Q: desktop thinks its a mounted drive

Can anyone offer insight on this problem?

Thanks for the link. I went through the steps but ran into problems using Terminal. I'd very much appreciate add'l advice. This is a CRITICAL problem and it's just a matter of time before an accidental deletion becomes a complete disaster. Applecare can't help because they only know about the latest OS's and can only suggest an upgrade, which I can't do right now because of apps I use.

I started with the section Files dragged to the Trash "will be deleted immediately" alert, went through #1 & 2, and couldn't make #3 happen:

• #1 - Yes, I am the account Owner with all Read/Write permissions
• #2 - Entering ls ~/.Trash in Terminal returns ls: .Trash.: Permission denied  The article says "..if Terminal returns "No such file, log out, restart." Terminal didn't return this text, but I tried logging out & restarting regardless. No change in problem. Nothing about any other Terminal returns is mentioned, but this returned text doesn't seem good.
• #3 - Empty and recreate acct Trash

Ok this part in #3 is scary: "typographical errors in this command can have dire consequences, including erasing your hard drive!"

So I tried this first:

  I created a new test account and logged in. The trash works normally in this acct. Restarted again, determined to try #3:

- Opened Terminal

- typed sudo rm -ri ~/.Trash in Terminal. Hit Enter

- get ominous warning:

       WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss or the deletion of important system files.             Please double-check your typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

       To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

       Password:

I go to type in my password, but Terminal no longer accepts input. This sudo rm -ri ~/.Trash command causes Terminal to stop keyboard input. I can move the mouse and select the type, but no keyboard input is allowed. Theres no cursor, just the little grey rectangle. I try relaunching Terminal but it now opens with a completely  blank white interface screen and doesn't work without the base text that was there before, and I don't know what it is. So i reboot computer, try again. This is the only way to get the base text back in Terminal. (Now I saved that at least) I get all the way to the same place again - copy/pasting rather than typing the code - with same result - it's a dead end.

Any advice very much appreciated!

..using the commands below...

Commands below..     Immutable files?

Yes, I'm copying/pasting in Terminal as stated. The xlab info doesn't do what it says, for me, for Snow Leopard anyway

Thanks for trying to help

ok I don't know what to do with this information

Logged in to a test acct, running the first, or both, commands in Terminal with the Library window open, does nothing, returns this msg:

Ok thanks. So the procedure would be

- Open the Library folder (where no Trash is currently visible) for the Admin identity

- Run the above Show hidden files script in Terminal - which should make a .trash file (folder?) appear in the Library folder (?)

- Drag the .trash file/folder to the Trash? Or Command + Delete? Or just remove it from Library? (Putting the Trash into itself...seems like it won't work)

- Sign out of Identity (or restart?)

- New Trash will be generated - on login or restart - when OS detects it's missing?

Obviously with the dire "..may erase harddrive.." msgs detailed, I'm proceeding with abundant caution..

Thanks for trying to help!

Would appreciate if someone could step up and help with this....

I went through with the show hidden files command in Terminal and that works.  Is this (screencap) the trash that should be deleted? I'm not going to do it with knowing what will happen.

The "stop showing hidden files" Terminal command listed DOES NOT WORK for me - returns "Unexpected argument -boolean; leaving defaults unchanged." The files are still in view, even after restart....

Ok great, I'm back in business. When I moved the Trash in my User acct. (not the Macintosh harddrive .Trash in my screencap) to the desktop and restarted, a new Trash file got generated and appears to be working correctly.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me! That was big mess, what could've cause that?