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)?
Here's the results, I have not tried the sudo commands
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$ cd ~/Desktop
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ ls -ale@ ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 bob staff 1696256 Jun 3 2016 ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
com.apple.lastuseddate#PS 16
com.apple.quarantine 22
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ ls -aled@ .Verizon\Receipts
ls: .VerizonReceipts: No such file or directory
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ ls -aled@ ./Verizon\Receipts
ls: ./VerizonReceipts: No such file or directory
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ ls -aled@ ~Desktop
ls: ~Desktop: No such file or directory
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ ls -aled@ ~/.Trash
drwx------ 5 bob staff 170 May 4 11:27 /Users/bob/.Trash
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$
Trying to do the sudo rm delete and the terminal will not let me enter a password, see below
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ sudo rm -if ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
Password:
Sorry, try again.
Password:
There is like a key there in the password line, assume that is where it needs to be unlocked, but not sure what to do
Also downloaded Avast Security and ran a scan and detected 45 infections. Deleted those
Follow Step 6 here:
What to do before you sell or give away your Mac - Apple Support
Title Man wrote:
Would I be bringing back the problems if once new operating system installed I use my backup to reinstall data?
Yes, quite possible. I would make a clone and then just replace your own files via drag and drop.
You can use a cloning software like SuperDuper! or CarbonCopy Cloner.
The advantage of the clone is that you can boot from it and use the system. So, if your hard drive fails you can just boot from the backup and keep on working until you have the time to repair or replace the internal drive. You can also drag and drop files with the clone because it is the identical file structure on your primary drive.
The advantage of TM is that it creates recursive backups, so you can restore a file or the entire drive from a certain point in time.
But wait a bit and see if others who have responded chime in.
Strange! I'm not sure what's going on. I'll try to get you some further help.
Nothing like that mentioned. Just says no such file or directory
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.
OK thanks. That's answered but so far it doesn't advance the peanut. Not for me anyway. Let's see if léonie and Viking have any ideas.
That is ./Verizon\ Receipts, not ./Verizon\Receipts. You replaced, not escaped the space.
It is ~/Desktop, not ~Desktop.
Since I am not comfortable, do you have instructions? Would I be bringing back the problems if once new operating system installed I use my backup to reinstall data?
I recommend this modification to your terminal command, where the op only types the blue commands in Terminal:
$ cd ~/Desktop
# comment: test if it is a PDF or folder
$ file ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf or ./foldername
# comment: if PDF document
$ rm -if ./foobar.pdf
# comment: if directory
$ rm -irf ./foobar
This will prevent any run-away deletions.
Assuming those rm commands didn't work... The following shows your own ownership and access, then changes the default directory to your desktop, then displays the full attributes for one PDF file and three directories.
id
cd ~/Desktop
ls -ale@ ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
ls -aled@ ./Verison\ Receipts
ls -aled@ ~/Desktop
ls -aled@ ~/.Trash
Spaces need to be in double-quoted quoted strings or backslash-escaped within filenames, and I'm assuming that the spelling of "Verison" in that "Verison Receipts" filename was not a typo; that it wasn't intended to be the "Version Receipts" directory. The commands ls -aled@ ./"Verison Receipts" and ls -aled@ "/Users/{yourshortnamehere}/Desktop/Verison Receipts" should also work.
The next step past the attempted rm commands is probably to invoke root access and attempt to delete the files and directories from there; from the root user. Make sure you have complete backups of all of your data before proceeding here, because subtle mistakes in an rm or particularly sudo rm command can be catastrophic. You'll have to enter your admin password for the sudo command, and you might get a one-time warning about the use of sudo. And I'd suggest just posting the output of the above before proceeding with the sudo rm commands, in any case. The sudo is a pretty big and sometimes hazardous hammer, in other words.
sudo rm -if ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
sudo rm -irf ./Verison\ Receipts
It's possible that an immutable attribute is set, or that the file and directory ownership of the files is unexpected.
Here's the results:
Roberts-Mac-mini:~ bob$ cd ~/Desktop
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ rm -f ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf
rm: ./avalon_ebrochure.pdf: Operation not permitted
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ file ./"Verizon Receipts"
./Verizon Receipts: directory
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$ rm -rf ./"Verizon Receipts"
rm: ./Verizon Receipts: Operation not permitted
Roberts-Mac-mini:Desktop bob$
received message that file not found after opening terminal typing rm dragging file into terminal and hitting return
Trying the rm -r then drag pdf or file folder to terminal both say operation not permitted
can't delete files from desktop with High Sierra
