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I can't empty Aperture 3.2.4 Trash - please help.

Hi there

I know there have been various discussions about this but I have looked through and didn't really find an answer for me. I currently have 2358 photos showing in Aperture Trash but when I click on Empty Aperture Trash (or do the keyboard short cut) nothing happens. Nothing goes from Aperture and nothing arrives in the Trash can on the desktop.

I now have my Aperture Library in an attached (rather than online using a NAS drive - thanks to previous advice) hard-drive.

I tried a test using past advice from Leonie and created a new Aperture Library on my hard drive, loaded up some fresh photos, deleted some of them so they moved to Aperture Trash, then tried to 'Empty Aperture Trash' .... same result. They just won't budge.

Please can anyone help?

Many thanks.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 14, 2013 2:40 AM

21 replies

Sep 29, 2013 10:24 PM in response to léonie

Yup - like your description of recalcitrant trash bins. Though mine is more like darn stubborn! Thanks for your guidance - I changed the 'Ignore Ownership on this volume' but actually it was already ticked ... Oh dear, sorry to take up both your and Frank's time on this.

I am pretty sure I have done all that you've suggested so far. Wondering what I should do next. Maybe just try copying the whole Aperture Library to another external hard drive and seeing what happens?

Its current size is: 232.17 GB on disk (231,333,551,450 bytes) so I can't move it to my Mac Hard drive as I only have available 123.34 GB on disk....

Any other suggestions please? Appreciate your time and patience!

I don't know, maybe I should just let it be - but to me it doesn't seem right having 2782 pics just sitting in the Aperture Trash ....

léonie

Level 10

194,883 points

Sep 29, 2013 11:39 PM in response to CheekyMonkeyheehee

Yes I did try creating a test library on my internal drive and no success in deleting the new images that I had put there and moved to trash.

Regards and apologies!

I just looked back to the previous posts in this thread. So whereever your Aperture library is located -external or internal drive- , you cannot empty your trash?

Do you have any version of iPhoto on your Mac? Try, if you can empty the Trash in an iPhoto library.

If even iPhoto cannot empty the Trash, we'll know there is something generally wrong, not only Aperture.

Also check, if you can empty the Trash in Aperture when working from a different user account - sign in as the Guest User or create a new account in the System Preferences . Then create anew library in this account and import and trash an image.

What are the results? Testing in different account will tell us, if we need to start trashing preferences or if we need to reinstall.

Oct 8, 2013 11:16 PM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie, Frank, anyone else?

Thanks - sorry I disappeared for a while. Still no luck I am afraid. At least in iPhoto I CAN delete the Trash.

I tried creating a new library in Aperture with a different user account but there was still the problem in that the Trash won't empty.

I think you might suggest to reinstall .... If indeed you do suggest this, please excuse my ignorance but how would I do this and ensure that I don't lose any images? What would be the risks involved please?

Thanks!

léonie

Level 10

194,883 points

Oct 9, 2013 4:16 AM in response to CheekyMonkeyheehee

I tried creating a new library in Aperture with a different user account but there was still the problem in that the Trash won't empty.

Where was this Aperture library located? On your internal drive (the system drive) or on an external drive?

Still no luck I am afraid. At least in iPhoto I CAN delete the Trash.

Do you mean - If you open an Aperture library in iPhoto - you are able to empty the trash using iPhoto? Even if Aperture cannot do it? Even with a new Aperture library created in a dfferent user account?

Yes, then I suggest to reinstall Aperture.

I think you might suggest to reinstall .... If indeed you do suggest this, please excuse my ignorance but how would I do this and ensure that I don't lose any images? What would be the risks involved please?

Minimize the risk by backing up your Aperture library.

How did you originally install Aperture? From the boxed retail version or did you download the trial installer and bought a serial number online?

To reinstall, move the Aperture application from the Applications folder to the to the trash and use your installer DVD or download the Trial installer from here:

Aperture 3.1 Trial

After running the Trial installer go immediately to Software update in the -menu, and only after updating to the most recent version launch Aperture and enter your registration code to unlock the Trial. Then launch it by double clicking your Aperture Library or clicking the Aperture icon. Run the installer from an administrator account.

Oct 10, 2013 1:53 AM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie

I created the new Aperture library in my Pictures file on my MAC internal drive.

Do you mean - If you open an Aperture library in iPhoto - you are able to empty the trash using iPhoto? Even if Aperture cannot do it? Even with a new Aperture library created in a dfferent user account?

Yes, then I suggest to reinstall Aperture.

Sorry, not sure how to open an Aperture library in iPhoto. All I did was create a new iPhoto library and see if I could delete the trash from there 😊

I originally installed Aperture from the boxed retail version. We initially had Aperture 2 boxed retail version, then bought the Aperture 3 box upgrade. If I used the installer DVD would I then need to check for upgrades as guess this is just 3.0?

Thanks again.

léonie

Level 10

194,883 points

Oct 10, 2013 2:28 AM in response to CheekyMonkeyheehee

Sorry, not sure how to open an Aperture library in iPhoto. All I did was create a new iPhoto library and see if I could delete the trash from there:8}

If you have Aperture 3.4.5 and iPhoto 9.4.3, you can use the command "File > Open Library in iPhoto" from Aperture's main menu bar.

I originally installed Aperture from the boxed retail version. We initially had Aperture 2 boxed retail version, then bought the Aperture 3 box upgrade. If I used the installer DVD would I then need to check for upgrades as guess this is just 3.0?

Your boxed version will be 3.0 or 3.1.

If you install from the CD, run software update immediately, other wise you will not be able to open your Aperture library.

Some installers out of the box may give a warning, that the developer certificate has expired or is invalid. Then set the date of your Mac to some time before february 2011, before yu start the installation.

I can't empty Aperture 3.2.4 Trash - please help.