Amelia1927

Q: Hidden Duplicate Files

When I delete one file--Word, jpeg, or pdf--my computer almost always, though not always, shows that it is deleting two files. I'm working on a 2008 MacBook Pro with the latest upgrades. Memory and speed are becoming issues (no big surprise there), but I wonder if these apparently doubled files are making things worse than they need to be. Someone suggested that I might have accidentally turned on time-machine and thus be constantly creating a back up on my hard drive, but that doesn't seem to be the case (I've never used time machine). I can't actually find any indication of duplicate files anywhere on my computer, not even in the trash bin after I delete one of these apparently doubled files.

 

Is this just an oddity in the notification message? Or is it possible I have shadow files somewhere on my computer? Any explanation or solution to this problem would be appreciated. (A new computer will have to wait until 2016).

 

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Sep 26, 2015 11:47 AM

Close

Q: Hidden Duplicate Files

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Sep 26, 2015 12:04 PM in response to Amelia1927
    Level 7 (23,378 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 26, 2015 12:04 PM in response to Amelia1927

    Local snapshots are a backup, and they do not delete from the backup - this would defeat the purpose of a backup.

     

    You want to have time machine turned on whether you use it or not. It may save you as some point.

     

    ref: About Time Machine local snapshots - Apple Support

     

    What do you see in the trash when you delete a file and you say 2 files get deleted?

     

    You can show hidden files from the command line:

     

    hidden files in Finder copy and paste in the terminal.app:

     

    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE ;killall Finder

     

    to undo:

     

    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE ;killall Finder

  • by Amelia1927,

    Amelia1927 Amelia1927 Sep 26, 2015 12:15 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 26, 2015 12:15 PM in response to leroydouglas

    The message "deleting two files" appears on my desk top after I select a file and choose move to trash. When the move to trash is complete, I only see one file in the trash bin.

     

    Sorry, but I don't understand the rest of your response.