Stuck on Emptying Trash

Question

Level 1

10 points

Stuck on Emptying Trash

Trash window says, "Items to delete: 0" but it won't finish the process. The blue bar is almost filled with a bit of gray at the end. It has been stuck on this for a good 1 1/2 hrs.

Clicking X in the trash window can't "stop emptying the trash."

How can I cancel the trash or get it to complete?

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on May 26, 2009 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

May 26, 2009 2:57 PM in response to dplfx

HI,

Try holding dow the Option key when emptying the Trash.

Removing files from your computer

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

May 26, 2009 2:59 PM in response to dplfx

Not certain, but this can fix myriad problems, but you'll have to either power down, or Force quit the Finder with CMD Optionesc first...

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), it will try to repair your Disk Directory while the spinning radian is happening, so let it go, run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, then reboot when it is done.

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Answer 3

dplfx Author

Level 1

10 points

May 26, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks for the links but the info. there doesn't apply to my situation.

Holding down the Option key won't work because Empty Trash & Secure Empty Trash in the Finder's File Menu are gray.

Clicking on the trash gets a popup "You cannont open the Trash because it is being emptied."

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Answer 4

dplfx Author

Level 1

10 points

May 26, 2009 4:40 PM in response to BDAqua

Force Quit & Relaunched Finder got me out of emptying trash.

Thanks!

I had been planning to get DiskWarrior because when I try to Verify Disk I get:

Verifying volume “Macintosh HD”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Invalid node structure
The volume Macintosh HD needs to be repaired.

Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit

1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair

I read other postings with the same problem where you recommended DW.

Could this be the cause of my trash problem?
Never had problems with the trash before.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

May 26, 2009 5:14 PM in response to dplfx

Great news, thanks! 🙂

Could this be the cause of my trash problem?

Oh yes, in fact I wouldn't even use the Mac until you repair that, far worse things could happen.

You must repair the HD, if Disk Utility or fsck should fail to repair it, your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

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Answer 6

dplfx Author

Level 1

10 points

May 26, 2009 5:28 PM in response to BDAqua

Tried Disk Utility, fsck & Onyx already with no success.

Will order DW tonight.

Thanks!

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