"Delete" keyboard shortcut isnt working...

Question

"Delete" keyboard shortcut isnt working...

I've tried everything to delete a file:

I'm using the shortcut Apple+Delete and no matter how hard I try it wont delete! heh (New to Mac OS X as you can see...)

Deleteing files works when I use the GUI menus or drag the item down to the trash.

Anyone know what's going on? I am using an actual Apple Keyboard, by the way...

Thx!

Mac Mini 1.2Ghz G4, Mac OS X (10.4.5), 1GB Ram, 60GB HDD

Posted on Feb 21, 2006 5:12 PM

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Answer 1

joeyoppo

Level 1

120 points

Feb 21, 2006 5:21 PM in response to Evan Williams

hi evan,

where are you trying to delete the file from?

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2006 10:15 AM in response to joeyoppo

Hello Joey,

Primarily i was trying to use the delete keyboard shortcut to delete files (Pictures, text documents, alias') from the desktop - or at least use a shortcut to send them to the trash bin. Apple + Delete didn't seem to send any files/alias' to the trash bin (Also, assuming the keyboard shortcut was correct and should be sending the files to the trash bin, would using the keyboard shortcut on a mounted .dmg file eject it?)

I tried using the keyboard shortcut on an external USB HDD as well with nothing happening when I tried to delete/move the files to the trash.

It appears to be a system-wide (non-area spesific) problem.

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Answer 3

joeyoppo

Level 1

120 points

Feb 22, 2006 10:57 AM in response to Evan Williams

are your other regular shortcuts working? like ⌘-O, ⌘-W, ⌘-S, etc.?

have you tried both command keys?

and is your delete key functioning normal within applications?

and to answer your question, no ⌘-E is the eject command.

but for now you should be able to control-click (right-click) and select 'move to trash' from the contextual menu as a short cut.

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Answer 4

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Feb 22, 2006 11:07 AM in response to Evan Williams

in finder, I have to use apple-backspace

Not the delete key. The delete key works within apps etc, but apple-backspace (usually above the return key) works when viewing files & folders.

Don't know if that's normal - but it's how my imac works.

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Answer 5

Feb 22, 2006 11:22 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Joey,

Yes my keyboard is in good mechanical working order. I use quite a few other shortcuts to control iTunes and manage windows just fine. This seems to be my only major hurdle to overcome at the moment 🙂

Thanks for the tip about Ejecting BTW.

And Andy,

I havent tried the Apple + Backspace combo yet. I will try it as soon as I get home. That's a good idea. I know the delete key is functioning because I use it in text editors and such...

I know the following shortcuts allow window management:

F11 - Show Desktop
Apple + M - Minimize current Window
etc...

Is there a command to maximise windows? I've prodded around the apple website and found a few shortcuts, but for some reason they are space and hard to come by 🙂

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Answer 6

joeyoppo

Level 1

120 points

Feb 22, 2006 12:06 PM in response to Evan Williams

oh.

yeah
that's it. the backspace is the delete key on the apple pro keyboard.
i missunderstood you before. the 'delete' key next to 'end' and underneath 'help' doesn't work with the ⌘-delete (move to trash) function. it only works in apps like andy said.

did yours before?

the reason it's hard to find all the short cuts at once is because they vary by application. even within os x apps there is some variation. but most of the short cuts can be seen just by looking through the menus at the top (within whater app your using/is active.

and some more can be found in system preferences> keyboard and mouse> keyboard shortcuts.

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