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Level 1

3 points

How do I delete alias files on my macbook pro?

when i go into finder and im on all my files there are files that i dragged to the trashcan and deleted but they are still there only with a blank icon now, and it doesnt let me drag them and when i click on them a message pops up saying "the alias.... can’t be opened because the original item can’t be found" then i can delete it, fix it, or just click okay. and when i click delete/fix it just pops up again. how do i get rid of these?

also when i right click on downloads, the same thing happens, something i moved to the trash and deleted is still there, the alias thing doesnt pop up but when i try dragging it to the trash it lets me drag it but it doesnt go in the trash, how do i get rid of these? please help.

and i know windows has something called "clean up" that removes hiddin files that you thought you deleted and stuff and just cleans up you computer, does mac have any of that?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 5:34 PM

Best reply

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 5:43 PM

You can either restart your computer and try again or try the solutions mention in -

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash

Can't Empty Trash Thread

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31 replies

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 6:46 PM in response to Shootist007

hey i brought 4 of them up and now the one all the way to the right (the screenshot) is the screenshot i took before and now thats doing it...idk whats going on but here it is...

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 7:08 PM in response to fmars62

Man You got me. There is no Where entry for any of them. Which mean to me they don't exist.

Sorry but I'm lost.

At this point, if it was my machine, I'd save my files, wipe the drive and reinstall.

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 7:11 PM in response to Shootist007

but this mac isnt even 6 months old..

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 7:26 PM in response to fmars62

Age has nothing to do with it.

Something happened to the operating system. Whether that was from a program you installed, tried to install and failed, User Error fooling with something you shouldn't have (I'm not inferring you did) or just some corrupted OS files.

You know what they say "Excrement Happens".

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 31, 2012 11:48 AM in response to Shootist007

ok, i just tied doing another repair but that didnt work, i have a apple care warranty, can i go into an apple store and can they help me?

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 31, 2012 11:54 AM in response to fmars62

fmars62 wrote:

ok, i just tied doing another repair but that didnt work, i have a apple care warranty, can i go into an apple store and can they help me?

You can but what they might do is wipe the drive and reinstall or replace the drive with a new one (doubtfull).

In any event you can reinstall yourself.

I doubt they will be able to fix your specific problem without a reinstall of the OS. But I don't know that for sure.

So give it a try. You got nothing to lose at this point.

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 31, 2012 11:58 AM in response to Shootist007

WOAH! ok this is weird....i opened up finder and had it open on all my files so i can see the exact names of the files that i want to get rid of and then i go and search in spotlight for them and ask i am typing them, THEY DISSAPEAR IN FINDER! whats going on? lol im glad they are dissapearing but where do they go.....? i know on a pc if you delete something, it's hidden contents can still be on ur computer, is the same with a mac? if so how do i delete them? like pc has a program called disc cleanup...

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 31, 2012 12:02 PM in response to fmars62

Could be they were saved searches????

Don't know?????? And Have No Idea.

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 31, 2012 12:04 PM in response to Shootist007

alright i can figure that out on my own, thats for all of your help man, reall, i appreciate it, im giving you best answer.

and thats to everyone else too for your input.

jordan73

Level 1

0 points

Jun 7, 2012 6:16 PM in response to Shootist007

Hey, just wanted to let you know, I had the same problem as that guy and you fixed it!! Seriously, I tried for an hour and your suggestions worked!! Thanks a lot!

apple79

Level 1

0 points

Aug 1, 2012 7:37 AM in response to fmars62

fmars62 - i am having the exact same problem!! How did you finally rectify it? Many thanks.

Racis

Level 1

0 points

Apr 22, 2013 12:03 AM in response to Shootist007

Hey, I just exactly what shootist007 suggested and the ghost files disappeared. Thanks so much for your guidance.

Jul 10, 2013 10:01 PM in response to fmars62

Hey i had this problem as well, i did the same as you by typing the names into spotlight and they dissapear. ive seach my whole computer for the files and they seem to be gone for good! thanks mate

Aug 18, 2013 7:26 PM in response to fmars62

Man thanks a lot for that! I was having exactly the same issue! 😀

Eggyboo

Level 1

0 points

Jun 11, 2014 7:55 AM in response to fmars62

Thank you Shootlist it was really helpful 🙂

How do I delete alias files on my macbook pro?