How do I delete alias files on my macbook pro?

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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

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Answer 1

Best reply

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Jan 25, 2012 5:43 PM in response to fmars62

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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Answer 2

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 25, 2012 5:46 PM in response to fmars62

Have you rebooted lately?

I personally don't care to see that entry in the finder side bar as it lists to much stuff. So I'm unsure of what you are seeing.

My first thought is they are ghost entries and really aren't there. A reboot might clear them.

Have you done a search for the name of a couple of those files and if you have has any of them shown u in the search?

I find Spotlight does not search everywhere so I've been using Easy Find. It will search everywhere on your system.

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Answer 3

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 25, 2012 5:53 PM in response to Shootist007

Yes I just rebooted before i posted this, and they are still there and also before i posted i did search and they do show up but i cant do anything with them, if i click on them that alias message pops up and then i cant drag the file anywhere, they are like dead files or something

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Answer 4

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 25, 2012 5:56 PM in response to fmars62

Would you care to share the names of a couple of these files?

I'm lwondering if they are system files and the OS has now Locked them so they can't be deleted. But that is just a guess.

You may want to open Disk Utility and do a Repair drive and repair permissions. It's in the First Aid section.

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Answer 5

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 25, 2012 6:02 PM in response to Shootist007

some of the files are pictures that i downloaded 9 (that in safari i right clicked and then downloaded into iphoto and then after its in iphoto i go to my downloads folder and move the file tot he trash) and same thing goes for a couple songs. and another one is a program i downloaded, i thought it was a game but it was just a update for a game if i already have it and thats the file thats stuck in my downloads folder, another one is a file from when i was messing around in garage band and it saved it and i deleted it and then its still there.

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Answer 6

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 26, 2012 11:27 AM in response to fmars62

anyone? please help these files ares till here

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Answer 7

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Jan 26, 2012 4:07 PM in response to fmars62

I already posted 2 links. You never responded back that you tried any of the mentioned suggestions or even read the links.

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Answer 8

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 4:48 PM in response to CMCSK

I tried eveything you guys said even on your link CMCSK, but nothing is working, i took a screnshot of what i am trying to get rid of but i cant drag them to the trash or anything. All the stuff highlighted in the blue is what i want gone.

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Answer 9

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 5:15 PM in response to fmars62

May I ask what the setup_722.exe files is?

.EXE files are for Windows not Mac.

Have you browsed to the actual folder that those files are in (never cared for the All My Files link).

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Answer 10

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 5:18 PM in response to Shootist007

Yeah now i know that, but they weren't in a folder and whenever i search for them nothing comes up...i double click on them and i get the alias message, i cant drag them anywhere, theyre just stuck there.

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Answer 11

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 5:24 PM in response to fmars62

Do they show up anywhere else other then the All My Files link?

Turn off "All My Files", Empty Trash (if there is anything in there).

Reboot then open disk utility do a Verify Disk and a Repair Disk if the verify comes back with anything.

Reboot one more time and then turn on All My Files, If you want.

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Answer 12

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 6:20 PM in response to Shootist007

How do I turn off all my files? and what would that do? Also how do i do a verify and disc repair?

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Answer 13

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 6:25 PM in response to fmars62

Open Preferences in Finder, then sidebar you kwill see the options in there.

Open Disk Utility, in the Applications/ Utilities folder. Select the Macintosh HD on the left. you should be on the First Aid tab. near the botton on the roght is Verify Disk and below that Repair disk but that may be greyed out until you do a verification.

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Answer 14

fmars62 Author

Level 1

3 points

Jan 30, 2012 6:35 PM in response to Shootist007

Ok I just turned off all my files, emptied my trash, shut down all my programs, restarted, verified my disk and nothing was wrong...i turned back on all my files and they are still there and the same situation

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Answer 15

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Jan 30, 2012 6:39 PM in response to fmars62

What does it say in Get Info.

Right click on one and select Get Info. Post that windows.

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