mumakins

Q: Since upgrading to El Capitan I am not able to put items in the trash, I can only permanently delete them.  Help!

Since upgrading to El Capitan I am not able to put items in the trash, I can only permanently delete them.  Help!  When I right click on an item the only option is to move to trash (permanently delete is not even on the menu as promised it would be), and when I choose to put in the trash I get the warning that it will be permanently deleted ok or cancel.  Even when I try to drag and drop in the trash I the only option is the warning to permanently delete.  From all that I have read on the support discussions this is not supposed to happen and no else has posted a similar issue.  Please advise on how I can fix this problem.  There are many items I choose to leave in the trash for a time before emptying.  Thank you!

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012), Other OS, OSX 10.11 El Capitan

Posted on Oct 8, 2015 5:05 AM

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Q: Since upgrading to El Capitan I am not able to put items in the trash, I can only permanently delete them.  Help!

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 10, 2015 9:40 AM in response to mumakins
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2015 9:40 AM in response to mumakins

    Do you have the same problem when trying to move files in other folders (not on the Desktop) to the Trash? What about moving files on the Desktop to other folders (not the Trash)?

  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 11:42 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 11:42 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi,

    I tried and cannot move a file to the trash no matter where it is located, and I can move files to folders anywhere just not to the trash. 

  • by notcloudy,

    notcloudy notcloudy Oct 10, 2015 11:58 AM in response to VikingOSX
    Level 4 (1,190 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 10, 2015 11:58 AM in response to VikingOSX

    VikingOSX wrote:

     

    The Secure Empty Trash menu item and functionality have been removed from El Capitan. There is no assurance or time estimate when, or if it will return. There is a command-line, Terminal command that also can perform a secure empty erase, but in the wrong hands or skill set, could introduce more damage than solution.

     

    Now why would they do that -- or did they just remove it as setting it as a default preference -- -- I had it for a default in Snow Leopard - then noticed that through the finder menu there was an empty trash and secure empty trash option - so you can override the default.

     

    If stuff is being deleted as soon as you put it in the trash - than it should be reported as a BUG to Apple -- as Apple was the first company to have the trash bin (copied by Microsoft).

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 10, 2015 5:27 PM in response to mumakins
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2015 5:27 PM in response to mumakins

    The hidden Trash folder in your home folder has somehow been replaced with a file. The easiest way to solve the problem is to take the steps below. This procedure does not delete anything, but on general principle you should back up all data before you begin, if you don't already have a current backup.

    Please triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    mv .Trash $TMPDIR; mkdir .Trash; killall Finder

    Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

    Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.

    Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear below what you entered. You can then quit Terminal. Test.

  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 5:34 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 5:34 PM in response to Linc Davis

    This is the result from above.  I received an error.

    Screen Shot 2015-10-10 at 8.32.59 PM.png

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 10, 2015 5:43 PM in response to mumakins
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Oct 10, 2015 5:43 PM in response to mumakins
  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 5:52 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 5:52 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Let me try this link

  • by Topher Kessler,

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Oct 10, 2015 5:54 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 5:54 PM in response to Linc Davis

    This statement is simply untrue. To the original poster, running the command as instructed will clear the problem. You're otherwise being run in loops to fix what is otherwise has a simple solution.

  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 5:59 PM in response to Topher Kessler
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 5:59 PM in response to Topher Kessler

    Hi,

    I tried this too, and I still cannot put anything in the trash.  Screen Shot 2015-10-10 at 8.59.03 PM.png

  • by Topher Kessler,

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Oct 10, 2015 6:11 PM in response to mumakins
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 6:11 PM in response to mumakins

    The command ran, and removed the hidden Trash folder (if it was present), but you likely have an odd permissions issue on your user account folder that is preventing the Finder from creating a new .Trash folder. Try the following steps to reset your home folder permissions:

     

    1. Reboot and hold Command-R when you hear the boot chimes to load Recovery Mode (if this does not work, re-try with Option-Command-R to download a recovery boot image from Apple).

    2. Choose your language

    3. Choose Terminal from the Utilities menu

    4. Run the command "resetpassword" (all one word, and lowercase) in the Terminal. This command will open a utility for managing your user account.

    5. In the utility, select your boot drive, then select your user account from the drop-down menu

    6. Now click the button to reset home folder permissions.

     

    This should not take very long to complete. Now quit the utility and restart your system (choose the option to do so from the Apple menu) and try again when you have logged in.

     

    EDIT: A quick addendum to this--this procedure will not touch your files and folders, but do always maintain a updated backup when performing any changes to your system.

  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 6:17 PM in response to Topher Kessler
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 6:17 PM in response to Topher Kessler

    Is there any chance I will lose my data doing this?  This seems a little out of my comfort zone. 

  • by Topher Kessler,

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Oct 10, 2015 6:27 PM in response to mumakins
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 6:27 PM in response to mumakins

    It should not touch your data, and the tools for it are fully supported tools issued and developed by Apple. However, for any of the procedures mentioned here (mine and others) its highly recommended to keep a full and current backup of your system. However, this is just a recommended precaution, and again the procedures should not touch your files.

  • by mumakins,

    mumakins mumakins Oct 10, 2015 6:38 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 6:38 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Linc, I applied the permissions as walked through on the link you provided and I pasted the terminal line and was still denied .  Wow I'm striking out everywhere and the trash still doesn't work. 

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 14, 2015 3:27 PM in response to mumakins
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Oct 14, 2015 3:27 PM in response to mumakins

    Back up all data before proceeding.

    This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership, permissions, and access controls to the default. Nothing will be deleted.

    Step 1

    If you have more than one user, and the one in question is not an administrator, then go to Step 2.

    Triple-click anywhere in the following line on this page to select it:

    sudo find ~ $TMPDIR.. -exec chflags -h nouchg,nouappnd,noschg,nosappnd {} + -exec chown -h $UID {} + -exec chmod +rw {} + -exec chmod -h -N {} + -type d -exec chmod -h +x {} + 2>&-

    Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

    Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.

    You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.

    The command may take several minutes to run, depending on how many files you have. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear, then quit Terminal. Log out or restart the computer.

    Step 2 (optional)

    Take this step only if you have trouble with Step 1, if you prefer not to take it, or if it doesn't solve the problem.

    Start up in Recovery mode. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select

              Utilities Terminal

    from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open. In that window, type this:

    resetp

    Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:

    resetpassword

    Press return. A Reset Password window will open. You’re not going to reset a password.

    Select your startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.

    Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.

    Under Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs, click the Reset button.

    Select

               Restart

    from the menu bar.

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