Operation Can't be Completed Because Backup Items Can't be Modified (Not a Time Machine Volume)

Hey, have been reading this. I'm using SL operating system. I know that you can delete backups thru time machine itself. I'm sure it would be the same in Lion. ENTER TIME MACHINE. Navigate to the backup you want to delete and then click the ACTION button in that backup window. Click DELETE BACKUP. Best way because it's easy and theres no confusing the TIME MACHINE!

Chris

**EDIT** Lol, didn't understand that it WASN'T a Time Machine drive. Sorry for the posting. Just edit'd cause i cant delete the post!

In my opinion the easiest way to fix this is:

1. Open up the “Terminal” application (don’t worry, it’ll be easy).

2. Type in `killall Finder`.

3. Press Enter.

Problem solved. 🙂

This worked like a charm. Thank you!!!

Worked for me as well, thanks a lot.

Ever day I hate my mac, iphone and ipad more and more.

Be it from iphone/pad constantly asking me to log into itunes store or requireing passwords to download apps, to safari stopping 1/2 way when loading pretty much every web page, and chrome does not, to mail's search only letting me type 1 or 2 letters before it removes the cursor from the search box and forces me to type with one finger and move my mouse over search and click to type a 2nd character.

The cracks in the apply dike are increasing on a regular basis and Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave.

I should not have to do anything when I want to delete something. When will Apple fix this? I am very tempted to move to a PC, after using Apple products all my life and despising PCs.

None of the solutions in the thread solved my problem including the terminal kill which appeared to work as the finder box opened and closed. Still would;d not allow deletion of files on back up disks. Any other solutions please?

This was also driving me completely crazy, and there is no way even with the best step-by-step instructions in the world I wanted to mess with anything using Terminal.

The good news is what I found worked was simplicity itself. Put the Time Machine app in the Dock if you haven't already got it there. Now right click and choose "Browse other Time Machine disks..." and it will search all your hard drives, external and internal for old backup files. It will bring up a list of all the old backups called "Choose Time Machine Disk to Browse" and from there you pick the one you want to modify. Time Machine will then take over your desktop as usual, and miraculously will show your old backup. Now you can right click whatever files or folders you want to delete and choose "Remove all instances..." to delete them easily and safely.

How did you figure this out?! Your answer was so helpful 🙂

Non of the solutions mentioned above worked for me and, like you, I didn't want to mess with Terminal. Tried your solution and it worked. Great! Thank you so much.🙂