Trash folder not working

Question

Level 1

4 points

Trash folder not working

When I drag and drop a file into the trash folder I get the message "This item will be deleted immediately. You can’t undo this action." Hence nothing goes to the trash folder any more. I created this problem by using Teminal utility and trying to rename a file on a desktop folder, it didn't work. But when I quit the Terminal utility and started to move files from my desktop to Trash, it failed, giving me the above message in quotes. How do I restore the normal functionality of the Trash folder?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jun 5, 2012 2:12 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 2:18 PM in response to Claudio C.

Try this:

Open Terminal in the Utilities folder and paste the following at the prompt:

rm -rf ~/.Trash

Press RETURN.

If this doesn't work then try using Trash It! to fix the problem. If that fails visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on resolving Trash problems.

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Answer 2

Claudio C. Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 23, 2012 9:53 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks Kappy, tried rm -rf ~/.Trash but no effect. Visited The Xlab FAQs and worked through the recommendations but again no effect. In the end I booked a session with Apple support and they found that preferences had to be reset and the problem was solved.

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Answer 3

Husse42

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2012 3:44 AM in response to Claudio C.

Do you know how you/they did to reset the preferences?

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Answer 4

NigelB-S

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2012 10:58 AM in response to Husse42

I also experienced this same problem, but due to an OS upgrade. If you are the only user, and hence administrator, to solve it in OS10.7.5 do this:

Open Home folder (cmd-shift-h)

Get info (cmd-i)

Click on Sharing & Permissions to expand

Click the padlock icon and enter the administrator password

Click the + button and then Users & Groups > Administrators and click select

You should now see your username in the list. Just change the privilege to Read & Write

Job done.

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Answer 5

lindomar

Level 1

0 points

Apr 27, 2013 3:19 PM in response to NigelB-S

Thank you NigelB-S, I've been looking for a solution for more than three months and only yours worked.

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Answer 6

May 20, 2013 11:56 AM in response to Claudio C.

Hi Claudio,

I am facing the same problem after I upgraded my OSX to 10.8.3.

How did you reset your preferences or How did booked a session with Apple?

Regards,

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Answer 7

NigelB-S

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2013 2:58 PM in response to joao augusto

Try using the same process I mentioned above for OS 10.7.5 as it should still work for 10.8.3

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Answer 8

May 22, 2013 10:32 AM in response to NigelB-S

Hi NigelB-S unfortunally did not work. But I did the same as Claudio C. I called Apple Support in Brazil (0800 761 0897) and they solved the problem reseting my Permissions.

Follow the steps that I did.

- Turn on your mac and press COMMAND + R until the safe login screen appears.

- At the menu on the top you have to hit UTILITIES and then open TERMINAL

- On the TERMINAL you have to type RESETPASSWORD and hit enter(return).A new window will pop up called Reset Password

- Select your Macintosh HD and your user account right bellow. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD!

- Go to the bottom of this window where it says RESET HOME FOLDER PERMISSIONS AND ACLS and hit RESET.

- After the process is done, close the window Reset Password and reset your MAC.

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