Can't empty trash

[Nuks]

I try to empty my trash, but it says that there is a still a file (an mp3) in use. I took it out of the trash, then put it back in, only to have the same message appear. I can't find it open anywhere else. but it won't let me delete it.

Any help?
Thanks.

 

[MacManTexas56]

I try to empty my trash, but it says that there is a still a file (an mp3) in use. I took it out of the trash, then put it back in, only to have the same message appear. I can't find it open anywhere else. but it won't let me delete it.

Any help?
Thanks.

reboot your computer.....and when it starts back up empty trashcan. That should fix it.

 

[Me1000]

Is there a way you can force empty?

 

[iGary]

Use Secure Empty Trash

 

[Nuks]

reboot your computer.....and when it starts back up empty trashcan. That should fix it.

Yeah, that worked.
Thanks.

 

[jsw]

There are ways to force it using Terminal, but they can be problematic.

 

[mad jew]

Just quickly, if you're feeling game or jsw, you can use Terminal to remove anything.

In a Terminal window, paste the following without pressing RETURN.

sudo rm -rf

Don't forget the SPACE at the end. Now, drag any file you like from the Finder into this Terminal window and press RETURN. This can be a dangerous method for the basic user though. 😱

 

[Me1000]

*note to apple: cmd+empty trash = Force empty!*

lol

 

[dogbone]

Option + Empty Trash *is* a force empty, but it still won't work if a file is in use.

 

[jsw]

Just quickly, if you're feeling game or jsw, you can use Terminal to remove anything.

In a Terminal window, paste the following without pressing RETURN.

sudo rm -rf

Don't forget the SPACE at the end. Now, drag any file you like from the Finder into this Terminal window and press RETURN. This can be a dangerous method for the basic user though. 😱

Note that it'll ask you for an admin password. Verify the command before entering one. A typo here can literally delete all of your files. I would use

sudo rm -r[b]i[/b]

instead, which will ask you to confirm each one. Painful if there are a lot. Less painful than finding out all your files are gone....

 

[Me1000]

Option + Empty Trash *is* a force empty, but it still won't work if a file is in use.

When would you use that then??

 

[dogbone]

When would you use that then??

Not very often but if shutting down any programs that may be in use doesn't work, option+empty does the trick.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Just quickly, if you're feeling game or jsw, you can use Terminal to remove anything.

In a Terminal window, paste the following without pressing RETURN.

sudo rm -rf

Don't forget the SPACE at the end. Now, drag any file you like from the Finder into this Terminal window and press RETURN. This can be a dangerous method for the basic user though. 😱

yeah definatly works effectively though. i have almost stopped suing trash since i saw this a while back

 

[iMeowbot]

Just a note on force-deleting open files: the file still exists after you have deleted it, and it still takes up space on the disk. It won't go away for real until the program that has the file open quits or otherwise closes it.

 

[the Western zoo]

one thing that kindda annoys me about the trash can is that when you reboot (or shut of the mac and turn it back on) there's a recovery file in it with all the files I've deleted since last reboot (or at least that what I think it is...) and I have to delete the same files once more! I would think that deleting them twice - once in finder then again from the trash - would be enough...!

Is there any way to turn this of btw?