Backup files of Palm Desktop can't be deleted

Question

Backup files of Palm Desktop can't be deleted

Well, the subject line says it all.

I have an external USB 2.0 drive that I use to back up my files. I backup about once a month, and then to conserve space, everytime I backup I delete the previous backup folder.

Problem is this: I have just copied over my applications folder, which includes Palm Desktop. When I try to empty the trash, it tells me that it can't empty the trash because, "localized.rsrc is in use" but it isn't - I'm not trying to delete the file from the Palm folder that I'm using - I'm trying to delete it from my external backup. Now, I can't even get the external to "eject" so I can unplug it!

Anyone else have this problem or know what to do? Any help is appreciated.

Mac Pro 2.66

Posted on Sep 25, 2006 9:07 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 25, 2006 9:19 PM in response to lifelongmacuser

if you do this task with the root user it might work.

regards,

Pete.

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Answer 2

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Sep 25, 2006 9:24 PM in response to lifelongmacuser

Hi, lifelongmacuser.

See my "Solving Trash Problems" FAQ. In particular, see the section "Files in use by other applications" for a method of determining the process or application that is thought to have the file in-use.

PS: Copying (as in drag-and-drop copying) your Applications folder is unlikely to make a proper backup of your applications. Many complex applications, such as Adobe apps, install needed components outside of the /Applications directory. For a proper backup, you need to employ a proper Backup and Recovery solution. For advice on the backup and recovery solution I employ, see my "Backup and Recovery" FAQ.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 3

Sep 25, 2006 9:39 PM in response to Dr. Smoke

Actually, I had already found your page when I did a google search about this (and before I posted here).

I tried every one of your suggestions, except using a trash-emptying utility. I tried logging out, then emptying. Nope. Tried the terminal command that ends with killing and restarting the Finder. No luck. I tried to use the terminal to find out what process is using the file, but to no avail.

Let me be more clear: When I emptied the trash, it deleted all of my folders/apps/etc. except this: (Each > is another folder level)
I have a folder named Applications>Palm>Palm Desktop (the file). I see no "localized.rsrc" which is the file I'm being told is in use. I have even tried the terminal trick to show all files (where you can view the ds store files and all) and I STILL don't see a "localized.rsrc" file anywhere in the trash! Ah!

I have been avoiding downloading an "emtpy trash" utility because I'm always hesitant to make the computer do things it doesn't think it should. More often than not, this stuff gets you in trouble.

Thanks - any other ideas would be appreciated

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Answer 4

Sep 25, 2006 10:00 PM in response to lifelongmacuser

You know what? Solved my own problem, though I still don't understand why it worked.

I just now tried "Secure Empty Trash" and it worked! Not sure why regular empty trash wouldn't work, but this did - but, it is fixed!

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Answer 5

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Sep 25, 2006 10:25 PM in response to lifelongmacuser

You wrote:

"I have a folder named Applications>Palm>Palm Desktop (the file). I see no "localized.rsrc" which is the file I'm being told is in use."

It's buried within Palm Desktop. That's not a file but a bundle: a special type of folder for applications. If you Control-click Palm Desktop, there will probably be a Show package contents choice in the resulting contextual menu. Drill down in that and you'll find at least one localized.rsrc file somewhere therein. There should be one in every language-specific localization folder. See "Bundles and the Resource Manager."

The order in which you did things (launch apps, copying /Applications, trashing the old copy, etc.) may have led to a situation where the localized.rsrc file in question appeared to be in use, i.e. with a status of bzy (busy), and hence the problem.

Secure Empty Trash doesn't correct that: it overwrites the space occupied by the file multiple times with "ASCII garbage" (random binary patterns) in addition to simply removing its directory entry. Empty Trash merely removes the directory entry: the file will still be on the hard drive, but as its directory entry has been removed, it's space is now "available" to be overwritten.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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