Can't delete files from Airport time capsule drive

Holding down the option key will sometimes allow a file to be deleted when the normal delete won't work.

Since the files were transferred from another drive, it looks like you might have a "permissions" issue. Unfortunately, Apple added a lot of new security in High Sierra and added even more in Mojave, which has created a number of issues for users with older files, or files that were transferred from another Mac or another hard drive.

Right-Click on a folder and then click on Get Info

Another window will open with information about the file

Look for the Sharing and Permissions section at the bottom of the window

Ideally, you would want the folder/file to read "Everyone" and "Read & Write" since that will normally allow any user or any Mac to access the files and copy, delete, etc.

If still no luck, you might want to try a utility like Graveyard. It has worked well for me in the past, but I cannot predict how well.....or if.....it will work for you.

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23914/graveyard

If some of the Mac "Terminal" gurus see this post, they might be able to post some commands that perform the same tasks that Graveyard purports to do. The Terminal is a scary place for most of us, so extra care is essential.

If changing the permissions works to allow deleting a folder/file, it might also work if you are trying to copy files and move them to another destination.

You did not indicate so, but we assume that you have restarted your Mac and powered off and restarted the Time Capsule, correct?

Have you tried holding down the option key on your Mac while you try to delete a file/folder?

Were the files/folders possibly created on another Mac, or when the Mac was running an older operating system?

Sorry, I can see that that would be a pain in the ...

When you decided to use your Time Capsule for both Time Machine and as a pseudo file server, did you create a disk image on the TC's internal drive to store these files ... or just added them to the same partition as the backups? If you did the latter, may be the reason this is being so difficult.

When I wanted to experiment with one of my TCs for this dual-purpose, I found using a disk image worked well, and I had no issue deleting it afterwards. I really don't have any experience with the other method of co-sharing ... and if that's the route you took, I'm afraid I can't offer anything else for you to try. Sorry!

Shouldn't matter. The procedure I offered you should still tell you what app or process is keeping these files from being deleted.

Instead of opening the Trash in Finder, open the Time Capsule's hard drive. Locate the files that you cannot delete and drag them to the open Terminal window as per the procedure.

To get terminal access via SSH you will need the tools listed here.

https://github.com/x56/airpyrt-tools

There is fairly precise details here. 

https://github.com/x56/airpyrt-tools/issues/1

See if the following will work for you:

• Double-click on the Trash and make sure that it opens up in a Finder window.
• Run the macOS Terminal.
• You’ll will be typing in a simple command at the Terminal command prompt — but don’t hit return just yet!
• Enter the following command, followed by a space: lsof
• Then, drag the problematic file/folder from the Trash directly onto the Terminal window.
• After some text shows up, hit Return.
• You should now see a list of the apps that processes that are actively using the file (and keeping it from being deleted). You should simply try closing those apps.

If it isn't an app, but a process instead, run the Activity Monitor. Find that process, and then, click on "X" to terminate it.

Perhaps the easiest way around the problem is to do an archive of the TC.. you will need a USB drive of equal size to the TC hard disk or larger.. plug it in and run archive.

Then erase the TC disk.. it will remove all the files without any hassle.. copy back from the hard disk only what you need but make sure you use disk image to do it rather than just create folders directly on the drive as per Tesserax comment.

Another method that maybe worth a try is to fix the permissions using the old airport utility.

See https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8375787?answerId=33349536022#33349536022

I wrote up the method.. to install 5.6.1 in recent Mac OS just search google for 5.6.1 launcher.

If you have a windows computer available or a friend that is prepared to help.. sometimes windows explorer has less issues than Mac.. and you can use 5.6.1 utility windows version.

Finally.. and this is getting really super complicated.

You can do it directly from the TC interface by turning on SSH access.

I will point you to instructions.. but you need to understand a fair amount of low level terminal instructions.. or trust me.