iCal won't delete anything

I'm having the same issue. No mobile synching, just simple. I have one calendar that I want to delete, and nothing makes it go away. It's there again within minutes. I can select it and hit the Delete button, I can choose File -> Delete, but either way it does not delete. What to do?

Yep, me too. How bizaar is this? I try to delete an event and it reappears in seconds! The only significant change I have made before I noticed this happening was I reloaded Snowy....I wonder if this is relevant?

Greetings,

1. If you are using MobileMe go to Apple > System Preferences > MobileMe > Sync and remove the check mark next to "Calendars" as this is no longer required.

2. Make an iCal backup: Click on each calendar on the left hand side of iCal 1 at a time highlighting it's name and then going to File Export > Export and saving the resulting calendar file to a logical location for safekeeping.

3. Backup your computer Addressbook: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=AddressBook/4.0/en/ad961.html

4. Remove the following to the trash and restart your computer:

Home > Library > Caches > com.apple.ical

Home > Library > Calendars > Calendar Cache, Cache, Cache 1, 2, 3, etc. (Do not remove Sync Cache or Theme Cache if present)

Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.ical (There may be more than one of these. Remove them all.)

---NOTE: Removing these files may remove any shared (CalDAV) calendars you may have access to. You will have to re-add those calendars to iCal > Preferences > Accounts.

3. Launch iCal and test.

If the issue persists:

1. Reset the computer's sync services: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1627 (Skip to step # 6 in this article if you don't use MobileMe)

2. Remove the following to the trash (again) and restart your computer:

Home > Library > Caches > com.apple.ical

Home > Library > Calendars > Calendar Cache, Cache, Cache 1, 2, 3, etc. (Do not remove Sync Cache or Theme Cache if present)

Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.ical (There may be more than one of these. Remove them all.)

Hope that helps!

Thanks MadisonP,

unfortunately this has not fixed the problem. I now intend to delete iCal altogether and reload it to see what happens, otherwise it's back to Outlook for me!

If you have Outlook installed on your Mac that may actually be part of the issue as it talks to and edits one of the databases that iCal relies on.

1. Open Outlook
2. Go to Outlook > Preferences > Sync Services and remove the check marks on the left hand side
3. Quit Outlook

Now that Outlook is disabled:

1. SafeBoot the computer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

2. While in SafeBoot remove the following files to the trash and then restart:

Home > Library > Application Support > SyncServices (NOTE: Do not remove this folder unless you are in SafeBot)

Home > Library > Caches > com.apple.ical

Home > Library > Calendars > Calendar Cache, Cache, Cache 1, 2, 3, etc. (Do not remove Sync Cache or Theme Cache if present)

Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.ical (There may be more than one of these. Remove them all.)

3. Once the computer is restarted, launch iCal and let it sit open for about 5 minutes

If that does not resolve the issue let me know (if you like) as there is one more set of steps to try.

Help PLEASE!

iMac with system software 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard)

I have the same problem of not being able to delete calendars. I have done everything mentioned above – numerous times.

I have checked and rechecked all possible syncs.

I have done the above with no internet connected to the computer.

No external hard drives.

No applications running.

I can open User>Library>Calendars and delete (and empty trash) all the files within.

Keeping the finder open on this folder, all the flies reappear in about 5 minutes. And this is with iCal closed.

Where are they coming from? What is causing this?

Would reinstalling iCal help?

I don't know if this has any bearing but I also cannot delete the mobilme account in iCal, it just reappears after a few minutes. I also cannot stop iCal from opening at startup no matter what I try. I just don't seem to have any control over this app.

Greetings,

As the given steps did not reolve the issue, it sounds like you have a permissions issue going on so changes you make are not being retained.

Lets test this theory.

1. Create a new Admin user on your computer: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8235.html
2. Go to Apple > Log Out
3. Login as the new user
4. Open iCal and add / delete calendars -- Does it work?
   • If it works then take the steps below for a "User Specific" issue
   • If it does not work then you have a systemwide issue with iCal and should reinstall Snow Leopard after first backing up your data for safekeeping: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8177.html

User Specific Issue

You will need your Snow Leopard Install disk for this next part.

1. Go to Apple > System Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing and make sure that "File Sharing" is not checked.
2. Follow this article (it says for 10.5 but it works for 10.6 as well): http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1334
3. Once you've completed that article and have restarted to your normal user account:

   1. SafeBoot the computer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

   2. While in SafeBoot remove the following files to the trash and then restart:

      • Home > Library > Application Support > SyncServices (NOTE: Do not remove this folder unless you are in SafeBoot)
      • Home > Library > Caches > com.apple.ical
      • Home > Library > Calendars > Calendar Cache, Cache, Cache 1, 2, 3, etc. (Do not remove Sync Cache or Theme Cache if present)
      • Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.ical (There may be more than one of these. Remove them all.)
   3. Once the computer is restarted, launch iCal and let it sit open for about 5 minutes and then test

Madison, thank you for taking the time for such a detailed response.

I finished step two of the User Specific Issue and tested the calendar. It seems to be back working perfectly. Events and calendars stay deleted. I did not perform step three (the SafeBoot steps) as it seemed unnecessary.

It was a strange happening but I'm very glad to be back in business.

Note: The only system disk that would allow me to reboot from the CD was the original system disk that came with the iMac. Later system disks would not work.

Thanks again for the help.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Starting up from the install disk is an important part of the process otherwise your user account is running without default ACLs which will cause issues should you ever attempt to use file sharing or install a new OS. I'm assuming your system didn't ship with 10.6 so you have a 10.6 disk?

1. Insert the 10.6 install disk after first making sure it is clean (use an old tshirt) and free of large scratches
2. Go to Apple > System Preferences > Start Up Disk -- Click the 10.6 DVD and then click the "Restart" button
3. Follow the rest of TS1334

If you still can't boot to the disk then follow this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428

Its purpose is to change your home folder's name but it will also re-assign the ACLs that you need.

You can of course ignore all of this but I want to avoid issues in your future 🙂