I cannot empty my Trash can because of error -36

Trash won’t empty? The ultimate guide to deleting stubborn files

http://www.appleproducts360.com/mac-macbook-tips/trash-wont-empty-the-ultimate-g uide-to-deleting-stubborn-files

Are the files in the Trash from your startup disk or from an external disk?

hello,i have the same buggy problem.the unix files which i'm trying to delete located in the trash from an external ntfs (windows format) disk.when trying to delete them(emty trash or force to empty trash) ,my mac shutdown and restarts.if i try to delete one by one using the clean_my_mac.app or onyx getting the error -36.I even try to rename the unix files to something else (.txt or .doc) but didn't have any result.also the terminal trick didn't work!

Any ideas?

Try this... It worked on an older mac for me...

Force the Trash to empty using the Option key

This technique uses a hidden feature of Mac OS X to force the Trash to empty. Perform the following steps in the order specified:

Press and hold the mouse button on the Trash icon in the Dock. The context menu for Trash will display.

Press and hold the Option key or the Shift-Option keyboard combination,

Select Empty Trash from the context menu for Trash.

Release the keys pressed, held in step 2.

It's because Mac OSX can "read" NTFS formatted drive files, however can't "write" to the drive?

i did what you said.same story every time.the macbook pro when the ''delete'' process starting ,suddenly shuts down and restarts immediatelly.if i dont't plug in the external drive and having something else to delete which located in the Macintosh hdd there's no problem.the problem is that i can't delete the external's drive trashes.already trying many tricks.something else?

but i have installed PARAGON NTFS for Mac exacly for that reason! i can read and write!

Some useful advice about trash problems and error -36.

▶ Error code -36 - How to fix Mac Error Code 36 - YouTube

Solving Trash Problems

Thank you all for your tricks and tips! i did what you said but nothing happened.

Finally i solved the buggy problem myself !!!

To solve the problem you must think as a windows user!

i did the following:

1) connect the external drive to a windows based pc.(mine uses win7 os)

2) from the folder option menu show all hidden files

3) locate the hidden file .Trashes on the external hd

4) open and delete EVERYTHING inside it.(maybe you need admin privileges)

5) empty the windows recycle bin if need.

6) unlug from pc and connect to mac.

everything is back to normal.maybe that only works with NTFS formated disks.

Martiakos - Yes, this worked for my ExFat drive. I'm a new Mac person, and was surprised to see all the various files and folders the Macbook had put on the drive. Bit of a nuisance if it is going to do that every time I connect the external drive to the Mac. I wanted to use the external drive as a pathway to move images on my Mac to the pc.This has made me a bit sceptical. Would it be better to use a flash drive stick?

If you only use external drives which are formated to MAC os extended (journaled) , i think you won't have any problem with various files and folders.

The same will happen if you use fat or Exfat formated disks in my opinion.

Your mac will handle these files and remove them nice and clear.

The problem i think is located with NTFS drives and windows os.

Hi What do you mean - " The same will happen with fat or exfat disks....". do you mean I will stillget all these .whatever files and floders if I use the exfat format. And if I do still get them, can I delete them on the Mac or do I have to connect the drive to Windows before I can delete them? Thanks.