I have some file folders and a PDF I saved to my desktop that I cannot delete. The files will act like they are going into the trash when I drag them, but then move right back on the desktop. The PDF keeps telling me I do not have permissions to access all the items in it. I have tried to reset permissions to no avail. Any suggestions?
Mac mini, iOS 10.3.3, On IOS 10.13.4
Sorry, I didn't edit all the way through in my post. So back in Teminal:
$ cd ~/Desktop
$ rm -f ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
For Folder:
# You must escape file/folder names containing white-space or other reserved characters in the Terminal.
$ file ./"Verizon Receipts"
$ rm -rf ./"Verizon Receipts"
Did either, or both of these return without any message in the Terminal (which would mean they were removed)?
Sorry, I didn't edit all the way through in my post. So back in Teminal:
$ cd ~/Desktop
$ rm -f ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
For Folder:
# You must escape file/folder names containing white-space or other reserved characters in the Terminal.
$ file ./"Verizon Receipts"
$ rm -rf ./"Verizon Receipts"
Did either, or both of these return without any message in the Terminal (which would mean they were removed)?
Launch Terminal and at the prompt type rm then drag the file into the Terminal window. The path will be added at the end of the command. Then press Return.
received message that file not found after opening terminal typing rm dragging file into terminal and hitting return
Did you enter a space character after typing "rm"? If not, try again and add hit the space bar after typing rm, and then drag the file into the Terminal window.
Results:
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ id
uid=502(bob) gid=20(staff) groups=20(staff),12(everyone),61(localaccounts),79(_appserverusr),80(admin),81( _appserveradm),98(_lpadmin),33(_appstore),100(_lpoperator),204(_developer),250(_ analyticsusers),395(com.apple.access_ftp),398(com.apple.access_screensharing),39 9(com.apple.access_ssh)
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ ls -aled@ ./Verizon\ Receipts
ls: ./Verizon Receipts: No such file or directory
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ ls -aled@ ~/Desktop
drwxr-xr-x+ 11 bob staff 374 Jun 26 2016 /Users/bob/Desktop
0: group:everyone deny delete
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ ls -aled@ ~/.Trash
drwx------ 5 bob staff 170 May 4 11:27 /Users/bob/.Trash
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$
Just says no such file or directory
Are you syncing your Desktop and documents folder with iCloud Drive?
The PDF keeps telling me I do not have permissions to access all the items in it.
What does "File > Get Info" show for the PDF file? Does it say "Kind: PDF document"? Or does it show "Kind: Folder" or similar?
If the
PDF is shown as a folder try to enter
rm -r
into the Terminal, followed by a space character, and then drag the PDF behind the rm -r
Spaces and punctuation matter at the command line.
You can cut-and-paste the lines shown below into the command line session, entering one command at a time and executing each command separately.
ls -aled@ ./Verizon\ Receipts
ls -aled@ ~/Desktop
The transcription errors are why there were No such file or directory errors reported for each.
Please re-enter the two commands shown above, and post the output.
The file ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf should be deletable with the rm command that was tried earlier (and that apparently also failed) and all without resorting to the use of sudo, which implies that there might be a problem with the parent directory ~/Desktop settings.
Do any of the files, or folders on your Desktop have a tiny nul string in their name (e.g. foo nul bar.pdf)? Are you the actual owner of these files and folders?
Title Man wrote:
Also downloaded Avast Security and ran a scan and detected 45 infections. Deleted those
Ouch! I would have warned you against Avast. 45 infections! That's practically impossible. Avast is known for for detecting false positives in Mac OS. I'd suggest uninstalling that abomination as per the developers instructions. I hope it didn't do too much damage.
At this point, I'd reformat the hard drive, reinstall Mac OS and start fresh. It probably will be the easiest and fastest way to sort things out.
I take it, you have already restarted the mac to to make sure, the files in question are not in use by the system or other applications?
You did not yet tell us, if you are the owner of the files in question, as VikingOSX asked. Have you checked the permissions and ownership in the Info panel of the items?
Update: I ran disk utility and now I no longer receive the permissions error message, but I still cannot delete the files/pdf from my desktop. If I try to delete them, it sounds like they are being moved to the trash, but the file/pdf still exists on my desktop.
Title Man wrote:
I tried entering a space after the rm in the terminal and for the PDF says Operation not permitted and for the file folder it says it is a directory. Again not letting me delete either.
What folder, is your PDF document inside a folder?
Also did you check to see if there was a null string as Viking suggested in the file or folder on your Desktop, not in Terminal?
pdf not inside a folder, if I get info here's what the pdf file says: avalon_ebrochure.pdf. as far as the folder I was talking about, I created some folders on my desktop to hold receipts and info from the net instead of printing the info. One file was called Verizon Receipts and it's extension is: Verizon Receipts - if I get info on that one file.
Here's results:
For PDF
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ cd ~/Desktop
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ file ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
./avalon_ebrochure.pdf: PDF document, version 1.5
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ rm -if ./foobar.pdf
For folder:
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ cd ~/Desktop
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ file ./Verison Receipts
./Verison: cannot open `./Verison' (No such file or directory)
Receipts: directory
I am the owner and yes checked permissions and have rebooted several times. Even reset permissions, fixed disk, booted into safe mode to try deleting, no luck on any. Only thing Fixing the Disk did was to remove the error message that I didn't have permission for some of the items in the file.
can't delete files from desktop with High Sierra
