I have tried all solutions in the Communities and I still can't get my Trash to empty. It's full of old Time Machine files from an old drive and I can't get them to purge. I don't have the drive anymore and when I try to delete it just runs for days and days but never removes any files.
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
As you have now found out, it is a big no no to delete Time Machine backup via the Finder.
The way to solve the problem, is to erase the old Time Machine backup drive using Disk Utility.
Then start new Time Machine backups or use that drive for something else like a CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper clone.
As you have now found out, it is a big no no to delete Time Machine backup via the Finder.
The way to solve the problem, is to erase the old Time Machine backup drive using Disk Utility.
Then start new Time Machine backups or use that drive for something else like a CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper clone.
The mysterious thing is them showing in Trash with the backup drive removed!?
In Finder's Menu, select Go menu>Go to Folder, and go to "/volumes". (no quotes)
Volumes is where an alias to your hard drive ("/" at boot) is placed at startup, and where all the "mount points" for auxiliary drives are created for you to access them. This folder is normally hidden from view.
Drives with an extra 1 on the end have a side-effect of mounting a drive with the same name as the system already think exists. Try trashing the duplicates with a 1 or 2 if there are no real files in them, and reboot.
If it does contain data...
Yes, several times, even in Safe mode and the Empty Trash just keeps going and going. The first time it did it for 3 days and was at over 5 million items and I had to stop it because I could do anything else with Trash.
Yeah, rather than having a trashcan for every volume, MacOS keeps individual .trash folders on each volume and shows the files in the main trash. It is only when you empty the trash that the .trash volumes on each drive are reclaimed.
OK, updated information: I have a NEW Time Machine external drive. When I restart with no drives attached there is nothing in the Trash. When I add the external drive that's the Time Machine, that's when trash shows up. WHat's odd is that I didn't remove these files from this drive, and it won't let me move the files out of trash, so how do I get them out.
Have you rebooted?
I tried everything on here, they are Time Machine backups, and I tried to alter permissions but it keeps giving me an error and I have done all the Disk Utility First Aid actions.
Just tried, I have no volumes with extra numbers at the end. SO strange, and it doesn't appear that all of this in Trash is taking up any space.
You might try to show the hidden files on that drive and see if there is a .trash you can delete.
I have never figured out why Apple let's you remove TM backups in the Finder since it messes all other backups on the drive also. :(
Thank you thank you thank you! I am clean and clear!
Tried all solutions to empty trash.
