Barbatian

Q: Delete old backups - empty trash - files in use

Hello,

 

I follow on instruction to delete old backups manually, so I enetered the external drive and put unnecessary backups into trash. I would like to empty trash, however every 10 seconds I receive multiple messages that files are still in use.

 

What happend and how can I empty trash?

 

Kind regards,

Michal

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 28, 2016 2:47 PM

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Q: Delete old backups - empty trash - files in use

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 3:18 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 3:18 PM in response to Barbatian

    unnecessary backups

     

    Please explain what they are, and how you find them.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 3:40 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 3:40 PM in response to John Galt

    Screen Shot 2016-09-29 at 00.38.46.pngScreen Shot 2016-09-29 at 00.38.52.pngScreen Shot 2016-09-29 at 00.38.57.pngScreen Shot 2016-09-29 at 00.39.01.png

     

    Macinthosh HD is my Hard Drive.

    Spindump - I have no idea

    2016-03-06-145628 - probably one of old backup's folder.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 3:52 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 3:52 PM in response to Barbatian

    Apparently you attempted to delete certain files that should not be deleted. I suggest selecting the items in the Trash that won't delete, and select Put Back from the File menu. Repeat until you can empty the remaining items in the Trash.

     

    If that doesn't work restart your Mac, and repeat the above.

     

    If you still experience problems please read You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash - Apple Support. I recommend exercising judicious caution if you decide to follow the "advanced tip" at the end of that document. Better yet, stop there and write back for additional suggestions.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 4:06 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:06 PM in response to John Galt

    I can't put them back - they are grayed out. I just followed instruction from apple stuff...

     

    In the meantime I will do my best but for the future - what is the way to delete old backups?

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 4:14 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:14 PM in response to Barbatian

    Did you drag those backups to the Trash? If so, from where?

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 4:22 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:22 PM in response to John Galt

    From the backup volume - external drive...

    I deleted all backups before september and Now my trash is stuck...

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-29 at 01.17.03.pngScreen Shot 2016-09-29 at 01.17.10.png

     

    I don't understand why these files are in use. These are not locked. Are just in use. Time machine probably uses them at all time somehow? Maybe reads them to follow on changes? Maybe I should switch off Time Machine, empty trash and then put it on again?

     

    Why would be there some files I should not delete? Is there a problem deleting old backups? How should I do it corret way?

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 4:30 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:30 PM in response to Barbatian

    Barbatian wrote:

     

    From the backup volume - external drive...

     

    Oh! Don't do that.

     

    Deleting backups using the Finder is possible but it will take a very long time, and interrupting that process will almost certainly corrupt the Time Machine database.

     

    Let Time Machine manage its backups. It is completely normal for the Time Machine volume to become completely full, after which it will remove old, "expired" backups on its own, without your intervention. Time Machine will let you know when its backup volume becomes full, and what to do about it if that matters to you (select that option in its Preferences).

     

    If you remain determined to delete backups of any particular backup file, control-click (or right-click) the file while in the "Enter Time Machine" interface. Then, choose "Delete All Backups of ..." the file. Confirm and authenticate.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 4:31 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:31 PM in response to John Galt

    What can I do now, because old backups are in trash, I can't recover them and can't empty the trash?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 28, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (50,841 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 28, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Barbatian

    Restart, check if the files are still in use after you do.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Csound1

    I already restarted. Still in use.

     

    Edit: I managed to move them from trash back to external drive, however not to backup folder, since system doe not allow me to to do so:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-29 at 01.38.34.png

     

    Shame it allowed me to delete...

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 4:51 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:51 PM in response to Barbatian

    The effect of corrupting the TM database is unknown, so all I can suggest is what I would do in your situation, which is to follow the Apple Support document above with these added suggestions:

     

    • Temporarily turn Time Machine "off"
    • Disconnect the backup drive
    • Restart your Mac and attempt to empty the Trash again
    • Drag the recalcitrant files out of the Trash and on to the Desktop (if you can) and empty the remaining items in it

     

    If none of those suggestions work, then I'd drag the following file to the Trash and delete it:

     

    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist

     

    To find that file, select the above line (triple-click to select the entire line) then control-click (or two-finger tap) the selected line of text. From the contextual menu that appears, select the submenu Services > Reveal in Finder. A Finder window will open with that file selected. Drag it to the Desktop, or directly to the Trash.

     

    The effect of deleting that file will be that the values shown in "backing up xxx of yyy" messages will be wildly inaccurate until that backup is complete. Also, your TM exclusions list will need to be created again.

     

    Reconnecting the backup drive may result in the same greyed-out files reappearing in the Trash. If that happens, repeat the above instructions with the backup drive connected.

     

    Let me know what happens.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Sep 28, 2016 5:02 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 8 (49,637 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 5:02 PM in response to Barbatian

    Shame it allowed me to delete...

     

     

     

    I strongly suspect that Apple will eventually make the Time Machine backup drive's contents essentially inaccessible to anything but Time Machine, and that change is likely to occur when they supplant HFS+ with APFS.

     

    At present you ought to consider a Time Machine's contents "no user serviceable parts inside" – similar to the way Photos organizes its Library. It's not necessarily what I want to happen, but it's going to happen, if for no other reason than to protect Mac users from themselves. That's still possible, so enjoy it while it lasts.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 28, 2016 5:03 PM in response to Barbatian
    Level 9 (50,841 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 28, 2016 5:03 PM in response to Barbatian

    Nothing bad will occur, you just have some downtime for yourself.

  • by Barbatian,

    Barbatian Barbatian Sep 28, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Csound1

    Still the same.

     

    I deleted the file - restarted iMac with backup drive connected and disconnected.

    Files in use and system integrity...

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