having issues with this locked file I'm trying to delete. When I "Get Info" on the file and try to uncheck the "Locked" button, it will not let me. The check mark just remains. Its on our server and it was worked on by some other designers. Could that be an issue? Because I have privilages to delete image files on the server, but for some reason, it wont let me delete this one. Quite annoying.
Im
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
Try going to your Accounts Pref Pane admin account and add a temporary new password and then see if Terminal will accept that and then go back later to your account and change it back to what it used to be.
ouch, that means i have to go into the server room. cuz everything is on the mac mini server. so does that mean I have to do the Accounts Pref admin thing on the mac mini server? or can I do that on my work computer?
Oh, different game different field.
I guess that Teminal is expecting the admin user name and their pasword to complete the command and I'm not that familiar with the various server stuff and its various implications. Sorry I can't help and provide you with a proper answer.
jizzlets wrote:
ohh, i didnt read that thread. i did the rm thing, but it wouldnt allow me to enter my password. when i type my password, the cursor doesnt move. i tried 3 times and nothing.
If you reread what I suggested in that post I said when you enter the password it won't be echoed. It's a security feature to protect from prying eyes.
i changed the folder names and tried to eliminate any weird characters in the folder names. here is what i got.
and now this is what i am getting.
and now this is what i am getting.
There was no promt for your password this time? Or had you tried entering your password to a a previous attempt within the last 5 minutes or so. That's about how long sudo remembers your password (by default unless changed).
Next thing to try.
sudo chflags nouchg path-to-file
I assume you got the hang of how to set the path to the file by now with terminal so I won't mention that again.
Assuming this doesn't produce an error, just to check, do the ls -lO again to see that it doesn't show uchg just before the file size. If it doesn't try the sudo rm -f again.
Well, that shows the problem...
The file has the 'uchg' flag set, which marks the file as unchangeable. This supersedes the normal access privileges to prevent the file being deleted.
The solution is simple - remove the 'uchg' flag via the 'chflags' command:
sudo chflags nouchg /path/to/file
then you should be able to delete it using the standard methods.
this is what i get.
Presumably this file is on a mounted volume called "Data". If you do a finder get info on the Data volume is there a checkbox at the bottom of the get info window that says "Ignore ownership on this volume"?. Is it checked? If not can you click the lock on the bottom right to enable the checkbox and check it? If so try the chflags (and rm) again.
If this doesn't work I'm out of ideas other than you (or someone) will have to physically get on to that server machine and try to delete it from there.
Hmm, oh well, as I said you may need to physically get on the server where that volume is mounted.
Odd permissions by the way.
Hi,
I know it's four years later, but I came upon this post when I couldn't delete a locked file.
Your solution was wonderful, and I wanted to thank you for it.
It is now in my "toolbox".
Best regards,
Lynn E-M
Cannot delete locked file
