How do I delete files from USB flash drive in OS X ?

[simsaladimbamba]

...

Will try the terminal/disk utilities options later. But this is a MAJOR failing of MACOS imho.

This could also be a problem with the USB thumb-drive model you have, as I have had not one, and I had several (six or eight), that would take minutes to empty the Trash. Have you made sure the thumb-drive uses the right format and you have not SECURELY EMPTY TRASH enabled in Finder's preferences?

 

[CylonGlitch]

Only put the things that you REALLY want to delete into the trash. If you are unsure if you want to delete them, put them somewhere else until you make up your mind. Then just delete your trash at the end of the day, every day. This way, if you know you'll never lose something you might have regretted.

I find that if it is something I don't know, I don't trash it. By getting into the habit of emptying the trash daily I know that what I put in there doesn't have a long life. Sure I've thrown things in there that I regretted, but that has always been 30 seconds later or a few minutes later. I don't go digging through the trash for something a week ago; never once. Especially knowing that I can empty my trash at any time; I never put anything in there that I KNOW I don't want to delete.

BUT, I also don't see why we can't just easily delete an item from the trash. If it is in the trash, right click on it and select delete; makes sense to me. Maybe in Lion? Not likely, but maybe.

 

[tjb1]

This is crazy, I needed to clear a few hundred Mb from my memory stick last night and to do that I had to sit and wait for an hour while I emptied my trash on the hard drive?
And to add insult to injury, while this was going on I can't use my memory stick for anything?

I move a lot of music files around and the freedom to load/unload a memory stick quickly and easily is essential.

Why would they make it so difficult to simply delete some files from a memory stick?
is there ANY benefit to this?

Will try the terminal/disk utilities options later. But this is a MAJOR failing of MACOS imho.

How hard is it? You delete the file off the USB drive and empty the trash on the desktop/dock...not hard at all. And if it took you an hour to empty the trash then maybe you shouldnt let it fill up. A few hundred mb is nothing...not even a gb so the trash would have wiped that out in seconds.

 

[Eh-ron]

Removing items without involving the trash or terminal

Another option I haven't seen mentioned yet (maybe I'm just blind though):

When dragging files from the USB stick to your computer hold down the command/apple key. This performs a 'move' instead of 'copy' and the file will be removed from the USB drive once it's on your computer's HD. No trashing required!

I really disagree with Apple's design choice here though; the precedent set by windows, linux and even previous versions of apple's os (if I remember correctly) is to have items on USB drives deleted immediately. They should add a confirmation dialog if they want the user to have the option to change their mind, or at least make this a configurable option. I was confused the first few times I came across this and I've been using macs my entire life. I still find it inconvenient too.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I really disagree with Apple's design choice here though; the precedent set by windows, linux and even previous versions of apple's os (if I remember correctly) is to have items on USB drives deleted immediately. They should add a confirmation dialog if they want the user to have the option to change their mind, or at least make this a configurable option. I was confused the first few times I came across this and I've been using macs my entire life. I still find it inconvenient too.

I have used Windows since 1993 until 2004, then I switched to Mac OS X and I have never encountered a behaviour like you want. It would be really stupid too, as one could delete a file that way, if one doesn't know of that behaviour, that copying a file from a USB thumb-drive would remove it from that thumb-drive. Even floppies didn't have that behaviour. Or maybe I haven't enabled such option.

 

[MisterMe]

I have used Windows since 1993 until 2004, then I switched to Mac OS X and I have never encountered a behaviour like you want. It would be really stupid too, as one could delete a file that way, if one doesn't know of that behaviour, that copying a file from a USB thumb-drive would remove it from that thumb-drive. Even floppies didn't have that behaviour. Or maybe I haven't enabled such option.

Eh-ron is the one who is mistaken, not you.

 

[redsteven]

Man! You are scaring me! All this much just to delete some files?
For most part i use Windows, but recently started to also use Mac - as it is, its not a simple transition (read learning curve) and now i see this post !! 😱

It sounds terrifying because it's hard to write out... but it's the kind of thing that could be explained to somebody in person (in front of their computer) within 30 seconds.

so don't worry too much 🙂

 

[BuckyBadger]

fast trash empty on USB

Deleting the trash via terminal works so much faster. **careful**

Open Finder - Search for Terminal or browse
Applications->Utilities->Terminal
In Terminal, you need to change to goto your USB Volume
type

 cd /Volumes

type

ls

Your USB drive name should be listed. In my case it is JulieBackup
type

cd JulieBackup

Your usb may be named different
type

 ls -la

You will see a directory called .Trashes
type

 rm -rf .Trashes

or...

sudo rm -rf .Trashes

type

ls -la

The directory is gone! This means all your files in the USB Trash ONLY are gone forever. Next time you trash a file on your USB the .Trashes is recreated.

Regards,
John

 

[moanygit]

How hard is it? You delete the file off the USB drive and empty the trash on the desktop/dock...not hard at all. And if it took you an hour to empty the trash then maybe you shouldnt let it fill up. A few hundred mb is nothing...not even a gb so the trash would have wiped that out in seconds.

So here's a situation for you.
I've been backing up to an external drive using Time machine.
Yesterday I noticed that I had a bunch of backups dating back two years, so, to clear space I deleted the older backups.

in order to complete the process I had to empty the trash, which took about 4 hours (millions of individual items to delete).

So, in order to clear some space on my hard drive I had to wait hours. basically meant that for an entire afternoon, I couldn't use my external drive. To add to this I internittantly had to click "continue" when it came upon a file that it didn't want me to delete. No sign of an "apply to all" check box.
Not exactly user friendly.

SImilarly for a memory stick, if I simply want to clear some space for immediate use I have to go through the process of emptying my whole trashcan.

this is utterly ridiculous. I see no good reason why Apple just doesn't allow us to delete item with a drag-n-drop movement.

 

[chuck taylor]

deleting files from flash drive

The easiest way to delete files from a flash drive on a Mac is to remove it from the Mac put it in a windows machine and simply delete the files you select.
I don't mean to be smart alec but it is the easiest and simplest, if you have windows handy.

I guess there are plus and minus on windows and Mac, but I have found it quite annoying (just spent half an hour to determine you can't do this simple deletion task)

It seems that each Mac application has its own separate and different operator interface, particularly with moving files around. Mac would be perfect if it would just have all apps conform to the same user interface rules. IMHO

 

[GGJstudios]

The easiest way to delete files from a flash drive on a Mac is to remove it from the Mac put it in a windows machine and simply delete the files you select.

No, that's not the easiest. You can delete them from the drive using a Mac, without removing the drive. Just be sure to empty the Trash before removing the drive.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The easiest way to delete files from a flash drive on a Mac is to remove it from the Mac put it in a windows machine and simply delete the files you select.
I don't mean to be smart alec but it is the easiest and simplest, if you have windows handy.

I guess there are plus and minus on windows and Mac, but I have found it quite annoying (just spent half an hour to determine you can't do this simple deletion task)

It seems that each Mac application has its own separate and different operator interface, particularly with moving files around. Mac would be perfect if it would just have all apps conform to the same user interface rules. IMHO

You can do the same in Mac OS X and then empty the Trash, which is one shortcut or three clicks.

And about what inconsistencies are you talking about? Have you examples?
If you resurrect an old thread, maybe we can do something with it, thus my questions, otherwise it is like crashing a wedding after the divorce.

And that bloody GGJstudios should leave me some threads, how will I ever get enough posts to get into the Neutral Zone (that hidden forum no one ever talks about).

 

[Intell]

Another good little utility for those that dislike the hidden files that Mac OS X leaves behind is Hidden Cleaner. Works pretty well.

And that bloody GGJstudios should leave me some threads, how will I ever get enough posts to get into the Neutral Zone (that hidden forum no one ever talks about).

Some days he's on vacation. Then its like a feast style buffet. Then he returns and spits on your plate.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Some days he's on vacation. Then its like a feast style buffet. Then he returns and spits on your plate.

He is too old to be allowed a vacation. Once one is over 666 moons old, one can't leave the pre-retirement home, unless the doctorette gives him some recipe for spinach. But who knows, I guess Chuck will not return, unlike his namesake, who is thought to be on the precipice of death, but always returns, at least one last, fourth, time.

 

[GGJstudios]

Some days he's on vacation. Then its like a feast style buffet. Then he returns and spits on your plate.

To quote my hero:

He is too old to be allowed a vacation. Once one is over 666 moons old...

I just did a quick calculation of how many moons old I am..... YIKES!!! 😱

 

[Intell]

To quote my hero: [pict]

You're despicable. 😀 All in good fun of course.

 

[GGJstudios]

You're despicable. All in good fun of course.

I resemble that remark!

 

[swbusiness]

deleting files from a usb key

This thread is moving a close to delirium!!!😛

This morning I was quite frustrated when I was not able to use the space I just cleared off of my usb key.
Ok, great solution - just empty the trash - PERFECT!!

But what I don't understand is why the .trashes file is invisible?? I understand that it is there to allow us to change our mind in case we deleted it by accident. But why save it on the usb key in a secret hidden file? Is this supposed to be a search for a pirate's buried treasure? (arrggh me matey - gimme more rhum!!)

Seriously - if I delete a file it is in the trash of my machine, why keep a second file on the flash drive? What's even more confusing is that it is saved on this flash drive into a file that I can't even access (in normal, simple, average-user way) so what good is it then?

I LOVE my mac but sometimes .......for better or worse, for sickness and in health ...... 😉

 

[simsaladimbamba]

This thread is moving a close to delirium!!!😛

This morning I was quite frustrated when I was not able to use the space I just cleared off of my usb key.
Ok, great solution - just empty the trash - PERFECT!!

But what I don't understand is why the .trashes file is invisible?? I understand that it is there to allow us to change our mind in case we deleted it by accident. But why save it on the usb key in a secret hidden file? Is this supposed to be a search for a pirate's buried treasure? (arrggh me matey - gimme more rhum!!)

Seriously - if I delete a file it is in the trash of my machine, why keep a second file on the flash drive? What's even more confusing is that it is saved on this flash drive into a file that I can't even access (in normal, simple, average-user way) so what good is it then?

I LOVE my mac but sometimes .......for better or worse, for sickness and in health ...... 😉

The Trash folders (.trashes) are invisible via Finder, but one can use the Trash via the Dock icon, thus have access to it the simply way.

Windows behaves similarly.
Btw, if you delete a file from a USB flash memory thumb drive, it gets put into the .trashes folder of that USB flash memory thumb drive and not copied into another .trashes folder on some other internal or external HDD.

 

[mosset]

shredder

I installed the free shredder widget for the dashboard and simply drag the files from the USB to it. They get erased completely without passing through Trash, and therefore no need to erase the whole of the Trash each time. Works well.

 

[jji7skyline]

Simply move the item to trash (yes it will go to the .trashes folder) and then empty the trash. This will delete all files on all .trashes folders on all drives.

Hope that helps 🙂

 

[dops7107]

A suggestion...

Try Curb:

http://download.cnet.com/Curb/3000-2094_4-193766.html

This nifty program lets you delete the trash on your USB drive without emptying the trash can, and so avoids deleting everything else contained therein.

Heartily recommended.

 

[varianc3]

This is crazy, I needed to clear a few hundred Mb from my memory stick last night and to do that I had to sit and wait for an hour while I emptied my trash on the hard drive?
And to add insult to injury, while this was going on I can't use my memory stick for anything?

I move a lot of music files around and the freedom to load/unload a memory stick quickly and easily is essential.

Why would they make it so difficult to simply delete some files from a memory stick?
is there ANY benefit to this?

Will try the terminal/disk utilities options later. But this is a MAJOR failing of MACOS imho.

I could not agree with Money Goat (sorry, moanygit) more fully. This is a significant bug / limitation. There's really good reason for a lot of users not to want this .trashes folder to ever exist and forcing it on users is not acceptable, so we need a work around. I secure delete everything within OS X and I let my trash pile up so that I can just empty it overnight. However flash drives are used for quickly transporting and copying/deleting files, particularly between local computers and people you work with, etc. So speed and security are both bigger factors with the flash drive.

If I delete a file, lets say a draft list of people who might need to be downsized, then I need to use the flash drive 5 minutes later to quickly pass off a large data set to an employee who was on that draft document I can neither give them the flash drive with a undeleted copy sitting right there (even my 10 year old knows how to view hidden folders/files) nor can I sit around for an hour or two while Lion / Mountain Lion slowly deletes everything in its trash. I just need to disable the creation of .trashes. For this purpose it would be okay if a workaround did not securely delete the flash drive's files.

Maybe I'm too much of a pro-user Zealot (to quote EFF), but when users have a legitimate need for additional / enhanced functionality list this I do not think it's productive, or becoming, for other users to say "oh, I don't need that functionality, just get over it", or -- in this case -- "just empty the trash". Thank you, 'Master Control Program', but if someone has a need for increased functionality why don't we work on helping them out?

Having said all that, I'm trying some thing in the Terminal and will update the thread if I have any luck.

----------

Deleting the trash via terminal works so much faster. **careful**

Open Finder - Search for Terminal or browse
Applications->Utilities->Terminal
In Terminal, you need to change to goto your USB Volume
type

 cd /Volumes

type

ls

Your USB drive name should be listed. In my case it is JulieBackup
type

cd JulieBackup

Your usb may be named different
type

 ls -la

You will see a directory called .Trashes
type

 rm -rf .Trashes

or...

sudo rm -rf .Trashes

type

ls -la

The directory is gone! This means all your files in the USB Trash ONLY are gone forever. Next time you trash a file on your USB the .Trashes is recreated.

Regards,
John

Thanks, John. I think you nailed it!

I accidentally missed your post before I wrote my prior post. You da man!

 

[paulj-48n]

I move a lot of music files around and the freedom to load/unload a memory stick quickly and easily is essential.

Why would they make it so difficult to simply delete some files from a memory stick?
is there ANY benefit to this?

Will try the terminal/disk utilities options later. But this is a MAJOR failing of MACOS imho.

I agree completely. Haven't heard any good responses to this issue. Been using a Mac (for personal use) for about 5 years now, and PC for work and for many years.

Maybe I'm too much of a pro-user Zealot (to quote EFF), but when users have a legitimate need for additional / enhanced functionality list this I do not think it's productive, or becoming, for other users to say "oh, I don't need that functionality, just get over it", or -- in this case -- "just empty the trash". Thank you, 'Master Control Program', but if someone has a need for increased functionality why don't we work on helping them out?

Thanks varianc3. This is one of the most frustrating things about switching from PC to Mac. Finding an answer on a forum to a real problem too often involves wading through page after page of gloating over an imagined superiority of everything mac. I have no emotional investment, so can more easily admit the faults that each platform has. And Mac has plenty.

 

[Garmit]

stop the lectures chaps. give an answer or forget it and move on

There's no need to get all precious about why someone is trying to delete items from their USB stick.

If {
1. you have plugged your USB stick into someone else's Mac
2. you have no room to copy files because the temporary trash folder is full
3. you need to free up space to copy stuff onto said USB stick
4. you don't want to empty the entire Trash folder on the Mac because it ain't your Mac

Then

You need to Delete the temporary Trash on the USB stick only and don't need a philosophical debate on the whys and wherefores of said request

Else

You wouldn't ask the question


EndIf }
😎

----------

this one works for me 🙂

From Finder
Type “Disk utility” where there’s a magnifying glass
Click on drive to be deleted
Information on right will pop up
Choose “Erase” tab on top right
Click on “Erase Free Space” on bottom left of box (it will be grayed out but will work)
Zero it out!!