CANNOT DELETE FILES (.db and .ini files)

You probably don't need the .ini files, but some Mac programs do use "thumbs.db" (like some photo organizing programs), so you should just move those to a temporary folder while testing out your programs.

WARNING You will not be able to retrieve your files if you do the following. BACK UP YOUR DATA!

To remove stubborn files, you'll need an administrator account and password. Using Terminal, issue this command:

sudo rm -rf /path/to/filename

Hit Return. It will ask you for an admin password; type it in, and hit Return.

If you do not know what the correct path to the file is, just type up to +rm -rf+ then drag the file or folder onto the Terminal window. Mac OS will fill the path for you.

No. the +rm -rf+ command will delete almost any file from anywhere. Not just the .Trash folder.

stronghold79 wrote:
ok, wait, i think im following you now...

you say i can just type up to rm -rf then drag the file or folder onto the Terminal window, right? i have hundreds of these sort of files. can i select them all at once and move them all at once into the terminal window? and ive read something about needing correct spacing when doing this as to not erase my harddrive?!?! any thoughts?

Why not create a folder on the desktop and drag all the files into it. Then drag that folder onto the terminal window after typing 'sudo rm -rf '?

The rm command is indeed very powerful, and could erase many very important files when used with the sudo command. Just be aware of this when using it, and drop the files to be deleted onto the terminal window, that way the path will always be correct. There should be a space after the 'sudo rm -rf' bit of the command and the path to_thefile bit that's all. If you don't get a space in there it will complain about illegal use and do nothing, if you put too many spaces in there it will work correctly... you just need a space.

These files are definitely not an a separate HD to the OS?

Are you holding the option key down when you drag the files to the new folder? That will cause them to copy.

Is this an external HD? can you write or remove other files from it?

I had a previous problem like this with a friends windows HD and it was because his HD was formated NTFS native mac os can only read NTFS

That'll be it... NTFS!

Unfortunately I don't think there's a quick way to do this, but you need to unlock the files first.

You will need to do the following command to each file that you need to delete, before you can try to move or delete it. The command is 'sudo chflags -R nouchg ' then drag the file onto the terminal window as before and enter your admin password.

You should then be able to delete the files... maybe even just by putting them in the trash.

Well there are a number of solutions out there that I found with a little perseverance and Google 😉

Assuming all the offending files are in your Pictures folder, then the following command will remove the flag from all the files in your pictures folder.

sudo chflags -R nouchg ~/Pictures

This will then enable you to move them all into one folder and just delete that one folder... from the trash.