Can't access user Trash Can --Tiger

[Slikkster]

Here's the problem:

OS X Tiger 10.4.6

One user had thousands of files in his trash can (Digidesign Session files that went into a copying "loop" and were sent to the trash). Anyway, clicking on the trash can on the dock doesn't open the trash. It simply results in the dreaded spinning beachball.

I have to force-quit the finder and relaunch it when this happens.

Now, here's what I've done as preliminary stuff: I've repaired permissions, I've done the Disc Doctor check. I've run Disk Warrior from the CD boot up (said files checked out and no rebuild necessary, but I rebuilt, anyway).

I installed and ran a copy of "Force Empty Trash", and that application comes up with an error saying "rm: /Users/joeblow/.Trash/*: No such file or directory".

Is it possible this user's entire Trash file/folder is missing, or is it more likely it's corrupted to the degree that Tiger doesn't identify it as valid?

This user's Trash can icon still shows as occupied on the dock.

I do have admin privileges, and I'm not a Terminal expert, but I'm not afraid to use it, either. Any ideas on how to fix this issue?

Note: I've also moved this users Preferences folder out of the System folder and logged off/on. Preferences were rebuilt, and it did not solve the problem. Also note that when I force quit/relaunch the finder after trying to open the Trash Can (and beachball appears forever), the trash can icon on the dock is empty at first, but then shows full after a moment.

 

[barhar]

I am surprised you do not see a 'bash: rm:: command not found' or eqivalent error.

Try this in 'Terminal'

sudo bash

... and press the <return> key. Enter the requested password and press the <return> key. Then enter

rm /Users/joeblow/.Trash/*

... and press the <return> key.

-----

'Is it possible this user's entire Trash file/folder is missing' - to verify, just enter

'ls -la /Users/joeblow/.Trash/'

... and press the <return> key.

-----

'I've also moved this users Preferences folder out of the System folder and logged off/on. Preferences were rebuilt, and it did not solve the problem.' - since your situation is not 'Preferences' related.

'Also note that when I force quit/relaunch the finder ..., the trash can icon on the dock is empty at first, but then shows full after a moment.' - that is because 'Finder' of MacOS X is stlll not as quick, robust, or as user friendly, as 'Finder' of System 9.2.2 and earlier.

 

[Slikkster]

'I am surprised you do not see a 'bash: rm:: command not found' or eqivalent error.'

If I understand what you're getting at, the quoted error was returned inside the "Force Empty Trash" application, not Terminal.

----

'Try this in 'Terminal'

sudo bash

... and press the <return> key. Enter the requested password and press the <return> key. Then enter

rm /Users/joeblow/.Trash/*

... and press the <return> key.'

I'll try this tomorrow (it's a work Mac).

-----

''Is it possible this user's entire Trash file/folder is missing' - to verify, just enter

'ls -la /Users/joeblow/.Trash/'

... and press the <return> key.'

Again, will try tomorrow.

-----

''I've also moved this users Preferences folder out of the System folder and logged off/on. Preferences were rebuilt, and it did not solve the problem.' - since your situation is not 'Preferences' related.'

Yes, I understand this. I put this in the thread so as to completely cover all the steps I took before posting here. I wanted to rule out a preferences problem, and I did.

''Also note that when I force quit/relaunch the finder ..., the trash can icon on the dock is empty at first, but then shows full after a moment.' - that is because 'Finder' of MacOS X is stlll not as quick, robust, or as user friendly, as 'Finder' of System 9.2.2 and earlier.''

Ok, tks.

 

[Slikkster]

Well, the problem has been solved in a fairly conventional way. Although I could not empty the trash can for this user from the Dock icon (spinning beachball and Finder would stop responding), I was able to empty it from the Finder Menu itself. Many of the files in the trash were locked, but a little research told me that just holding the Option key down while toggling the Empty Trash on the Finder menu choice did the trick.

Re: Sudo -- I am an administrator but not Root, so that wasn't an option.

Also, I have made an observation that in OS X Tiger, at least, a user's trash can files are not all located in the user's ".Trash" folder. I deleted that folder for this user more than once, but each time I would log back in for that user and go to the Finder menu, the "Empty Trash" option would still show the thousands of files to be deleted. Obviously, there is something else at play with Tiger Trash.