Barbatian
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Delete old backups - empty trash - files in use

Hello,

 

I follow on instruction to delete old backups manually, so I enetered the external drive and put unnecessary backups into trash. I would like to empty trash, however every 10 seconds I receive multiple messages that files are still in use.

 

What happend and how can I empty trash?

 

Kind regards,

Michal

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 28, 2016 2:47 PM

by Barbatian,Solvedanswer
Barbatian Barbatian
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X
A:

Sorry but I'm not that much into technical/software aspects...

 

I disabled System Integrity Protection and was able to delete all the files.

My Question is now - What has happend. Did I interrupt Time Machine somehow?

Maybe I should delete all via TM and make a full new backup since today?

Posted on Sep 28, 2016 5:30 PM

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Barbatian

Q: Delete old backups - empty trash - files in use

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 28, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 28, 2016 5:14 PM in response to Barbatian

    Yes, you will have to wait.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 5:20 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 5:20 PM in response to Csound1

    For what and how long?

     

    In the Trash for single files*not folers) I do have an option "delete immediately" - I click it, files dissapears and then comes back...

     

    com.apple.Boot.plist - this file has integrity

    all the com.apple

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 28, 2016 5:23 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (51,281 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 28, 2016 5:23 PM in response to Barbatian

    Barbatian wrote:

     

    For what and how long?

     

    Seriously

  • by Barbatian,Solvedanswer

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 5:30 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 5:30 PM in response to Csound1

    Sorry but I'm not that much into technical/software aspects...

     

    I disabled System Integrity Protection and was able to delete all the files.

    My Question is now - What has happend. Did I interrupt Time Machine somehow?

    Maybe I should delete all via TM and make a full new backup since today?

  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Oct 1, 2016 1:50 AM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (50,229 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 1:50 AM in response to Barbatian

    I was going to suggest disabling SIP for the sole purpose of deleting those files. Be sure to re-enable it.

     

    Maybe I should delete all via TM and make a full new backup since today?

     

    That is what I recommend. Erase the existing backup volume completely, and start a new set of backups.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 7:35 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (50,229 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 7:35 PM in response to Barbatian

    I realize it comes a bit late for you, but the following document created by the late Apple Support Communities participant Pondini explains the potential hazards of deleting backup files using the Finder: Can't empty the trash after deleting backups via the Finder.

     

    As you can see it's a multi-step, time-consuming, error-prone, and ultimately inadvisable process. You're right, the Finder should not permit what you did (but it will). That was the reason for my initial question "Please explain what they are, and how you find them."

     

    Some backups such as iTunes-created iPhone backups are stored differently — but even they should be deleted from within the iTunes app, and not through the Finder. For example, if you were to delete anything other than the entire encompassing folder the backup would become corrupted and useless.

     

    Mr. Pondini passed away some time ago so some of that site's information no longer applies (for example, SIP changes everything) but that particular page remains relevant.

  • by TXnorskie,

    TXnorskie TXnorskie Oct 16, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 16, 2016 3:17 PM in response to Barbatian

    If folders containing archived systems files etc. have been placed in Trash and cannot be emptied, one approach is to use the Shredding function in CleanMyMac 3 or similar.  The offending file can be dragged into the Shredding module.

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