02-18-2008, 09:57 PM

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
OS: 10.5.1
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM51.0090.B09

I'm unable to completely empty my trash. I deleted a Windows System32 Directory folder containing dll files to the trash from an external hard drive that had been previously used on a PC. It appears that the folder was set to read only (Mac = locked) and consequently it won't dump. I have followed the machine suggested procedure of holding down the "option" key when selecting 'empty trash' but to no avail.

Can anyone help me out on this. I will be happy to provide any additional information that may be required.

TIA

02-19-2008, 01:37 PM

Hi Tactical,

Open your trashcan; rightmouse click and choose GET INFO; makes sure the LOCKED item in GENERAL is clear if not unclear it. Check that you can READ & WRITE in SHARING & PERMISSIONS, if not change this. You should then be able to remove the folder.

Greetings and salutations

Awrence

02-20-2008, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by awrence

Hi Tactical,

Open your trashcan; rightmouse click and choose GET INFO; makes sure the LOCKED item in GENERAL is clear if not unclear it. Check that you can READ & WRITE in SHARING & PERMISSIONS, if not change this. You should then be able to remove the folder.

Greetings and salutations

Awrence

Awrence,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I am unable of clear the "locked" mode of the subject file in sharing and permissions. I suspect the reason for that is that it was locked by Windows XP. In Windows one can reinstate a deleted file/folder to its former location and it is removed from the trash rather than being copied from the trash. That, of course, is not the case with the Mac OS. I suspect that if there was some way for me to actually remove the folder from the trash to the external drive it was originally located on rather than copying it there I would be able to unlock it. I shall continue to work on it.

Again, thank you for your suggestions.

Don
Saint Augustine, FL

02-20-2008, 05:46 AM

Welcome to Mac-Forums, Tactical.

Someone else brought up a similar problem in this thread: http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97098 (the OP didn't specify if the problematic files were from a Windows install or not but member Fromasta has a problem that sounds just like yours).

Maybe you could try updating to 10.5.2. Follow these instructions.

Another thing to try is create a new user in your System Preferences -> System -> Accounts.

Once that new user is created, take the recalcitrant file out of your trash and drag and drop it into Macintosh HD -> Users -> newly created user account -> Public -> Drop Box.

Log out of your usual account, log into the newly created account. Go to the new user's Drop Box to get that file and drag it in the trash. Log out of that new account.

Log into your usual account. Go to the System Preferences and delete that new account from your Accounts pane by clicking once on the new account and clicking the - (minus) button at the bottom. You will probably have to previously click on the lock at the bottom to make that change though. Unlocking will ask you your password, no biggie.

Good luck. Let us know how this goes.