same dialog box again which gives me the choice to "Remove All Items", it then shows a dialog box showing 703 Items which stays open for around 3 seconds then closes. Nothing is unlocked or trashed at all. What on earth is happening?