Cannot empty trash from ext. hd.

Question

Level 1

13 points

Cannot empty trash from ext. hd.

Hello beautiful people,

I tried to delete a copy of a time machine backup from my external hard drive. But what had happened was- my laptop ran out of battery during the deletion process. The total size of the TM backup folder is ~255GB. I have gotten some free space back-- about 147GB, but not my full 255GB.

Everytime I empty the trash, it prompts me to remove unlocked items, or all. I choose all, but the backup remains in the Trash.

How can I successfully empty my trash and recover my 255GB due to my mishap?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 11, 2013 10:50 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Aug 11, 2013 11:51 AM in response to Babyboi

Information.

Trash Can’t Empty – Big Files

Trash – Can’t Empty or Move File To Trash

Trash FAQ

Trash – Empty When File is Locked or in Use

Trash Permission Error

Trash Permission Error (2)

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Answer 2

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Aug 11, 2013 11:58 AM in response to Babyboi

Remove the volume from the list of backup disks in the Time Machine preference pane. Try again to empty the Trash. If successful, revert the change.

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Answer 3

Babyboi Author

Level 1

13 points

Aug 11, 2013 1:49 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, this time machine back up is just a copy from another computer. So because of that, it doesn't show up on this computer.

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Answer 4

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Aug 11, 2013 1:53 PM in response to Babyboi

Select the volume icon in the Finder and open the Info window. Click the padlock icon in the lower right corner of the window and enter your administrator password when prompted. Check the box at the bottom marked

Ignore ownership on this volume

Close the Info window.

Hold down the option key and empty the Trash.

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Answer 5

Babyboi Author

Level 1

13 points

Aug 11, 2013 2:01 PM in response to Linc Davis

Eric, I managed to follow a command using one of the links you provided which was- sudo rm -R

Linc, I just emptied the trash using the method i just mentioned, but good to know another way around it.

ALTHOUGH I was able to empty the trash, my available space still reads 147GB when it should be 255GB. I'm asking myself where the remaining 108GB has gone?

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Aug 12, 2013 7:56 AM in response to Babyboi

If you don't have any other files on the external drive, erase it using Disk Utlities, would should reset it. If you do have files on it, try to copy them somewhere else temporarily and then erase.

Disk Utility - Format, Erase, or Reformat a Drive

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