maybe you know: Where do the trashed files go with an external HD?

If you delete files from an external harddrive, but eject the harddrive before you empy the trash, do the files really get deleted or where do they go? thanks
-Dan

There is an invisible folder on every Mac formatted hard-drive called "Trashes". The files are stored in there until you empty the trash. If you eject the drive before you empty the trash, the files stay there until you plug it back in and empty the trash.

illuminati said:

If you delete files from an external harddrive, but eject the harddrive before you empy the trash, do the files really get deleted or where do they go? thanks
-Dan

Click to expand...

Have you tried re-connecting the HD and then opening the trash from the dock to see if the files are there? I think the files are kept in a hidden system folder called .trashes on the external disk.

I've just tried this with a USB thumbdrive I have. I trashed a file on it, and I could then see the file in the hidden .trashes folder (you can't see this hidden folder with finder, you need to use some other 3rd party program). I then ejected the disk, and the file i deleted dissappeared from my trash, but wheni reconnected the disk, the file reappeared in the trash.

ahhh, OK, makes sense. thanks guys. So this will work no matter how much time(shut-downs too?) went by before reconnecting?
-Dan

Since the files are still on the HD, and as long as you don't empty the trash in the meantime you should be ok.

well, I actually dont want the files to be there and take up space where I cant see them.

Then reconnect the drive and empty the trash.