Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > macOS > Can't delete trash...

Can't delete trash...
Thread Tools
willed
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: USA at the moment
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 06:13 AM
 
I'm trying to delete the application FrostWire. Whenever I do, I'm told

"The operation can’t be completed because the item “xyz” is in use

where "xyz" is various parts of the package contents, almost all Java things I think.

The things it says are in use don't show up in Activity Monitor, All Processes, and I've restarted to make sure. Holding down option for force delete doesn't work either.

I haven't tried emptying the trash from the Terminal as I'm always sure I'll wipe the whole system! And frankly, I shouldn't have to resort to the Terminal to delete an app. Any ideas?
     
Big Mac
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 06:32 AM
 
If it says a component is in use it probably is. But it's really unusual for that kind of issue to persist after a restart. Have you tried deleting it after booting in Safe Mode (holding Shift at startup)?

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
P
Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 07:36 AM
 
If you're comfortable with Terminal, you can use the command "lsof" to list open files and which process is using them.
The new Mac Pro has up to 30 MB of cache inside the processor itself. That's more than the HD in my first Mac. Somehow I'm still running out of space.
     
nonhuman
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Baltimore, MD
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 09:08 AM
 
Just restarting would probably be sufficient; anything that's in the trash is unlikely to get auto-loaded, so after restart it should delete just fine.
     
Big Mac
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 09:32 AM
 
He mentioned already trying a restart, though.

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
     
BLAZE_MkIV
Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Nashua NH, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 11:01 AM
 
Did it install a startup item?
     
angelmb
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Automatic
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 12:45 PM
 
MainMenu usually works for me.
     
Cold Warrior
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 9, 2010, 06:00 PM
 
boot into safe mode and then try.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:05 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,