I want to delete backup files that are more than a year old from my time machine. I moved them to trash and although it then asks if I want to remove secure items and I check yes, it then stops. As a result I can't securely delete any new files either since each time the same thing happens if I add a new file, none of it deletes.Â
Info:
MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009), iOS 5.0.1
I have a late 2012 Macbook Pro version 10.9.3.
Attached to this are two external hard drives: Both are SeaGate, USB 3.0, 3TB, and are formatted to the ExFAT system.
I use these mainly for purposes associated with my job as an wedding video editor.
About a month ago, I received a few files from a client that they wanted to attach to their video and upon editing them I tried to delete the originals but was unable to as I got this message: "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items". However, all other trash that I put in there is deleted when I secure delete so I'm sure it's not a problem with the system but rather with those files.
I have researched the problem online and have found some suggested solutions:
1. That I need to change the permission on the file in order to delete it. When I checked the file information it reported that I was able to "Read and Write" as with every other file.
2. I attempted the following suggestion that I found on another forum: Advanced tip about deleting locked filesIf there are several locked files in the Trash, you can unlock them all at the same time at the command line. Follow these steps:Open Terminal. It's located in /Applications/Utilities.Type: chflags -R nouchg Note: Type one space (not pictured) after nouchg in the line above, so that it ends in "nouchg ". Do not press Return yet.Double-click the Trash icon in the Dock to reveal the contents of the Trash. If necessary, arrange the Finder window so that a portion of the Terminal window is still visible.Press the Command-A key combination to select all files in the Trash.Drag the files from the Trash to the Terminal window. Note: This automatically enters the pathname for each file. This eliminates the need to individually empty multiple Trash directories, particularly when multiple disks or volumes are present.Press Return. No special text message will be shown indicating that the command was successful.Empty the Trash.
This did not work either as when I attempted to delete the same message appeared. Â
So my question is this, how do I permanently delete these files? Do I need to buy third party software to do this?
I have a MacBook Air with 256 GB of SSD and am running very close to the limit of available memory. To recover additional memory I issued an empty trash command while holding down the options key. The process has been underway for a few hours now.Â
There are over 1,238,000 items to be deleted. Items are being deleted at the rate of about one every five seconds. At that rate it is going to take forever for the process to finish. Â
Is there any way to speed up the process? Or an alternative the empty trash command?Â
Info:
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10)
i just deleted some files+emptied the trash... and just now read up about "secure empty trash", is there anyway to make sure the files i have already deleted are unrecoverable?
MBP uni 13" snow leopard.
I have about 60 GB of data on a new 750 GB drive that I want securely erased as I am passing that drive on to someone else.
Zero out the drive or do a 7 pass is secure BUT takes a long time for 750 GB
What if I drag those files to trash and do a SECURE EMPTY TRASH - much quicker as I am not writing 750 GB of zeroes but is it as secure?
But I have 2 files IN the Trash that, when I try a delete them by clicking EMPTY, I get a response that they cant be permanently removed as they are in use. Other files deleted permanently just fine.But these 2 wont. And they aren't in use. I have no applications open. I have restarted my MAC and still they are 'in use'.Â
Info:
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
it takes a long time for my TRASH CAN to delete even small files.
View 1 Replies View RelatedI was cleaning up my jumpdrive and accidently put a locked safegaurd file in the trash so when I went to empty the trash it emptied everything but that. Then I went in and moved a copy of the safegaurd file from the trash to the desktop then to the jumpdrive. Now the file is safely back on my jumpdrive, but I have useless files in my trash that I can't delete. How do I do it??
Anyone know what I can do?
Basically, I am 'securely emptying my trash' as we speak. With that said, why exactly does it say that it currently has to empty around 400 something files? Does that include every single file I've deleted in the past, not using the 'secure empty trash'?
Also, once if I deleted my download history, not using 'secure empty trash', is there a way to retrieve it and use 'secure empty trash' to empty it once again?
I'm just a little confused about the 400 something files being deleted using 'secure empty trash'.
I'm a recent mac converter. Hope someone can help me out.
Now in XP I was able to remove certain files from the trash bin. I never actually emptied the entire trash bin, but once in a while would delete the oldest files from the trash bin and keep the new ones.
Is this possible in OS X? I was only able to empty the entire trash bin, but not certain parts of it.
When I empty my trash they all delete except 2 particular files. They have weird names with symbols in them. I don't know if it matters but when I press get info it says they are in the Windows XP .Trashes folder. I used a hidden file application to look for them and delete them but that didn't work. I can't drag them out the trash can. There is nothing showing in Windows XP in the recycle bin. I tried verifying the disk. Overall, nothing has worked at all and I've searched everywhere for an answer.
View 10 Replies View RelatedI'ves been trying to do some research on the "secure empty trash can" option and i can't find anything useful.
I've been having this problem where i can't simply "empty trash" and have to click on "secure empty trash" as it the only thing that appears !
To empty a trash can, it deletes 1 item per second and it's getting very tiring and long. Before, i didn't have the "secure empty trash" and wish to get the normal "empty trash"
I went to empty trash (secure empty trash more specifically) and a few minutes into the process, the hard drive revved WAY WAY up and is whining horribly. Time for a new hard drive or is there anything I can do? Also getting the beach ball with almost everything I do now.
View 15 Replies View RelatedI have mac pro having os x lion. I am facing problem of not emtying my trash basket.
I have tried it from finder and also with command key+empty secure icon.Â
I'm pretty new to Mac (4 months)..having finally come from the "dark side". My question is: when you install software (OS X 10.6) does it send files all over the place like Windoze does? And, to uninstall something, is all you do is right-click and "send to trash"? Will that delete any and all files associated with that app?
View 2 Replies View RelatedI want it to either
Conserve disk space and confine the size of Trash to a certain percentage of the total hard disk space and automatically delete old files to meet that limit; or
Automatically delete files that has been sent to trash for a certain period of time.
Can I do that in Mac OS X?
In Windows and Linux/Debian's Gnome v2.30.2, I can highlight specific file(s) to delete from its recycle bin. Can I do the same in Mac OS X 10.5.8's trash? It seems like I have to empty everything or restore the one(s) to keep first before emptying it.
Info:MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 2.4 Ghz; A1260 model; 15" size.
Have just added two external WD My book drives using time machine. In the process files were saved,copied between drives and then sent to trash. I now have have the operating software for the drive backup firmly anchored in my trash bin. It won't get rid of it. How do I overcome this problem.
Info:
iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
Is there a way to completely remove files from my system without moving them to the Trash?  I've read about the Trash, but I'm not clear on EXACTLY how it works. Can I empty A file from the trash or when I click on a file & choose "Emtpy the Trash" does it empty ALL of the files in the Trash or just that one file?  Is there a way to just empty ONLY 1 file from the trash or restore ONLY 1 file from the Trash if so how? ALSO, what are the "rules" for MOVING files rather than COPYing them? I thought files that went from one folder to another on the same drive, were moved & ones that went to different drives were copied. It seems like I've run acrorss instances where that's not how things work.
Info:
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
I have recovered files sitting in my trash bin and cannot delete them ...
View 5 Replies View RelatedTrash does not delete some movie files I wish to remove from my computer.Â
Info:
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)
How do you delete individual items from Trash without emptying entire Trash? If I highlight one item in Trash, the only option is the Empty button. I'm afraid it will empty the whole thing. I don't want to do that.
View 4 Replies View RelatedI purchased a GoFlex Desk for Mac with the FW800 adapter. No issues with stability or performance.The only thing that is weird is related to deletion of files:
1) When I set a program to auto-clean files (for example, deleting source rar files after unpacking) it doesn't work
2) Whenever I try to delete a file, I get a warning that "This cannot be undone", and it's doing a permanent delete rather than moving it to trash.I've verified that I'm not using any Seagate drivers, and the drive shows up as the "Orange" generic external drive.
Info:
GoFlex Desk, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
I can't empty my trash ! i dont know why?
Info:
MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
Since I got SL and had a small trashcan, opened it up, and instead of emptying it via dock and just hit the "secure" button in the window out of laziness, every time I empty the trash, it does it securely, which takes a lot of time. I have a very large trash load and don't particularly feel like devoting the full CPU to writing over files I simply don't need anymore (mostly old downloads). Is this a feature? How do I disable it?
View 2 Replies View RelatedI moved a bunch of files to the trash can after installing Snow Leopard, mainly backup files from OmniFocus.
I clicked Secure Empty Trash and over 500,000 items began deleting. These 500,000+ items deleted at the rate of 2-3 items a second. This would total 138 hours equaling over 5 days to Secure Empty the trash.
This is just ridiculous in my option so I just did the "Empty Trash" feature, showing me only 350 items, which deleted quickly in under 5 minutes...
So far I know with Secure Empty Trash that the trash is securely layered with 0's & 1's....but wonder what happens with just "Empty Trash?"
How easily accessible is it for someone to retrieve something that i've deleted?
Under my finder list on the top of my IMac, I used to be able to click empty trash. Now its turned into secure empty trash. Secure empty trash always locks up and I have to relaunch finder, search for empty trash in help and use it that way. Does anyone know how to get the empty trash option back under my finder list?
View 3 Replies View RelatedHow come when I enable the "Secure Empty Trash" feature and put something into the trash and then empty the trash it says it's emptying 4 things even though I only put one single item into the trash bin?
View 7 Replies View RelatedWhen I was looking up what the Secure Empty Trash option does I happened across a site that said that "this method might shorten the hard disk lifespan." Is there any truth to this?
source of quote: [URL]
when I try to securely empty the trash it tells me some items are locked and asks to continue with all? If I indicate yes, it stops and says I don't have permissions for all files. the files that remain are mainly old apps and .mp3 from iTunes.How do I fix these permissions to get them deleted?
Info:
iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)
