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Leeannimal

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2011
4
0
So I'm trying to delete files on an external hard drive (WD 1T Passport) in order to free up space. I put several in the trash (maybe 8 or so) and tried to "empty the trash".

The computer processed a long time, counting the files etc., then I got a pop up window that alerted me that some of the files were "locked". Never having seen this before I was concerned and chose "delete only unlocked files". Bad move apparently.

Now the external hard drive had no space freed up, and I can no longer find those files in the trash. Yes, I've rebooted, removed the hard drive etc. etc., but the files cannot be seen on that drive, and there is NO space freed up.

Anybody know how to find those hidden "locked" files on an external hard drive after an empty cycle had been attempted and they were bypassed?

Thanks so much!
 
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