Trash can absolutely will not empty...

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Level 1

8 points

Trash can absolutely will not empty...

I'm running the most up to date version of El Capitaine. On a Macbook pro Retina 13inch, if that helps. I apologize if this is posted in the wrong place, it's my first time ever needing to post a question.

I have 13 files, together which add up to more then 40gb of space, which I have been trying to delete for months. These files are all from a program called Final Cut Pro, if that matters. They are all also from an External Harddrive.

The files only appear in the trash when I'm on my main account, with the external plugged in. If I log into any other account on my computer, they are absent. Obviously, if the external is not plugged in, the files do not appear.

Whenever I try and empty the trash, I get the message -The operation can’t be completed because the item “Filenamehere” is in use- . I get this message 13 times, one for each file.

I have deleted Final Cut Pro completely from my computer. I have tried the "Delete Immediately" command. I have tried the program "Trash It". Also the program "Onyx". I have tried using the Terminal commands, Sudo, rm, etc, after following various tutorials on here and other websites online. Nothing works.

I am fairly good with computers and I'm used to Mac, having used them for many years. I've never encountered an issue this stubborn until now.

Can some one please shed some light on this? Is there a solution? Is this a known bug? What can I do to fix this? It has become a big issue, and is only becoming increasingly worse.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 4, 2016 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Hi Rodtheeditor, if your Trash is complaining it is in use have you tried going into Activity Monitor and quitting or force quitting the process associated with it. If your external is bootable, have you tried deleting it from within the Trash on that volume? Have you tried rebuilding the Trash?

And no, it isn't a bug. Yours is the only Mac experiencing it AFAIK.

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Answer 2

Rodtheeditor Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:23 AM in response to macjack

Thanks for the reply. If i go into the trash on the external all the files that are causing issues are shown there, but trying to delete them off there displays the exact same message. For rebuilding, if you mean restoring the files to their original locations, it doesn't even give me the option. If I try to drag them out of the trash, i get a dialog box saying "The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "Filenamehere" can't be read or written. (Error code -36). I'll also mention I have full permissions on the drive, read & write....

In the activity monitor I haven't been able to locate any processes associated with any of the files, is there some way to do that that I'm not aware of?

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Answer 3

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:26 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Hi !

Rodtheeditor

If you really want to delete the files , try one manual method restart the machine and empty the trash .

If it doesn't work try the steps in the article and lastly sudo command .

You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash - Apple Support

Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X - Apple Support

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Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:29 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

By rebuilding, I mean launch Terminal and copy/paste this command at the prompt:

sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*

Press return.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Plug the external drive in, then empty the trash

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Answer 6

Rodtheeditor Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:33 AM in response to macjack

Thanks. I've tried that, after i hit enter it asks for my password. Then... nothing happens. Files are still in the trash, trash still cannot be emptied.

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Answer 7

Rodtheeditor Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:35 AM in response to tygb

Thanks but those 2 articles haven't been of any use. Even the sudo command does not work... when I try and use it, follow step by step everything in the article, the files will not delete. At the end of each line it will say: "Input/output error", or "Directory Not Empty"

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Answer 8

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Sep 4, 2016 10:04 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

To execute sudo command we have to enter in Root user account , after completing the task please log out from root user account .

Articles are there : Mac OS X: sudo command requires a non-blank admin password - Apple Support

: Enabling and using the "root" user in OS X - Apple Support

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Answer 9

Mario MG

Level 1

57 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:46 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Restart your mac then empty the trash. It should be work then. Of course make sure you really want to delete those files.

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Answer 10

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:48 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Is the volume on the external a Windows volume?

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Answer 11

Rodtheeditor Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2016 10:08 AM in response to tygb

I have root user enabled currently, and the command still doesn't do anything....

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Answer 12

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Sep 4, 2016 10:20 AM in response to Rodtheeditor

Please follow the sudo command that is in the article : you can't empty the trash or move a file to trash .

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Answer 13

Király

Level 6

10,025 points

Sep 4, 2016 12:11 PM in response to Rodtheeditor

You need to delete the contents of the .Trashes folder on the external drive. This folder is hidden in Finder, but you can delete it with this Terminal command:

sudo rm -rf /Volumes/ExternalDriveName/.Trashes/*

Make sure you back up the external drive first. One space in the wrong place in the above command can erase the entire drive.

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Answer 14

notcloudy

Level 4

1,258 points

Sep 4, 2016 12:23 PM in response to Rodtheeditor

Have you shut down the system - to clear the Ram of any orphan modules that may have the files locked.

Did you crash out of software after deleting the files - in that case you may have to run the application in order to free the trash - had to do that with Photoshop Bridge CS3 as the recovered files in the Trash would not delete until the application was opened and created new versions of same that were automatically removed on proper exit from the software - go figure.

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