Cannot Empty Trash

Question

Level 1

4 points

Cannot Empty Trash

Rightly or wrongly, i copied several old backup files from my Time Machine to the Trash.

Now, I cannot empty my Trash. I get a message that says: The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

and so the files sit there eating up valuable hard drive space...any clues on how to fix this?

17" MacBook Pro Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Mar 1, 2010 7:44 PM

Reply

Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 1, 2010 8:30 PM in response to Wycliffe

Have you tried Finder/Secure Empty Trash ?

Do you mean copied or moved I wonder

Reply

Answer 2

Wycliffe Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 1, 2010 8:35 PM in response to iVmichael

I did try Secure Empty Trash - got same error message.

I moved, not copied the backup files from TM to Trash.

Reply

Answer 3

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 1, 2010 8:41 PM in response to Wycliffe

Can you move the items from the Trash to the Desktop, or to another volume or does that also fail ?

Are there odd characters in the items names by any chance ? If so drag them out, name them "rubbish1", "rubbish2" etc then put them back in the Trash and delete again.

Reply

Answer 4

Wycliffe Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 1, 2010 8:50 PM in response to iVmichael

Will only allow me to copy the files, not move them - cannot rename them either.

Reply

Answer 5

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 1, 2010 9:07 PM in response to Wycliffe

+cannot rename them either+

OK that's sounding like Permissions - Get Info on them and then look at 'Sharing & Permissions' at the bottom - try and set Read & Write for them all (you might be asked for admin password)

Reply

Answer 6

Wycliffe Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 1, 2010 9:11 PM in response to iVmichael

Get Info/Sharing and Permissions - grayed out. Cannot be changed.

Reply

Answer 7

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Mar 1, 2010 9:24 PM in response to Wycliffe

Can you click the padlock and enter admin password ?

As an aside but possibly related note, is the Time Machine volume they came from still Mounted or not ?

You could try this Force Empty Trash software but I suspect it will fail as the files weren't from the Boot drive ...

Reply

Answer 8

Wycliffe Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 2, 2010 3:36 AM in response to iVmichael

1. Yes.
2. Yes.

Reply

Answer 9

rdub44

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2010 1:21 AM in response to Wycliffe

Click the Time Machine icon in the Dock.

If the Time Machine icon isn’t in the Dock, look for Time Machine in the Applications folder.

Use the arrows or the timeline along the right side of your screen to browse through the backups Time Machine has created.

The windows behave just like Finder windows, so you can open folders, click items in the sidebar, and use the search field in the upper-right corner of the window.

When you find the item you want to delete, select it, and then open the Action menu (looks like a gear) and choose Delete All Backups for the item.

Finally 'Empty Trash' in the Finder menu.

Reply