Can't delete a file

crazypotatos · crazypotatos #1 (**permalink**)

05-26-2011, 09:59 PM

Hi,

A few days ago I used a add-on in firefox to download a podcast video from justin.tv. I downloaded the video than converted it to .aiff in quicktime pro. Now I have this 700mb+ video file that will not delete. It keeps saying that it is in use by another program. I've done it without any programs open and it still says the same message. Is there any way of manually deleting the file or some program that can do it? or just a simple fix that i am missing?

Thanks!

6string · 6string #2 (**permalink**)

05-26-2011, 10:06 PM

Have you tried rebooting and then emptying the trash?

crazypotatos · crazypotatos #3 (**permalink**)

05-26-2011, 10:08 PM

Multiple times. I even just got a new hard drive, and the same thing happens.

6string · 6string #4 (**permalink**)

05-26-2011, 10:37 PM

If you open activity monitor, you may be able to find the running process and quit it, and then delete the file, otherwise, here are some steps to look at.
Mini-tutorial: Force-deleting stubborn or problematic files in Mac OS X | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #5 (**permalink**)

05-26-2011, 10:55 PM

you can do lsof |grep "<filename>" in terminal. It'll show you what application is using it, which would let you know which file to kill

bobibcho · bobibcho #6 (**permalink**)

01-23-2012, 01:33 PM

Try with LongPathTool. Its easy and free program. It helped me in a same situation should help you too

sickboyedd · sickboyedd #7 (**permalink**)

04-27-2012, 01:22 PM

I've come across the same problem and I got around it by doing the following:

Create a new folder in the directory of the movie file. Move the file into the new folder. If there's nothing in the folder you moved it from that you want to keep, then delete that folder. If there is, then create another folder where the file is and move it into the new one, then delete the first new folder you created.

A little cumbersome but it worked for me!

Dysfunction #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 6,529 Mac Specs: 2008 and 2011 15" mbps, late 11 iMac, iPhone 4s, and too many ipods and other stuff	05-26-2011, 10:55 PM you can do lsof \|grep "<filename>" in terminal. It'll show you what application is using it, which would let you know which file to kill mike This machine kills fascists Got # ? phear the command line!
	QUOTE Thanks

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crazypotatos #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 05, 2009 Posts: 147 Mac Specs: MacBook pro 13" 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo 8GB RAM 750 GB HDD	05-26-2011, 09:59 PM Hi, A few days ago I used a add-on in firefox to download a podcast video from justin.tv. I downloaded the video than converted it to .aiff in quicktime pro. Now I have this 700mb+ video file that will not delete. It keeps saying that it is in use by another program. I've done it without any programs open and it still says the same message. Is there any way of manually deleting the file or some program that can do it? or just a simple fix that i am missing? Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	05-26-2011, 10:06 PM Have you tried rebooting and then emptying the trash?
	QUOTE Thanks

6string #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	05-26-2011, 10:37 PM If you open activity monitor, you may be able to find the running process and quit it, and then delete the file, otherwise, here are some steps to look at. Mini-tutorial: Force-deleting stubborn or problematic files in Mac OS X \| MacFixIt - CNET Reviews
	QUOTE Thanks

bobibcho #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2012 Posts: 1	01-23-2012, 01:33 PM Try with LongPathTool. Its easy and free program. It helped me in a same situation should help you too
	QUOTE Thanks

sickboyedd #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 27, 2012 Posts: 1	04-27-2012, 01:22 PM I've come across the same problem and I got around it by doing the following: Create a new folder in the directory of the movie file. Move the file into the new folder. If there's nothing in the folder you moved it from that you want to keep, then delete that folder. If there is, then create another folder where the file is and move it into the new one, then delete the first new folder you created. A little cumbersome but it worked for me!
	QUOTE Thanks

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