Nothing is allowing me to empty the trash of my Time Machine backups!!

Question

Level 1

0 points

Nothing is allowing me to empty the trash of my Time Machine backups!!

After ignorantly moving 83 folders of backups from my Time Machine to the trash, I cannot empty the trash - I have tried the terminal approach as well as a number of Applescript apps claiming to 'force empty' the trash, but still full trash.

When using terminal (the sudo command method) I enter my password, hit return, and nothing happens - this is what others have led me to believe to be correct, but my trash is still full. I have also tried 'Trash It!' and 'FEmp' (found on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXZTyRdNvQ). The latter worked for emptying everything in my trash BUT the Time Machine folders, so does work, but not completely.

Any ideas on how to empty my trash of deleted Time Machine files?

If anybody solves it, I'd also love instructions on how to delete the remaining files on my Time Machine disk so I give up on Time Machine altogether!!

Thanks in hopeful anticipation!

Pete

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 18, 2012 12:29 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Aug 18, 2012 4:06 AM in response to petefreeman1

Erase the Time Machine volume in Disk Utility and start over.

Reply

Answer 2

petefreeman1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 22, 2012 1:08 PM in response to Linc Davis

Fantastic, thanks! It meant the risky business of deleting all back-ups temporarily, but worked perfectly - I don't know why nobody has advised this action on all of the other threads and forums which I read!! Much simpler than delving into Terminal! Thanks again.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 15, 2013 4:53 AM in response to petefreeman1

I have a similar situation where I deleted some of my old backups to save space and now I cannot empty the trash unless I eject the backup drive. I have other info on the backup drive that will not fit on the main drive so I cannot wipe the backup and start over, any suggestions?

Reply

Answer 4

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Dec 15, 2013 5:41 AM in response to michaelfromvestal

Buy a second external drive to store your files on, Copy them over from the original external. Then Erase the first external.

It is a VERY BAD idea to store both TM backups and copies of files you still have on your internal drive or don't have on your internal drive on your backup drive. If that drive fails both are Gone for good.

If you have files you want to keep forever having only one copy of them is not the way to hold onto them. Eventually wherever they are stored will fail and they will be gone forever.

Reply

Answer 5

rjbcnb

Level 1

0 points

Dec 24, 2013 3:49 AM in response to petefreeman1

100%, easy in Disk Utility. Erase ( or in old money format) the external disk and the files in Trash will go away as they are linked system files and cannot be erased any other way. DONT use terminal if you get any coding wromg you will be in a whole lot of pain.

Reply