Any idea why command-shift-delete is not working?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Any idea why command-shift-delete is not working?

I have had a MacBook Pro for a few years, and recently purchased a new iMac. the iMac arrived, and I transferred everything from the MBP to the iMac using the Migration Assistant. Worked very well, from what I can tell. The only thing I am unable to do is delete using shift-delete and empty the trash using command-shift-delete.

I should also say that I did the initial setup of my iMac with a separate Admin account, then deleted that account to use the old account from my MBP on the iMac. I suspect this is a permissions issue, and I have seen articles that suggest deleting this trash account and letting OS X recreate.

Any thoughts on what else to try?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Ineed911

iMac

Posted on Mar 29, 2013 7:29 AM

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Answer 1

Ineed911 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2013 6:10 PM in response to Ineed911

OK, so I just learned somerhing new - the hard way. On the USB keyboard (purchased with this iMac for the number pad built in) I was using the wrong delete key. I was using the delete (fwd) key and not the actual delete key.

Lesson learned. Thx again for the response, baltwo - I looked at your level/points and knew it had to be something on my end.

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Answer 2

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Mar 29, 2013 2:37 PM in response to Ineed911

Move to trash is CMD+delete. Do note that it only works when the Finder is active. As for CMD+SHIFT+delete, it works here. Check System Preferences->Keyboard->Keyboard Shortcuts and ensure that the latter shortcut hasn't been assigned to something else. BTW, both commands work here in all three OSs.

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Answer 3

Ineed911 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 29, 2013 5:56 PM in response to baltwo

baltwo - I acknowledge that I wrote this incorrectly as shift-delete. That said, I am unable to delete a file/folder using command-delete. Also, unable to empty the trash using command-shift-delete.

I had already tried resetting my keyboard shortcuts, and this did not help either.

And these shortcuts worked on my MBP prior to the migration.

do appreciate the reply and attempt.

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Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Mar 29, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Ineed911

Thanks for clarifying. i've been using the extended keyboard for so long, that I never considered you were using the forward delete key instead. That's something I'll keep in mind. 😉

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