I dragged a couple files from my external hard drive to my trash and now, i can't empty it. It will make the empty paper noise sound but the folders are still in there. When i unplug my external, the trash goes away. Help. when i replug it it comes back. :|
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Help. can't empty trash.
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Are you able to read and write to the external HD? Or are there other forms of write protection enabled?
hm yea. im able to read and write on it.
Also when I drag the folder out to my desktop.. there ends up two folders.. on still in the trash and the one i dragged to the desktop..
im thinking of just erasing my external with disk utility.
Also when I drag the folder out to my desktop.. there ends up two folders.. on still in the trash and the one i dragged to the desktop..
im thinking of just erasing my external with disk utility.
Search people!
Click the link in my signature below and follow the proper link. You will find the answer to get rid of stubborn files.
Also -- Disk Utility> repair permissions.
Then, open trash and "get info" on the files in there -- are they locked?
Hold option as some stated.
If All else fails, use the info I directed you to.
Click the link in my signature below and follow the proper link. You will find the answer to get rid of stubborn files.
Also -- Disk Utility> repair permissions.
Then, open trash and "get info" on the files in there -- are they locked?
Hold option as some stated.
If All else fails, use the info I directed you to.
First, I'd suggest going into Terminal. Type "cd ", then drag the drive's icon into the Terminal window. Hit return. Now type "sudo rm -R .Trashes". You'll be prompted for your password, so enter that. Now eject and remount the drive to see if the problem persists.
If that doesn't work, I'd say doing a fresh format is the best way to go.
If that doesn't work, I'd say doing a fresh format is the best way to go.
Yes, that makes sense. The files on the external HD, which you dragged to the trash, still reside on the external HD in a hidden folder designated for trashed files (with the OS recognizes as trashed files, and therefore displays them in the computer's trash, even though said files are located on the external HD). This also explains the behavior you noted earlier, where the trash appeared empty when you removed the drive.
When you drag the file from the trash to your desktop, you're essentially copying the file from the HD to your Macintosh HD.
Whoa, reformatting is a little Extreme for Trash problems.
if it fails to remove, do the sudo rm -R .Trashes thing in Terminal.app
click the Link in my signature below, then select the "resolving trash problems" link.
This will basically use Terminal to Delete the Trash itself. You must restart the computer, and log back in for a new Trash directory to be created. The new one will be empty with proper permissions. I have done this and it has worked when I had a trash problem.
if it fails to remove, do the sudo rm -R .Trashes thing in Terminal.app
click the Link in my signature below, then select the "resolving trash problems" link.
This will basically use Terminal to Delete the Trash itself. You must restart the computer, and log back in for a new Trash directory to be created. The new one will be empty with proper permissions. I have done this and it has worked when I had a trash problem.
I realize that. I directed him to it, then you said it yourself, I'm just enforcing it to try and stop him from needlessly formatting his Mac.
Sorry 'bout that. It seems like a lot of people around here don't bother to read a thread before replying, so I assumed you were doing the same. 
Anyway, I think it's probably too late for that.
Anyway, I think it's probably too late for that.
Actually, as previously mentioned a couple of times, you don't need to reformat your external, either.