Unable to empty trash

**erdeebee** · July 6th, 2008, 08:22 AM

Hi,

My problem is that I can't empty my trash. When I want to do that, nothing happens. I use Super Empty Trash which uses admin privileges to delete everything... But that's not the way! I think I've lost some of my admin rights even though I'm still an admin on my mac.

Anyone who has an answer?

I'm using Leopard 10.5.4 and I'm having this problem since updating from 10.5.3. I'm not sure whether this has something to do with it.

I've allready used disk Utility and tried to reset my permissions, but that didn't help.

thanks in advance,

R.

**Satcomer** · July 6th, 2008, 03:42 PM

[HOWTO] Fix User lost Administrator privileges. Please read all of it.

**erdeebee** · July 6th, 2008, 04:05 PM

I've tried this.

But I realise that it says that I'm an admin in the "accounts" preference panel. I really don't get it!

**VirtualTracy** · July 6th, 2008, 06:39 PM

Exactly what have you tried? There are two methods; The Apple Document which is linked from Satcomer's above link, then there is the Terminal method outlined in above link .... Have you gone through both?

**erdeebee** · July 6th, 2008, 07:34 PM

I've tried them both. It says that I'm an admin...
I've made a second account and I was able to empty my trash over there...

**VirtualTracy** · July 6th, 2008, 07:44 PM

Perform the following steps in the order specified:

1. Launch Terminal, located in the Macintosh HD ~> Applications ~> Utilities folder. [To go straight to the Utilities Folder, from Finder press Command + U].

2. At the Terminal prompt, type the following command exactly as written:

PHP Code:

 sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash

Please note that:

There is a single space after each of the terms sudo, rm, and -rf in the command.

Important

Assure you have typed the command exactly as written before proceeding!

3. Press Return.
4. Type your Admin password when prompted, then press Return.
5. Log out of your account or restart your Mac.
6. Log in to your account.

Hopefully you will now have a new, working, and empty Trash.

FWIW:

Steps 1-4 remove all files in your Trash as well as deleting the hidden and invisible ~/.Trash directory for your account. Steps 5 and 6 result in your Trash being recreated with proper ownership.