Trash problems, possible worm or virus?

[Sparky's]

specs: 24" iMac 2.8 GHz, 2GB RAM, OS 10.5.8

problem: every time I boot up my trash has a folder called "Recovered items" in it, there's nothing in the folder :-( when I empty the trash it takes almost 20 seconds, and tell me there are 3 - 4 items to be emptied!

in addition, I cleaned out a folder that was an old user (ex-wife) and for 2,000+ files it took me almost 14 hours to empty the trash.

I now use the "option" key to empty it, or empty any amount of files, but still for the last few months I always see the trash full when I boot up in the morning.

Anybody else out there experience this? I think I may have something embedded I can't find.

And last but not least, some of my older archived photos have been slightly corrupted, wondering if this might be related.

help?, thanks, Sparky

 

[johto]

Backup your files immediatly! It sounds you have a hard drive that is going fail soon. Either that or your files are just so messed up(disk full). Clean install would be recommedned and cleaning all the old crap. Use Onyx for cleaning.
Also maybe defragment with idefrag(payware). Make sure you have your files backuped!

 

[angelwatt]

The recovered items is often related to MS Office and other apps/services that come from the /tmp folder. Nothing to really worry about.

 

[Sparky's]

Apple just replaced the hard drive a year ago, I have a 1Tb external LaCie backup drive I use "Time Machine" with. problem is if it's a virus or worm, and I restore the system it may restore the problem with it!

There are absolutely no other issues I have with it, all my software runs perfect, I use RoadRunner High speed cable for the internet, no problems, just the trash…

 

[Gregg2]

Did you read the linked article? How did it apply to your situation?

A worm? I dunno.

A virus? No. Not possible. None exist for Mac.

Probably nothing. Read the article.

 

[maczach16]

Did you read the linked article? How did it apply to your situation?

A worm? I dunno.

A virus? No. Not possible. None exist for Mac.

Probably nothing. Read the article.

This is false. Macs can get viruses, but a lot less often than other operating systems.

 

[GFLPraxis]

This is false. Macs can get viruses, but a lot less often than other operating systems.

I agree more with the prior poster... There have been viruses for Mac, and it's not impossible to make them, but so far the 2-3 OS X viruses that were released have been eliminated due to not being able to spread/OS updates.

There are currently no known Mac OS X viruses in the wild, AFAIK. Is it impossible for someone to create one? No. But the odds if this user being the first victim of some brand new never before seen virus are lower than the odds if him suffering the early stages of a relatively common hard drive failure.

It's not "not possible", but it's very improbable.

 

[maczach16]

I agree more with the prior poster... There have been viruses for Mac, and it's not impossible to make them, but so far the 2-3 OS X viruses that were released have been eliminated due to not being able to spread/OS updates.

There are currently no known Mac OS X viruses in the wild, AFAIK. Is it impossible for someone to create one? No. But the odds if this user being the first victim of some brand new never before seen virus are lower than the odds if him suffering the early stages of a relatively common hard drive failure.

It's not "not possible", but it's very improbable.

Well I understand what your saying. But viruses do exist for Mac OS X. Take for example the 2-3 viruses you have seen. There has to be some grandma/pa out there who doesn't update there computer, leaving them technically still vulnerable to the virus.

 

[John Doe 57]

This is false. Macs can get viruses, but a lot less often than other operating systems.

You shouldn't be worried about getting a virus on a Mac. The chances are very slim. 2 - 3 have been created for the Mac. Thats 2 - 3 out of the 300,000 that have been created. Small chance.

Lets not go start worrying 'Sparky's' about viruses and bugs now...

 

[IntelliUser]

Well I understand what your saying. But viruses do exist for Mac OS X. Take for example the 2-3 viruses you have seen. There has to be some grandma/pa out there who doesn't update there computer, leaving them technically still vulnerable to the virus.

Too bad they're not actively spread, and no grandma or grandpa will ever get them unless they visit some shady porn/warez sites for some reason...and they won't.

 

[jsgrabo]

Stop *****ting your pants about viruses/worms. From the moment I reformatted my HD and on previous installs, I get the same folder in my trash every once in a while.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/380812/

 

[Hellhammer]

I have the same thing but never worried about it. As long as everything works, just ignore it. I reboot so rarely so not a big fuss for me

 

[Salmar]

When I get those "recovered items" in the trash which I see every once in awhile I just empty the trash and never had a problem by doing so.

 

[John Doe 57]

When I get those "recovered items" in the trash which I see every once in awhile I just empty the trash and never had a problem by doing so.

Same here. I never worry about it.

 

[Sparky's]

OK, so I won't worry about "worms" or "virus" but why should it take over 14 hours to delete a couple thousand files? In my entire Mac career (since 1988), I've never seen an issue like this before.

And as stated before I can put 4 files into the trash and when I go to empty it, I get the status bar that says "preparing to empty 56 items", and then it takes several minutes to empty!

This is not behavior that's normal, so I ask again…
Anyone else have a similar issue?

Thanks, Sparky

 

[fedex1993]

Really weird. I have seen the Recovered files before but for me its usually only 1-4 files. And once i remove it the first time works fine.

 

[Gregg2]

This is not behavior that's normal, so I ask again…
Anyone else have a similar issue?

My guess is that most people, like me, would answer "No" to your question, and therefore don't bother because they assume you're looking for someone who can answer "Yes" and also provide the solution.

 

[Sparky's]

how astute Gregg, I guess that makes me unique.

since my last post I have discovered that a majority of my files in my "documents" and "pictures" folders (mostly files a year or older) have been "corrupted or truncated" when I attempt to open them… just keeps getting better and better!

but I have no fear because Macs can't get viruses or worms…

 

[Gregg2]

but I have no fear because Macs can't get viruses or worms…

It baffles me why many people assume that, because they have a computer problem, it must be a "virus". Now, most people don't know there are things called "worms" that you don't put on your fishing hook, and these are the people that think computer problem = virus. I bet you don't have a malware problem at all.

Try a different user account. See if that makes a difference.

By the way, the article in post #3 above, did it apply? The thread was thrown off that track.

 

[Sparky's]

I could understand if when I boot up every morning, and saw my trash had something in it, such as a "Recovered Items" folder and it actually contained something, I would empty the trash and not worry. Each night (or day) when I'm done with my Mac, I make sure all my apps are closed, my trash is emptied, and when I select "shut down" from the menu nothing is left open or in the trash.

'nough said on that…

every morning (or new session) when I turn the machine on, the trash has an empty folder in it…

not saying I have a virus, or a worm for that matter… just sayin' it ain't right!

I shouldn't be able to place "1" (one) item in the trash, then when I empty it, see a status bar and message saying "preparing to empty 4 items" THAT ain't right!


DO YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING????

p.s. article in post #3 has nothing to do with my issue… yes I did read it.

 

[Gregg2]

DO YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING????

yes, i do

You don't address all questions to you or all suggestions made. Then we don't know if you read or tried them. Like this:

Try a different user account. See if that makes a difference.

Did you try that? And the result....