Can't delete __MACOSX

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maskrtnik01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Can't delete __MACOSX

Hello,

I have a really crazy folder structure in Trash, consisting of a lot of __MACOSX.

I have tried what I have seen on this site, nothing worked.

Resetting NVRAM(cmd+opt+p+r) changed nothing.

When I booted into single-user, I got error saying about readonly file system.

In standard multi-user mode, even with sudo I had no rights to .trash folder. (rm -rf, ls)

It is true, I previously ran into a nightmare related to parallels virtual machine. Windows started lagging, then definitely crashed. I was totally unable to do anything(including delete) with the VM folder, until I reinstalled the whole macOS.

So I just hope I don't have a defective SSD. Good thing is, I am not experiencing kernel panics or i/o failures.

Thanks in advance,

Stanislav

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 14, 2019 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,765 points

Dec 17, 2019 10:06 AM in response to maskrtnik01

The trash bin you are dealing with is the one for the Home folder. There are trash bins for folders and disks. The are a couple of support articles that may help: Can't empty the trash after deleting backups via the Finder and My Mac Won't Empty the Trash | Easy PC Tutorials. This little utility may also help: Trash It! 5.1.

I did a search about this item which appears to be an artifact of zipping files. I found this solution for a user whose problem is like yours:

Move it to Desktop. First, do a back up of your files. Then, reboot your Mac into single user mode (Command and S buttons during boot). You will be a root user, so do this:

cd /

cd ~/Desktop

sudo rm -rf __MACOSX

reboot

Can't hurt to give it a try.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

361,765 points

Dec 14, 2019 12:20 PM in response to maskrtnik01

Try using this command:

sudo rm -Rf ~/.Trash

Press RETURN. Enter your admin password when prompted. It will not echo to the Terminal window. Press RETURN again.

If the above isn't a solution, then try this:

Fix permissions on Trash folder

Select your Home folder and press COMMAND-I to open the Get Info window. Be sure you have "read & write" privileges in the Sharing & Permissions panel. Check under "General" panel to be sure it isn't locked. If that is correct, launch the Terminal on the Utilities folder, and at the prompt copy and paste this command:

mkdir ~/.Trash

Press RETURN. If you get a message that the folder already exists, copy & paste this command:

sudo chown $UID ~/ .Trash

Press RETURN. Enter your admin password (it will be invisible) Press RETURN. Then copy and paste this command:

chmod u+rwx ~/.Trash

Press RETURN. Log out and back in, or restart.

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Answer 3

maskrtnik01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 15, 2019 12:25 AM in response to Kappy

I have disabled SIP, tried to rm the folder both from single-user boot and normal boot.

Looks like I have deleted a few of them, but not all.

Rm tool says there is no more ~/.Trash, where else the folders could be?

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,765 points

Dec 16, 2019 12:34 PM in response to maskrtnik01

I don't know. I thought you said they were in the Trash. Have you tried using: sudo rm -Rf __MACOSX ? Note the case is sensitive on the command line. Be sure the "underline" is just one character, "_" and not something else.

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Answer 5

maskrtnik01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 17, 2019 2:08 AM in response to Kappy

Yes, they are still in the Trash bin.

What I was asking is, whether there is any alternative location for trash bin items. I have again rm -rf ~/.Trash folder under disabled SIP, still not solved. Looks like I will give it up, or reinstall macOS.

If nobody comes with some idea what else to try.

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Answer 6

maskrtnik01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 17, 2019 10:39 AM in response to Kappy

You're right, this all started with zip files.

I had only a little success wiping them inside trash.

Wiping them inside another folder worked.

Thanks for your time.

Small note for others, in single-user environment, I got errors about r/o mount. Standard boot worked - but don't try to delete them from GUI, this just moves them back to trash. rm -rf them. If doesn't work, try disabling SIP.

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Answer 7

maskrtnik01 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 14, 2019 12:28 PM in response to Kappy

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Answer 8

Kappy

Level 10

361,765 points

Dec 14, 2019 12:32 PM in response to maskrtnik01

None of it will work if you still have the SIP enabled. See Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP) - Rootless In OS X El Capitan - How To and What is SIP and when is it safe to turn it off?

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Can't delete __MACOSX

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