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how to delete boot.efi & bootX files

Hey experts, I deleted a complete Time Capsule backup from an ext. hard drive, as I have no need for the backup & drive. Unfortunately it can't delete two files: boot/efi and bootX. They are locked and when I do a 'get info' on them, the actual locked box is ticked but greyed out..... has any one got any ideas how to unlock them, so I can delete them?

iMac PowerPC G5, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Nov 11, 2009 12:56 PM

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8 replies

Jan 16, 2010 12:10 PM in response to Pumelke

I am trying to free up space on my Time Capsule. When I try and delete my backup files, I get a message that says, "The operation cannot be completed because the item "BootX" is locked."
I want to keep some of the other backups on the drive because they are not for my mac. How do I delete these files without deleting the other backups on the drive?

Jan 23, 2010 7:12 AM in response to Pumelke

Hi,

maybe the file have the uchg flags, that means the file is unchangeble "User immutable flags", you can view the flags from terminal app with "ls" command, show the output like this:

bash$ ls -alO
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel uchg 319152 14 Nov 17:52 boot.efi

Try to login with an admin user with "su" command

bash$ su - <admin username>

Go to the directory contain the file "boot.efi"

bash$ cd /Volumes/<volume name>/<some other dirs>

and remove the flags with:

bash$ sudo chflags nouchg boot.efi

Now try to remove the file with:

bash$ rm -rf boot.efi

Enjoy...

--
M.

May 13, 2010 5:53 AM in response to Cp_Devil

I'm sorry i'm watching now your post...i try to post an example...

+Open The terminal and you show something like this:+

Last login: Thu May 13 13:35:20 on ttys000
hostname:~ <your username>$

+##Now type the command after the "$", in bold, and change "admin username" with your, and the password##+

hostname:~ <your username>$* su - <admin username>*
Password:

+##Change here the name of your volume "<volume name>"##+

hostname:~ <admin username>$ *cd /Volumes/<volume name>/*

+##With this command show the flags of you file note the "uchg" word##+

hostname:<Volumes Name> <admin username>$ *ls -alO boot.efi*
-rw-r--r-- 1 <admin username> admin uchg 0 May 13 14:27 boot.efi

+##Remove the flags##+

hostname:<Volumes Name> <admin username>$ *chflags nouchg boot.efi*

+##Note the "-" where was "uchg"##+

hostname:<Volumes Name> <admin username>$ *ls -alO boot.efi*
-rw-r--r-- 1 <admin username> admin - 0 May 13 14:27 boot.efi

+##Remove the file##+

hostname:<Volumes Name> <admin username>$ *rm -rf boot.efi*

+I hope you understood, and sorry for my english...+

how to delete boot.efi & bootX files

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