Can't empty trash?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Can't empty trash?

Hi,

When I empty my trash using the icon my computer has a major crash and the screen goes grey and I have to reboot from the power button.

If I secure empty trash using alt/opt, cmd clicking the trash icon I get the following message:-

The operation can’t be completed because the item “.DS_Store” is in use.

I've tried SUDO RM -RF ~/.TRASH/* and enetering my password but it doesn't fix it

I've tried chflags -R nouchg then dragging items into terminal and that doesn't fix it

I've tried :-

Open Terminal and enter this command:

rm -rf ~/.Trash/

Then right click the Finder icon in the dock while holding down the opt/alt key, select Relaunch. Relaunching Finder will recreate ~/.Trash

but this doesn't work either

Does anyone have any ideas?

Best

ksx

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Apr 24, 2012 9:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

82,941 points

Apr 24, 2012 9:23 AM in response to ksx

You should have no reason to delete .DS_Store. It among other things helps with icon arrangements, and other system values for your folder. Keep it where it was.

Reply

Answer 2

ksx Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2012 9:27 AM in response to a brody

the .DS_Store file is not from this mac but from a database back-up from another computer - I'm deleting an old back-up and now I can't empty the trash or move it out of my trash

Reply

Answer 3

b j t

Level 4

3,698 points

Apr 24, 2012 9:37 AM in response to ksx

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

Reply

Answer 4

ksx Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2012 9:46 AM in response to b j t

Thanks for this - I've tried all these steps and they haven't worked

Reply

Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Apr 24, 2012 10:08 AM in response to ksx

If you're able to boot, launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ If you’re running Mac OS X 10.7 or later, open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the page that opens.

Select the most recent panic log under System Diagnostic Reports. Post the contents — the text, please, not a screenshot. For privacy’s sake, I suggest you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header and body of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.) Please don't post "shutdownStall" or "hang" reports.

If you can't boot in the usual way, try a safe boot. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:

Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

During startup, you’ll see a progress bar, and then the login screen, which appears even if you normally log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Safe mode is slower than normal, and some things won’t work at all.

Reply

Answer 6

ksx Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2012 10:16 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks - I think I fixed it before having to go through the above step.

I repaired disk permissions and after the 3rd or 4th run of repair disk permissions. It emptied the trash. I also ran this step again:-

Open Terminal and enter this command:

rm -rf ~/.Trash/

Then right click the Finder icon in the dock while holding down the opt/alt key, select Relaunch. Relaunching Finder will recreate ~/.Trash

and that got rid of the few files that were sticking

ksx

Reply