Files re-appear in the trash (!) and trash wont empty (error message -8003)

[Milly123???]

Hi, I am using Mac OS X 10.6.8.

I recently (incorrectly in retrospect) tried to delete a lot of old external drive timemachine backup files by dragging them into the trash.
The trash would not empty, error code -8003. (why bother giving us an error code if there is no way of referencing that and doing something with it?!)

Firstly I tried to remove the files from the trashcan, problem is they were taking forever to copy on to the desktop and I started to get disk full errors, so that wasn't an option

After reading lots of posts on various sites I tried the most frequently mention fixes e.g. hoding down the shift & options key when pressing delete, holding down just the option key when deleting, right clicking secure empty trash, unticking secure empty trash in finder preferences, I manually went into the time machine files and clicked on the padlock icon to open them before deleting (all 149), TWICE because they appeared locked again as soon as I clicked off the open file.

I also tried the Terminal option suggested but Terminal quits with an error code as soon as I click on it.

I re-started the mac several times after doing some of these options as suggested. Eventually after several tries repeating the same actions mentioned above, the trash disappeared, hurrah.

I shut down the machine and next day, the trash was full with the same files, they had re-appeared.

Now I am at a loss, I'm a bit nervous about re-installing the start up disk, the mac is old, creaky with memory problems and I'm worried if I re-install I may have problems.
I can't afford to take it to an expensive tech mac, having just been relieved of a large sum of cash following a black screen of death problem (graphics card failure) and I'm not a techie myself.

Can anybody help with simple instructions or guidance?

Thank you

 

[MacInWin]

First, welcome to the forum.

Yes, you were incorrect in trying to directly delete files from Time Machine backups. You can only properly delete old backups from inside Time Machine. What you have done has destroyed the integrity of your Time Machine backups. You will have to start over, erasing and reformatting the TM drive and setting it all up again. Had you done it the right way, you wouldn't have the problems now.

The trash keeps reappearing because when you emptied the trash the TM drive was not attached to the system, I suspect. To solve the problem, reattach the TM Drive just as it is right now and then try emptying the trash can. What happens is that because the drive wasn't attached when you emptied the trash, the hidden file on the TM drive that tracks what's in the trashcan didn't get updated, so when you reattach it, the trash reappears in the can. Actually the files may be gone, but the hidden file didn't get updated, so it thinks the files are still there.

Hope that helps and sorry about the destruction of your backups. At least you'll now have room on the backup drive!

 

[Ember1205]

Your issue is specifically because you tried removing data from the TM drive with Finder. You can look here to see if there might be some assistance:

http://www.easypctutorials.com/how-to-fix-error-code-8003-os-x/

 

[McBie]

The trash would not empty, error code -8003. (why bother giving us an error code if there is no way of referencing that and doing something with it?!)

Google is your friend, but you have to try.
Several articles out there that reference -8003 on OS X 10.6

Give the responses above a good read. There are solutions in there and some sound advice on preventing the same issue.

Cheers ... McBie

 

[ferrarr]

If you re-format or erase your Time Machine backup drive, this should empty the Trash as well. You are going to have to set up Time Machine again.