I can't empty my trash

Howard Brazee

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Jul 28, 2012, 7:07:30 PM7/28/12

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I don't empty my trash very often (my wife does hers every day).

Today, I tried emptying it before upgrading from Lion, and it kept
coming up with message windows saying:

The operation can't be completed because the item
"Dictionary.app" is in use.

Where the app name changes each time I select continue. Apps that I
haven't used forever.

What should I look at to resolve this issue? I have to clear up
some space.

J.J. O'Shea

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Jul 28, 2012, 8:06:30 PM7/28/12

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On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:07:30 -0400, Howard Brazee wrote
(in article <1jr818154eatvoske...@4ax.com>):

What's in the Trash?

--
email to oshea dot j dot j at gmail dot com.

Suzie-Q

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Jul 28, 2012, 8:55:15 PM7/28/12

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In article <1jr818154eatvoske...@4ax.com>,

Could you take all of the .app files out of the trash and
then empty it? That would be my first move.
IF that works, then I'd put them all back in the tras and remove them
again one at a time based on what the system tells me is
in use. The ones that are in use should be saved somewhere
on your Mac as these are apparently needed for something.

Just my two cents.

8^)~~~~~~ Sue (remove x to email)
~~~~~~~~~

http://suzie-q-wacvet.com/
http://intergnat.com/malebashing/

Warren Oates

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Jul 28, 2012, 8:47:11 PM7/28/12

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In article <1jr818154eatvoske...@4ax.com>,
Howard Brazee <how...@brazee.net> wrote:

Did you try logging out and in again?
--

... do not cover a warm kettle or your stock may sour. -- Julia Child

Howard Brazee

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Jul 28, 2012, 9:01:13 PM7/28/12

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On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:06:30 -0400, J.J. O'Shea
<try.n...@but.see.sig> wrote:

>> What should I look at to resolve this issue? I have to clear up
>> some space.
>>
>
>What's in the Trash?

All sorts of stuff. A big bit was when I copied my wife's
applications folder to my computer for a week, then deleted my copy.

Oh, I have tried https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1526

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison

Howard Brazee

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Jul 28, 2012, 9:07:31 PM7/28/12

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On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:55:15 -0500, Suzie-Q <sme...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Could you take all of the .app files out of the trash and
>then empty it? That would be my first move.
>IF that works, then I'd put them all back in the tras and remove them
>again one at a time based on what the system tells me is
>in use. The ones that are in use should be saved somewhere
>on your Mac as these are apparently needed for something.
>
>Just my two cents.

Good ideas, thanks.

I downloaded Trash-It, but Mountain Lion's security won't let me run
it. I downloaded Cocktail, and it ran a while (while I read your
answer, deleting most of the stuff. When it finished, I was able to
empty the trash getting rid of everything else.

Weird.

J.J. O'Shea

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Jul 28, 2012, 9:17:53 PM7/28/12

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On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:01:13 -0400, Howard Brazee wrote
(in article <g52918d7gsm5k1os8...@4ax.com>):

> On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:06:30 -0400, J.J. O'Shea
> <try.n...@but.see.sig> wrote:
>
>>> What should I look at to resolve this issue? I have to clear up
>>> some space.
>>>
>>
>> What's in the Trash?
>
> All sorts of stuff. A big bit was when I copied my wife's
> applications folder to my computer for a week, then deleted my copy.

that would be why you're getting the 'delete app x' messages.

>
> Oh, I have tried https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1526

That should have worked. You should either

1 force-delete the trash, answering the system's requests as you do so

or

2 back up what you want to keep, reformat, and restore.

And, oh, empty the trash a little more often in the future.

J.J. O'Shea

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Jul 28, 2012, 9:19:03 PM7/28/12

to

On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:07:31 -0400, Howard Brazee wrote
(in article <4r291898aep4b3l3f...@4ax.com>):

> On Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:55:15 -0500, Suzie-Q <sme...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Could you take all of the .app files out of the trash and
>> then empty it? That would be my first move.
>> IF that works, then I'd put them all back in the tras and remove them
>> again one at a time based on what the system tells me is
>> in use. The ones that are in use should be saved somewhere
>> on your Mac as these are apparently needed for something.
>>
>> Just my two cents.
>
> Good ideas, thanks.
>
>
>
> I downloaded Trash-It, but Mountain Lion's security won't let me run
> it.

Yes it will.

1 turn off Gatekeeper

or

2 option-click the app

> I downloaded Cocktail, and it ran a while (while I read your
> answer, deleting most of the stuff. When it finished, I was able to
> empty the trash getting rid of everything else.
>
> Weird.
>
>

--

Barry Margolin

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Jul 28, 2012, 10:00:15 PM7/28/12

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In article <50148812$0$39193$c3e8da3$88b2...@news.astraweb.com>,

Warren Oates <warren...@gmail.com> wrote:

> In article <1jr818154eatvoske...@4ax.com>,
> Howard Brazee <how...@brazee.net> wrote:
>
> > I don't empty my trash very often (my wife does hers every day).
> >
> > Today, I tried emptying it before upgrading from Lion, and it kept
> > coming up with message windows saying:
> >
> > The operation can't be completed because the item
> > "Dictionary.app" is in use.
> >
> > Where the app name changes each time I select continue. Apps that I
> > haven't used forever.
> >
> > What should I look at to resolve this issue? I have to clear up
> > some space.
>
> Did you try logging out and in again?

And if that doesn't help, try rebooting.

If it were always the same file being complained about, I'd suggest
opening a Terminal window and doing:

lsof .Trash/filename

This will report the process that's using the file. You can then do:

kill process#

and if that doesn't kill it, try:

kill -9 process#

--
Barry Margolin, bar...@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me ***

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