Please help! Can't delete Backup files from Trash

[ssd2017]

Hi. I stupidly moved a whole bunch of old 2013 backup files to my trash, and now I cannot delete them. They are not on my current Time Machine HD but on an internal drive within powerMac. I think it may have been where Time Machine initial backed up to. I now use this for archiving (so can't delete current contents with reformatting etc)

1. When I try and delete/'empty trash' normally - it starts preparing then gives an error message: 'The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code - 8003)

2. When I try and 'secure empty' the trash - it starts preparing going up to a few 1000s then gives the same error message as above.

3. I've downloaded 'TrashIt' - nothing seems to happen, not even sure if it worked or not...

4. I then tried using code in the Terminal - and entered as was said in another thread:
cd Backupdrive\HD
ls -a
sudo...
etc
but then it asks me for a password? My computer password is set at nothing so usually when the password window comes up I just press enter. But when I just press enter within the terminal it say incorrect password.... I'm not sure what else it could be...

5. Then downloaded yet another version of TrashIt - and this seems to work, but now it also asks fro Admin password - which when I just push enter - says incorrect...

Please may someone help me...

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

nothing is not a valid admin password.

Go to System Preferences, Users and groups, create an actual password.

Then, download and install "Maintenance" from Titanium software.
Run it, use the defaults settings, make sure to check the "Trash" tick box, and execute.

 

[ssd2017]

Hi Bruno09
Thanks so much for replying.
I've downloaded the programme - and it comes up with a window:
Maintenance - 2 tick boxes
Cleaning - 5 different tick boxes
etc
But none say 'Trash'?

 

[Bruno09]

What system are you using ?

Did you create an admin password ?

My copy of Maintenance does have a "Trash" tick box (version 2.1.8, OS X El Capitan)

EDIT : just checked on Sierra, Maintenance 2.2.4, Trash tick box is here.

 

[DeltaMac]

Notice that there is a long list of different versions of Maintenance, one for each OS X version.
That Maintenance utility has had "trash" functions for quite a long time, but if you have to use a really old version, because your Mac OS X version is really old (you have Snow Leopard, I think?), then trash cleaning is not there.
(I looked at Mavericks (OS X 10.9) version, which has 19 tick boxes..., and includes the trash option)
Download the OnyX utitlity, also from Titanium software (again, downloading for your OS X version). OnyX is a more comprehensive app, and would include trash cleaning.

 

[ssd2017]

Yes - I am using an old OS X (10.6.8) on this machine - as I am an old diehard Freehand user! (please nobody shout at me!)
I will try downloading as above.
Thank you!

 

[ssd2017]

Okay I downloaded OnyX and went through the steps.
It did all the requested 'ticks' until the last 'trash' at the end and then the status bar just hung for about 2+ hours - so I force quite and restarted - and it's all still there

I have tried the Terminal sequence again (with new password) - and after I type in the password, enter. Nothing happens...
The only thing that's changed - is when I try and empty the trash, before it would prepare to trash until about +/- 6k files then give an error message - not it prepares up to 120k files or so then gives the error message - 'The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code - 8003)

** one thing I have noticed - is on that old Backup HD where these old Backup files were kept, there is about 500GB of new space available, so it seems to have been deleted from there but all the files still sit in my MacPro HD trash bin...

 

[ssd2017]

Great news!
I checked my trash an hour or so ago and noticed the amount of backup files had reduced - and have now seen that they are all gone! I am back to normal
Not sure which thing worked - but thank you to all above who gave me advice xx

 

[grizfish]

Notice that there is a long list of different versions of Maintenance, one for each OS X version.
That Maintenance utility has had "trash" functions for quite a long time, but if you have to use a really old version, because your Mac OS X version is really old (you have Snow Leopard, I think?), then trash cleaning is not there.
(I looked at Mavericks (OS X 10.9) version, which has 19 tick boxes..., and includes the trash option)
Download the OnyX utitlity, also from Titanium software (again, downloading for your OS X version). OnyX is a more comprehensive app, and would include trash cleaning.

Thanks for the help Delta.
Am so pleased with the utility of OnyX that I sent a donation.