Cannot empty a specific file from my trash

Question

Cannot empty a specific file from my trash

For years I have created a backup file of my address book contacts on my desktop, which I then transfer to an external HD that also has my Time Machine backups. After completing such a transfer to my external today, I moved this file from my desktop to the trash. But trash won't delete it, telling me the file is in use which it is NOT. I have tried restarting the computer. I have tried holding down command, option and control keys in various combinations, all to no effect. I have tried to move the offending file back to the desktop to see if I could somehow remove it another way, only to be told that "you can't copy the item " " because its name is too long or it includes characters that are invalid on the destination volume." What does this mean and how can I fix it?

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), 16 GB Ram, 2.6 Intel quad core i7

Posted on Jun 9, 2015 10:06 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Jun 9, 2015 1:00 PM in response to Holger Jensen

Trash – Can’t Empty or Move File To Trash

Trash – Empty When File is Locked or in Use

Try holding down the option button while trying to delete the Trash. If that doesn’t work, here is some more information.

Trash FAQ

Reply

Answer 2

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jun 9, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Holger Jensen

Select the text on the line below by dragging across it. Don't include the blank space at the end of the line. Only the text should be highlighted.

ls -@Oeln

Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V, then press the space bar.

Now switch to the Finder and and select the item in question. Drag into the Terminal window. More text will be added to what you entered.

Click in the Terminal window to activate it, then press return.

Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear. Post any lines that appear below that line—the text, please, not a screenshot. You can then quit Terminal.

If any personal information appears in the output, anonymize before posting.

Reply

Answer 3

Jun 9, 2015 4:15 PM in response to Eric Root

Option button doesn't work.

Reply

Answer 4

Jun 9, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks but...I solved my initial problem about emptying the trash file by renaming the item in question and then successfully deleting it from the trash. However, the address book file of contacts labeled "Contacts-06-09-2015.abbu" cannot be transferred to a CD, external HD or anywhere else without receiving the message "you can't copy the item " " because its name is too long or it includes characters that are invalid on the destination volume." What gives?

Reply

Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jun 9, 2015 5:01 PM in response to Holger Jensen

Please read this whole message before doing anything.

This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.

Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem.

Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.

The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Reply

Answer 6

Jun 10, 2015 11:31 AM in response to Linc Davis

Didn't solve the problem and didn't even indicate what the problem was. I made a backup copy of my contacts on my desktop, printed it out and trashed the file since I cannot transfer it to an external HD or a CD without getting the same idiotic message about the file name being too long or containing characters incompatible with my external HD. I am totally mystified. I just ran into another Yosemite problem that I'm putting up in another post.

Reply

Answer 7

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jun 10, 2015 2:06 PM in response to Holger Jensen

If you were to cooperate with my first request for information, there might be some chance of solving the problem. Otherwise, there's none.

Reply

Answer 8

Jun 11, 2015 5:57 AM in response to Linc Davis

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Had to make a trip. Here's a terminal grab of the diagnostic per your instructions. Couldn't send it as a Tiff so converted it to Microsoft Word and appear to have lost the lower part. But the lines are all pretty much the same

h1ens - bash - 82x60

Last login: Thu Jun 11 06:16:26 on console

hjens:- hjens$ ls -@Oeln /Z\ Files/Updates/Contacts\ -\ 06-09-2015.abbu

total 29680

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 3592192 May 11 15:33 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 32768 Jun 9 08:47 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb-shm

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 1071232 Jun 9 08:47 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 8192 Nov 25 2007 ABPerson.sklndexlnverted

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 6144 Nov 25 2007 ABSubscribedPerson.sklndexlnverted

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 909312 Jun 9 08:10 Address8ook-v22.abcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 32768 Jun 9 08:26 Address8ook-v22.abcddb-shm

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 811672 Jun 9 08:47 Address8ook-v22.abcddb-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 765952 Aug 31 2009 Address8ook-v22-.abcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 24478 Nov 25 2007 AddressBook.data.previous

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 332 Sep 2 2009 Configuration.plist

-om.apple.quarantine 23

drwxr-xr-x@ 14 501 20 476 Jun 9 08:48 Contacts - 06-09-2015.abbu

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwx---rw- 3 501 20 102 Oct 17 2014 Images

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 380928 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 32768 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr-shm

com.appte.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 0 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwx---rw- 375 501 20 12750 Jun 9 08:47 Metadata

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 501082 Sep 20 2014 Migration 20140920072435-538.abbu.

tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 333481 Sep 20 2014 Migration 20140920094137-538.abbu.

tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 513134 Sep 20 2014 Migration 20140920105042-538.abbu.

tbz

com.appte.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 628308 Jan 30 05:23 Migration 20150130052304-286.abbu. tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 601149 Mar 20 09:31 Migration 20150320093110-341.abbu.

tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 602455 Mar 20 09:55 Migration 20150320095538-341.abbu.

tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 603769 Mar 20 10:06 Migration 20150320100647-637.abbu. tbz

com.appte.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 460604 Mar 25 13:03 Migration 20150325130358-304.abbu.

tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 493670 Mar 25 13:11 Migration 20150325131134-304.abbu.

Reply

Answer 9

Jun 11, 2015 6:56 AM in response to Holger Jensen

Linc, Here's the complete diagnostic again in text form. Means nothing to me but maybe it will mean something to you:

Last login: Thu Jun 11 06:44:33 on ttys000

hjens:~ hjens$ ls -@Oeln /Z\ Files/Updates/Contacts\ -\ 06-09-2015.abbu

total 29680

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 3592192 May 11 15:33 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 32768 Jun 9 08:47 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb-shm

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 1071232 Jun 9 08:47 ABAssistantChangelog.aclcddb-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 - 8192 Nov 25 2007 ABPerson.skIndexInverted

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 - 6144 Nov 25 2007 ABSubscribedPerson.skIndexInverted

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 909312 Jun 9 08:10 AddressBook-v22.abcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 32768 Jun 9 08:26 AddressBook-v22.abcddb-shm

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 811672 Jun 9 08:47 AddressBook-v22.abcddb-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 765952 Aug 31 2009 AddressBook-v22~.abcddb

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-rw----@ 1 501 20 - 24478 Nov 25 2007 AddressBook.data.previous

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 332 Sep 2 2009 Configuration.plist

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwxr-xr-x@ 14 501 20 - 476 Jun 9 08:48 Contacts - 06-09-2015.abbu

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwx---rw- 3 501 20 - 102 Oct 17 2014 Images

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 380928 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 32768 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr-shm

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw----rw-@ 1 501 20 - 0 Jun 9 08:10 MailRecents-v4.abcdmr-wal

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwx---rw- 375 501 20 - 12750 Jun 9 08:47 Metadata

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 501082 Sep 20 2014 Migration

20140920072435-538.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 333481 Sep 20 2014 Migration 20140920094137-538.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 513134 Sep 20 2014 Migration 20140920105042-538.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 628308 Jan 30 05:23 Migration 20150130052304-286.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 601149 Mar 20 09:31 Migration 20150320093110-341.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 602455 Mar 20 09:55 Migration 20150320095538-341.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 603769 Mar 20 10:06 Migration 20150320100647-637.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 460604 Mar 25 13:03 Migration 20150325130358-304.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 493670 Mar 25 13:11 Migration 20150325131134-304.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 326916 Mar 25 13:20 Migration 20150325132042-849.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 414421 Mar 25 13:33 Migration 20150325133320-849.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 605680 Mar 30 14:45 Migration 20150330144501-419.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 410412 Apr 28 13:07 Migration 20150428130705-361.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 572012 May 11 14:45 Migration 20150511144547-1236.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

-rw-r--r--@ 1 501 20 - 415552 May 11 14:51 Migration 20150511145120-1327.abbu.tbz

com.apple.quarantine 23

drwxr-xr-x 4 501 20 - 136 May 11 15:42 Sources

hjens:~ hjens$

Reply

Answer 10

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jun 11, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Holger Jensen

Back up all data before continuing.

Please enter the following command in the same way as before:

xattr -c -r /Z*

There will be no output this time. Test.

Reply

Answer 11

Jun 11, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Linc Davis

Nothing happens with your new code. It simply adds the name of the file with no more text to follow, as in:

hjens:~ hjens$ xattr -c -r /Z* /Z\ Files/Updates/Contacts\ -\ 06-09-2015.abbu

I might add that Z files is just a folder I created to keep updates of my contacts, bookmarks and user prefs for certain applications that I use a lot without doing a Time Machine backup each time. This Z Files folder is located both on my MacMini and my external HD. I might also add that I don't have a problem deleting the contacts file any more when I trash it, the only problem I have is moving it from the MacMini to the external HD. That's when I get the error messate saying the file name is too long or contains characters incompatible with the target disk. It's the only file I have this problem with. All my other updates, bookmarks and user prefs transfer just fine.

Reply

Answer 12

Jun 11, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Holger Jensen

Linc, thanks for all your efforts on my behalf. I still don't know what the problem was but I eliminated it by creating a brand new Z Files folder, then a new Updates folder within the Z files, then transferred everything from the old one to the new one, including a new contacts file that I exported from address book, and was able to transfer everything to my external HD without any further hangups. I remain mystified and can only assume that there was some corruption in one of the files or one of the older folders.

Reply