Unable to delete files - permission access denied

Hi there,

Try this it worked for me. Go to the folder info. (cmd + i) , unlock the "sharing and permissions" section at lower end, under "names" select your name and re-select 'read and right' option (even if it is already selected). Below that click on drop down settings gear and select "apply to enclosed items", lock the preferences and then try to delete the folder. if still it isn't working then go inside the folder and see if the icons showing "lock sign" on them. if yes then you have to unlock them manually from their "info". try to manually change permissions to items inside folder (if you have less items in there). then try to delete those items first one by one and when the folder gets empty then you can delete the folder too.

Can someone please repost the initial commands, I am having this issue with what appears to be backups of old system files on my internal drive and they are eating up over 500 gigs but I am unable to delete them:

The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items.

Launch the Terminal 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.

☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the page that opens.

Drag or copy — do not type — the following line into the Terminal window, then press the space bar:

ls -Odel

Drag the icon of the folder containing the files you want to delete from the Finder into the Terminal window, then press return.

Post any lines of output that appear below what you entered — the text, please, not a screenshot.

Your user name may appear in the output. Anonymize it if you wish.

You didn't press the space bar. Please try again.

Is there any particular reason why you put ACL's on those files, or why the ACL's shouldn't be removed?

Enter the following command in the Terminal window in the same way as before, then press return:

chmod -R -N !$

The command may take a noticeable amount of time to run. When a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) appears below what you entered, it’s done. You may see a few error messages about an “invalid argument” while the command is running. You can ignore those. If you get an error message with the words “Permission denied,” enter this:

sudo !!

You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up.

You have yet one more complication: some of your files are locked.

Enter the following command in the same way as above:

sudo chflags -R nouchg,nouappnd !$

Yes.

I just noticed that I haven't yet advised you to back up all data. I'm assuming you've already done that, but if you haven't, you should do it first, before you do anything else. That applies whether you take my other suggestions or not.