How can I delete "busy" files w/o being a developer?

A

akghetto

Registered
I have 4 files that will not move to the trash so that I can delete them. I've done several searches on the net. So far, I've found that they are refered to as "busy" files. When I try to move the file to the trash, a window appears stating, "The item "____" is being used by another task right now. (other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the Trash.) Try again when the task is complete." I guarantee that these files are not being used. What happened was, I was downloading a file when Internet Explorer crashed, leaving the file in Limbo or "Busy." So far the only solution I have fopund is to use "/Developer/Tools/GetFileInfo," but I have no idea how to do that. I think it has something to do with the Terminal, but I really am clueless. PLEASE HELP ME GET RID OF THESE STUBBORN FILES! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! Thanks.
 
Open the terminal and type:

cd ~/.Trash
<hit return>

sudo rm -rf

put a space after the f and drag the item you want deleted to the terminal so that its path is automatically entered, then press return

give it your admin password and hit return
 
Thanks so much! It totally worked, no problem. Man, I'm determined to take some programming classes. You rock Bob!
 
I read about this solution several times.

On Unix, it is well possible to remove a "busy" file with the rm command.

However, this will only rid the file's entry from the directory while the file itself (the contents) remain. That is, the space on your disk occupied by this file will not be freed, only the entry is removed from the directory.

The file contents will then vanish as soon as the process which accesses the file terminates.

You would have noticed that if you had checked the disk capacity before and after the rm command.
 
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