Empty Trash Taking Too Long

Question

Level 1

36 points

Empty Trash Taking Too Long

I am running Mac Tiger Intel on an iMac Core Duo. After moving 683 files to the trash,I get the notice that my imac is in the process of emptying the Trash bin, but after an hour nothing is happening in the progress bar, not one file is deleting so I turn off the computer with the physical button, then I try rebooting, get nothing but the turning icon beneath the grey Apple logo. The I try booting into Safe Mode holding the Shift key again the turning icon. Then I try running Applejack from the Command "S" prompt, again the same thing, that is where I am now, the icon has been turning for the better part of an hour. Because this is a Mac is the computer continuing the process of emptying the Trash before it boots up again, so shall I just let it run it's course, no matter how long it takes or is there some way I can boot up, begin the "emptying" process again? I am not much of a "techie" so can you please give me some simple way of booting into my computer, so I begin the trash empty process again? I am writing this from my backup G5. Thanks so much!! Ken.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 2gig, 2gigs ram

Posted on Mar 4, 2013 7:09 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,213 points

Mar 4, 2013 9:21 AM in response to Ken Kline

Hi Ken, the HDD is in bad shape, can it boot from the 10.4 Install Disc?

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Answer 2

Ken Kline Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 4, 2013 10:55 AM in response to BDAqua

Hey BD Aqua just got in, the HDD is in great shape, been running the Apple Hardware Test just a couple of days ago, perfect, no problems. I think it's just trying to empty the trash, shall try the install disk. Thanks, Ken.

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Answer 3

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Mar 4, 2013 11:08 AM in response to Ken Kline

Your filesystem has become corrupted. A new drive can go bad. It's common. There is even an acronym for ti -- DOA.

With your startup dvd, run disk utiltiy.

I suspect disk corruptions.

verify & repair your startup drive

To verify & repair you file system on the startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from you installation DVD.

This article will tell you how to get to disk utility. Once in a disk utility, you can go and attempt to recover the disk.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417

To repair your startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from your startup DVD.
Mac OS X 10.4: About the utilities available on the Mac OS X 10.4 Install DVD

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2055

How to run disk utility from your startup DVD.

Insert your startup DVD into your reader. Power down your machine. Hold down to the c key. Power on your machine. This will bootup your startup DVD.
This will bring you to a panel asking you for your language. Pick your language.

You you come to the Install Mac OS panel. Do not install.
Click on Utilities menu item. This will give you a pulldown list of utilities.
Click on the disk utility.
You are now in disk utility. Pick your disk. Click on repair it should be on the lower right of the panel.
Once the repair completes successfully, you should update your permissions.

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Answer 4

Ken Kline Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 4, 2013 11:37 AM in response to rccharles

Thanks Rccharles. My Tiger install disk boots up perfectly, Verify Disk was perfect, Repair Permission was fine. Because the problem was emptying the Trash, I notice that I now have 7000 less files + 400 less folders so perhaps the Trash is still trying to empty itself. I shall try the Repair Disk. Ken.

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Answer 5

Ken Kline Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 4, 2013 12:01 PM in response to Ken Kline

Rccharles. There were no repairs to be made to the disk, everything is fine. I forgot my local Mac techie is in town, just sent him an email about this problem, he knows my machine, shall wait to hear from him. Now I can't eject the install disk!!

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Answer 6

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Mar 5, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Ken Kline

so perhaps the Trash is still trying to empty itself

I'm almost positive that once you shutdown/powerdown trash stop emptying.

I try rebooting, get nothing but the turning icon beneath the grey Apple logo

Have you tried safe boot again?

Have you tried command+s? How far does this get?

I'm puzzled by this.

Could be some intermitant hardware problem.

Try disconnecting all external devices -- inluding keyboard & mouse. Machine should boot up. If it looks good let run for 30 minutes. Should not crash.

{ in a strange case, a bad mouse caused machine to hang/crash. a very rare mouse problem. }

Run hardware diagnositc.

How many memory cards? Take out a memory card & see if system run better. Swap around & see how goes. Working command + s should be enough.

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Answer 7

Ken Kline Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 5, 2013 11:32 AM in response to rccharles

Thanks rccharles. I have some important personal matters to take care of in the next few days so I won't be able to follow up for a while, thought it might be easier to get going again. Waiting to hear from my pal who is a top Mac techie, forgot he was in town. I have run safe boot many times, all the stuff in Disk Utility, the Apple Hardware Test, everything is fine, NO PROBLEMS!! When I get a chance, shall try booting up just the computer, although I am using a Mighty Mouse. I even got the disk to eject by pushing the left mouse button while the computer was trying to boot up (saw that somewhere). I shall report back as soon as I get a chance. I am writing this on my G5, happy I kept it for just this type of situation. Ken.

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Answer 8

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Mar 5, 2013 12:25 PM in response to Ken Kline

Good luck to you.

--------------------------------------------------------------

when you get back.

difficult problem to diagnosis. I'm up the creek without a paddle. let us know what you find.

You said that you replaced the harddrive. Why? What were the symptoms then? How similar to now?

Some how an OS X file could have gotten corrupted / deleted. Would case real problems if the correct one. Would need to do a "restore" install. Never can remember the name of install were you preserve data.

Robert

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Answer 9

Ken Kline Author

Level 1

36 points

Mar 5, 2013 3:32 PM in response to rccharles

Thanks rccharles. I never replaced the HDD, there is no hardware problem, all the tests were fine. I am not much of a techie, only self taught, so I'll let my Mac tech take care of it. At least I have my G5, so I am not in any panic. Ken.

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