Emptying Trash

vank66 · Nov 7, 2010

I have several items in Trash and I can't empty trash,I get the following error message."The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code 8003)
How do I correct this so I can empty trash?? Thanks for any assistance or suggestions. Van

vansmith · Nov 7, 2010

Have you tried securely emptying the trash?

vank66 · Nov 7, 2010

How do I do that??

jram · Nov 7, 2010

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os-x-operating-system/164532-cant-empty-secure-empty-trash.html

vank66 · Nov 7, 2010

I tried emptying securely, doesn't work, still can't empty trash.

vansmith · Nov 7, 2010

Take a look through this.

Geesix · Nov 7, 2010

vank66 said:
I have several items in Trash and I can't empty trash,I get the following error message."The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code 8003)
How do I correct this so I can empty trash?? Thanks for any assistance or suggestions. Van

99.9% you computer is infested with some type of virus. Thats my take and bet. One way to get rid of it is rebooting your computer and erasing everything, just know when you do this (if you do) you will lose everything saved on your computer. But Im pretty sure its a some form of malware/virus.

Geesix · Nov 7, 2010

I should have asked you before I posted my reply. Do or did you have limewire/frostwire or anything like it on you computer?

chas_m · Nov 8, 2010

Geesix:

1. There are no viruses for Mac. So no, that isn't it.

2. Yes, Limewire is a POS, but it's been closed down so no, that's not it either.

3. Nine times out of ten I find that simply restarting the computer (sometimes just logging out and back into that account) will render the files "trashable."

Sawday · Nov 8, 2010

Geesix said:
I should have asked you before I posted my reply. Do or did you have limewire/frostwire or anything like it on you computer?

OP - ignore the above - it's rubbish. Try Googling "error code 8003" - lots of tips there.

vank66 · Nov 8, 2010

I have run repair permissions with Onyx,I have restarted, I have tried secure empty trash, al to no avail, still cannot empty trash.Any other suggestions?? Van

vansmith · Nov 8, 2010

We're going to do this the nerdy way.

Open up Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) and enter the commands exactly as they are here:

Code:

cd ~/.Trash

Hit enter and then enter the next command:

Code:

rm -rf *

Hit enter and all should be well. If you get an error, copy it and paste it here.

XJ-linux · Nov 8, 2010

What is with .Trash lately. The last month or so there seem to be quite a few issues with it. Almost a trend. Very weird.

vansmith · Nov 8, 2010

Actually, I've noticed that as well. It's a conspiracy!

Geesix · Nov 8, 2010

chas_m said:
Geesix:

1. There are no viruses for Mac. So no, that isn't it.

2. Yes, Limewire is a POS, but it's been closed down so no, that's not it either.

3. Nine times out of ten I find that simply restarting the computer (sometimes just logging out and back into that account) will render the files "trashable."

1.Viruses/spyware/malware what ever you wanna call it, it may not effect a Mac but it will get stuck in you trash can. Iv'e had the same problem before.

2.Limewire just went down last week or so, he could have got it two three weeks ago, plus frostwire is still up and running.

3.He already tried everything you and everyone else asked him to do, still it is not working ill bet you if you try's what I told him to do it works. I am 99.9999999% sure of this.

Chef_eam · Nov 8, 2010

Geesix said:
1.Viruses/spyware/malware what ever you wanna call it, it may not effect a Mac but it will get stuck in you trash can. Iv'e had the same problem before.

2.Limewire just went down last week or so, he could have got it two three weeks ago, plus frostwire is still up and running.

3.He already tried everything you and everyone else asked him to do, still it is not working ill bet you if you try's what I told him to do it works. I am 99.9999999% sure of this.

Erasing the hard drive and reinstalling will fix a lot of software issues, but is a bit of overkill for 99.999999999% of the time. I am 99.9999999% sure of this.

vank66 · Nov 8, 2010

Emptying trash

I cured the problem with Trash it,a free program I downloaded . It took quite a while and a few tries,but it now works like it should.
Thanks for all the suggestions and help,I disregarded the virus suggestion
I didn't try the one using the terminal commands,maybe that would have done the job,but I'm a little goosy trying any terminal stuff till I feel a little more secure.Thanks guys, mich appreciated. Van

vank66 · Nov 9, 2010

Emptying trash

I downloaded and ran "Trash it" That did the job. Thanks to all who replied. Van

thnidu · Nov 11, 2010

... because _MacOSX [or Resources] is in use

Thank you, vansmith, that did it! I couldn't empty the trash completely because a number of packages I'd downloaded, installed, and trashed had folders called _MacOSX, and the Empty Trash command refused to delete them. I also got error messages saying "Resource is in use". I kept hitting "Continue", and eventually I got rid of all the crud except for those and their parent folders. Nothing I saw anywhere would touch them.

vansmith said:
We're going to do this the nerdy way.

Open up Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) and enter the commands exactly as they are here:

Code:

cd ~/.Trash

Hit enter and then enter the next command:

Code:

rm -rf *

Hit enter and all should be well. If you get an error, copy it and paste it here.

Emptying Trash

vank66

vansmith

Senior Member

vank66

jram

vank66

vansmith

Senior Member

Geesix

Geesix

chas_m

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Sawday

vank66

vansmith

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XJ-linux

vansmith

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Geesix

Chef_eam

vank66

vank66

thnidu

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