Cannot Delete Folder - The operation can't be completed

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Cannot Delete Folder - The operation can't be completed

Occasionally, after creating a new folder in Finder, it won't let me copy to, or delete the folder. When I try and delete the folder I receive a message that says, "The operation can't be completed because the item "Presentation Script" is in use. Presentation Script is of course the name of the folder.

I am running OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.5.

This is what the folder looks like in Finder.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), iMac 27", Late 2013

Posted on Nov 27, 2015 10:44 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 27, 2015 1:09 PM in response to mwohn

Hi,

As it is on a external drive the problem could be there due to you having to Login to that device.

Also check your Date and Time.

The Info Panel says it was modified before it was created.

9:09 pm Friday; November 27, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 2

mwohn Author

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Nov 27, 2015 2:13 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

The external drive is on a file server (on my office network) that I access repeatedly every day. I have always been able to create new folders on this server, and a login is not required. It's only occasionally that some kind of lock (or something) is created at the same time I am creating a New Folder in Finder. I also have three PC's on my office network, and they cannot delete these folders either. This issue seems to occur completely at random when I select New Folder in Finder.

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,216 points

Nov 27, 2015 2:44 PM in response to mwohn

I get this message from time to time and my files are on a local disk. When I hunt for the app that's using it I find nothing. A restart or log out and log in should sort it. In your case, it may be the revision date that Ralph points out.

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Answer 4

mwohn Author

Level 1

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Nov 27, 2015 3:54 PM in response to macjack

I have shut the iMac down twice and performed the steps shown in the attachment below (under, "This solved my question ...).

This did not solve the issue either.

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Answer 5

Nov 28, 2015 1:15 PM in response to mwohn

Hi,

I have a NAS Drive used to store things Off my computer.

The Info Panel for mine looks a little like yours.

I don't manually add a Password each time I Start up the computer as it is in Login Items for My Mac User Account

The Password was supplied at the original Login then the Drive was "Dragged" to the Login to create the link which in turn saves the Password in the Keychain.

(the same is true of the two USB item listed that are in fact on another computer).

The upshot is you may not have to Login everyday. It may have been set up to do so for you either as a User or something the remote computers are set up to do anyway.

Going back to the Modified and Creation dates there may have been (or is) a Date and Time Issue between the devices.

9:15 pm Saturday; November 28, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Reply