I get an error message that Time Machine could not back up a particular jpeg file and therefor the back up could not be completed
I have tracked the file down to Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/originals but I cannot open that folder to select the particular file to exclude from the back up. Is there a way to either open photoslibrary to select the bad file or to otherwise get Time Machine to ignore it?
[Edited by Moderator]
Mac mini, macOS 10.14
That's the reason I asked, since all that will do is open Photos.
At the risk of potentially corrupting the entire Photos Library you might try searching for that particular file by name and removing it from the Photos Library.
Quit the Photos app first. Then, two-finger tap (or control-click) the Photos Library icon and select Show Package Contents. Open Originals, then 4, and then scroll to find that exact file. Drag it to the Desktop.
If TM is in fact choking on that file and no other, then consider re-importing it into Photos. Please be advised that the above is predicated on the fact you already determined Time Machine is unable to back up that file — presumably, due to corruption. It may not be readable.
That's the reason I asked, since all that will do is open Photos.
At the risk of potentially corrupting the entire Photos Library you might try searching for that particular file by name and removing it from the Photos Library.
Quit the Photos app first. Then, two-finger tap (or control-click) the Photos Library icon and select Show Package Contents. Open Originals, then 4, and then scroll to find that exact file. Drag it to the Desktop.
If TM is in fact choking on that file and no other, then consider re-importing it into Photos. Please be advised that the above is predicated on the fact you already determined Time Machine is unable to back up that file — presumably, due to corruption. It may not be readable.
I was finally able to delete the photo by opening photos through another user account set up to solve another operating system problem and which I never use. There, by navigating to the photo and deleting it I could then remove it from the other user (my main account) as well.
I figured this out on my own. Apple had no solution at hand. No idea why one user could delete and the other not. Both have administrator status.
Is the file locked in the Finder? If so unlocking it is as simple as selecting Get Info then de-selecting Locked under General (not the lock icon at the bottom of Get Info).
If that works then don't move it to the Trash or remove it from Photos Library. Just unlock it.
Might be an invisible file besides being locked...
Use the Command-Shift-. toggle in Finder to show or to hide hidden files and folders
Strange cure for can’t empty the Trash
Can I delete the InstallESD.dmg file? - Apple Community
And the good old... Solving Trash Problems...
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html
Empty and recreate an account's Trash
The following procedure will "kill two birds with one stone." It will both:
Perform the following steps in the order specified:
1.If the affected account is protected by FileVault, log in to the affected account, then switch to and log in to your Admin account via Fast User Switching. Otherwise, log in to your Admin account.2.Open Terminal, located in the Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities folder.3.At the Terminal prompt, type one of the following commands:
If the affected account is:Then type the Terminal command:Your Admin account:sudo rm -ri ~/.TrashAnother user account:sudo rm -ri /Users/user_name/.Trash
where user_name is the short name of the affected account.
Note that:
4.Press Return.5.Type your Admin password when prompted, then press Return.6.Type y for yes in response to the subsequent prompts to delete each file in the trash and finally the affected .Trash folder itself. The prompts are finished when the Terminal prompt returns.7.If the affected account is your Admin account, log out. If the affected account was another user account that is logged in via Fast User Switching, log out of that account.8.Log in to the affected account. It will now have a new, working, and empty Trash.
Steps 1-6 remove all files in the affected account's Trash as well as deleting the hidden and invisible ~/.Trash directory for that account. The remaining steps result in recreating the affected account's Trash, with proper ownership and permissions.
In finder under Macintosh HD /Users/tomlinsont/Pictures/Photos
Library.photoslibrary I clicked on the Photos Library.photoslibrary icon. That opened Photos. I could not find the relevant jpeg there. The full address of the jpeg that Time Machine rejected is /Users/tomlinsont/Pictures/Photos
Library.photoslibrary/originals/4/43DCFD01-D71E-44D0-A6B3-9B81133BE4C6.jpeg
I found the file and it is a locked photo. I would happily delete it forever, but the system will not let me move it to the trash. The note says to press the option key will selecting empty trash in finder. I don't see an empty trash opportunity in finder. Any suggestions?
The locked option under get info is greyed out, I cannot uncheck it. I can't move it to the trash. I get an error message "The Trash can't be completely emptied because [file] is locked. To empty everything in the Trash, including locked items, press the Option key while;e you choose Finder>Empty Trash. I cannot find an empty trash option in Finder and there does not appear to be anything in the trash to empty. Anyway to override the system and force delete the file?
Please let us know what they have to suggest. This is a very rare problem; "extremely rare" meaning I have only heard of it once or twice before over the past twenty years or so. The only fixes I have come up with have been inconvenient to say the least.
How did you attempt to open that folder?
BTW. I didn't lock it. It came from a friend.
Thanks to all who responded. I have been in contact with Apple Support. They cannot get the file deleted either. I'll call them again.
Thank you for posting that solution. I will keep it in mind. It's a very obscure problem.
Great work my friend! :)
Unable to backup a .jpeg file on Mac mini
