I inadvertently copied lots of jpg. files to my desktop and now I can't get rid of them except for dragging a few at a time to the trash and then selecting the continue button from the drop down notifying me that deleting the files may impact other applications. Any ideas about mass deletion of the these files?
Deleting jpg files from desktop
- Thread starter rileydf
- Start date
When I try to drag and drop to the trash I get a message that deleting the files may effect other applications. I have the choice of either cancelling or continuing. If I choose continue, I have to do so for each jpg. With about 1,700 jpgs on the desktop, you can imagine how long it would take.
If you have no .jpgs on the Desktop you must keep you can simply use a terminal command.
Start Terminal, type ls, you should see Desktop as a directory (Folder) along with some other Folders and files.
Type cd Desktop
To be safe, type pwd , the system should respond /Users/yourusername/desktop. Then you can be sure you're in the correct folder.
Type ls again and you should see a long listing showing all your .jpg files and whatever other files and folders exist on the Desktop.
Now type rm *.jpg
Poof, they'll be gone.
If you want to read about rm just type info rm in the Terminal window.
If you want to save some of them just create a new Folder on the Desktop named temp or something and drag the "keepers" into it before executing rm
Start Terminal, type ls, you should see Desktop as a directory (Folder) along with some other Folders and files.
Type cd Desktop
To be safe, type pwd , the system should respond /Users/yourusername/desktop. Then you can be sure you're in the correct folder.
Type ls again and you should see a long listing showing all your .jpg files and whatever other files and folders exist on the Desktop.
Now type rm *.jpg
Poof, they'll be gone.
If you want to read about rm just type info rm in the Terminal window.
If you want to save some of them just create a new Folder on the Desktop named temp or something and drag the "keepers" into it before executing rm
Mikuro
Crotchety UI Nitpicker
If Terminal scares you, you might find it easier to work with the Desktop as a window in List view. Go to your Home folder (under the Go menu), then open the "Desktop" item from there and you'll see everything on your desktop in a regular window. Go to list view, sort by "kind", and then it should be easier to deal with.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I was able to delete the jpg files from the desktop via the terminal. Now my problem is that the jpg files are under the finder window and when selected, the message I get is that the volume of the selected jpg cannot be found. Any ideas about how to clear these out of the finder? Thanks in advance.
It's not quite clear what you mean by "under the finder window". Is it something you can take a screenshot of and post as an attachment?
Did you try restarting the machine?
When I click on the Finder on the dock, a window open that lists items such as applications, utilities, etc. below that are gobs and gobs of jpg. files that I cannot get rid of. When I click on one I get a message that "The volume xxxxjpg. cannot be found" I would like to remove the jpg. files from the Finder window.
jbarley
One more, for the road!
If these files are in the Finders left pane, try this..
click and hold left-mouse button and drag file out of Finder then release mouse button.
Let us know what happens
jb.
Kees Buijs
Registered
Sometimes it is also possible to PUT FILES BACK to their original location. That would prevent from removing the files damaging the applications.
Also you can use the OPTION key with a function. This sometimes prevents things from being ask or asked only once.
Good luck, Kees