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error code -1407, can't empty trash or download to sd card

I'm on a mac mini - Mac OS X Version 10.6.8.


I'm trying to download an inventory to a 2gb sd card. This is a regular task I do every week. Everything worked fine for 9 months. Then recently, I had a problem and found out I needed to empty the trash each time I download. This has been working OK although emptying the trash has become slower and slower.


Tonight I can't empty the trash at all as I can't move the data to the trash and get this message - The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -1407). When I open the the trash I get lots of alias kinds of files. I have a screen shot of what it looks like but I'm not sure how to attach it here.


I looked up error code - 1407 and followed the directions about ejecting files etc. but it didn't work.


I'm wondering if the problem is my sd card or my sd card reader. The reader is a cheapo purple plastic thing I received when I started this download service. It had worked fine for a year. The card has also worked fine. Any opinions or help would be appreciated.


I will try to attach the screenshot here - User uploaded file

mac mini

Posted on Feb 14, 2014 9:05 PM

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8 replies

Feb 15, 2014 7:40 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the idea. I haven't ever done this (I had to look up directions for relaunching finder) I tried restarting and relaunching finder. The problem is still there and the trash won't empty.


I might as well try to re-format the SD-card but am new to this too. I assume I copy all the files to my desktop. Besides the data file (which is what I'm trying to move to the trash) there are other files, like lic.tst, and notfound.txt. When I re-format, I will lose those files - right?


Could my problem be in one of the files? When I re-format, am I likely to put the problem back when I re-copy the files back to the disc? This probably sounds dumb - there are lots of gaps in my education.

Feb 15, 2014 3:22 PM in response to combinola

The files on the SD card are useless at this point, so even if you recopy them back to the SD card you are no worse off then before you started. SD cards, like all such devices, are not infallible and there are a number of SD Card recovery applications out there, mostly for Windows.

Card Rescue does support SD card recovery on the Mac, but I have not tried it, so I cannot recommend it one way or the other. My best guess is you need a new SD card.

Feb 15, 2014 6:33 PM in response to combinola

Thanks for the help. I was able to fix it with the help of my computer genius nephew. I had copied the files to the desktop. We then went to the disk utility and used the erase tab. We just erased everything. It took care of all the garbage in my trash. I then copied the important files back onto the SD card, downloaded the new data file, and was able to put the old data file in the trash and empty it.


I guess the corrupted stuff was in the data file I was trying to move to the trash. I have a feeling this will happen again so I am very glad I know what to do.


It worked. Thanks again.

error code -1407, can't empty trash or download to sd card

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