Undeletable files in Trash

I have a strange problem, its not too important but it is bugging me. Sitting in my trash folder are 3 files with no file extensions that look like this:


The info tab gives this for each of them:


I have tried everything to delete them but nothing works. I tried using the command line force delete, option-delete, shift-option delete, rebooting, force deleting trash applications, everything and they wont move. The computer acts perfectly normal, nothing visibly altered except that I now cannot send files off external drives to the trash. Any help?

Those files may have been deleted from an external drive while it was attached. If the drive is no longer attached, they can't be deleted because the association does not exist when the drive is not mounted. Don't know for sure if that's why, but worth a try.....

If it's not caused by an external drive as chscag noted, you can get rid of those files using the following method:

1. Open up Terminal (/Applictions/Utilities)
2. Enter the following exactly: 3. Press enter, type in your password (you won't see anything come up when you type) and press enter again.

Presto!

chscag said:

Those files may have been deleted from an external drive while it was attached. If the drive is no longer attached, they can't be deleted because the association does not exist when the drive is not mounted. Don't know for sure if that's why, but worth a try.....

Click to expand...

The thing is I only ever use 1 externa drive with my mac and its the one you see plugged in labelled 'NICK' in the image.

vansmith said:

If it's not caused by an external drive as chscag noted, you can get rid of those files using the following method:

1. Open up Terminal (/Applictions/Utilities)
2. Enter the following exactly:

Code:

sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*

3. Press enter, type in your password (you won't see anything come up when you type) and press enter again.

Presto!

Click to expand...

Tried using this and it doesn't seem to work.

The command will delete anything and everything in the Trash folder. If it doesn't work, something is creating those files. Have you rebooted recently? It seems like a simple solution but it might help to kill any process creating those files and it will refresh Finder at the same time.

vansmith - I think it's far more likely the OP just typed it wrong!

Do you use bootcamp?

I have similar problem but your solution didn't work.

vansmith said:

If it's not caused by an external drive as chscag noted, you can get rid of those files using the following method:

1. Open up Terminal (/Applictions/Utilities)
2. Enter the following exactly:

Code:

sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*

3. Press enter, type in your password (you won't see anything come up when you type) and press enter again.

Presto!

Click to expand...

Copied your instruction and pasted into terminal. "Command not found" mind you, my question was very similar to the one you answered:

<Will unlocking them help-if so how do you unlock? I can open with Text edit but due to years of caution when not knowing what I'm doing causes more problems I ask before doing things-grin (Suppose it shouldn't matter since all I want to do is trash them????)

The file in particular is the boot file boot.efi. Trash basket is still full presumable until I can delete. >
My external drive was never disconnected.

vansmith said:

The command will delete anything and everything in the Trash folder. If it doesn't work, something is creating those files. Have you rebooted recently? It seems like a simple solution but it might help to kill any process creating those files and it will refresh Finder at the same time.

Click to expand...

I rebooted and intially they disappeared but then without noticing when they reappeared.

gsahli said:

vansmith - I think it's far more likely the OP just typed it wrong!

Click to expand...

No i made sure i didnt type it wrong.

Dysfunction said:

Do you use bootcamp?

Click to expand...

Nope.