I cant empty my trash

S

sumdumguy77

Registered
When i try to empty trash I get an error message "cannot complete this operation because you do not have sufficient privileges for '502'

It doesnt matter what files i try to delete i get the same message. I can create a new folder,put it in the trash on its own, try to delete it and it wont delete it.

If I login as the root user I can get to the trash and delete it.

What can i do ?
 
Instead of throwing out the trash have you tried recycling? Whenever, I don't need a word document or text file I delete all the text from it rename it as blank paper and file it away to use another day.
 
Yeah, and even better, you should never just delete words or characters, instead, cut/paste them into a storage document, so you can go back later and use them next time you need that word. Much better for the environment...

:D
 
Yes, that is even a much better idea. To bad we can't put the colors from photos back into the correct paint can/palettes. And they said that Apple had one of the worst environmental track records.
 
Since you can log in as root user and empty the trash, you need to repair permissions. Go to the Utility folder and launch Disk Utility, click on your hard drive icon at the left and in First Aide, click the repair permissions button.

You have to make sure you are set as the Admin in the Users control panel.
 
yes thanks very much for the really helpfull replies. Of course I already tried repairing permissions, disk repair etc etc.
Instead of smart arse replies why just admit that you dont actually know what you are talking about.


But seriously is there anyone who does know what they are talking about on these forums, Im sure there are some.
 
Yep, that wasn't really helpful, mimoav et al. ... *sigh*

The first reply to your thread contained a link that might be helpful, although after reading it, I have to say it probably isn't. However: Creating a _second_ thread doesn't help either, sumdum... (other thread deleted now.)

Have you tried creating another, clean, user to see whether that one could erase files it created? If that user can, your user is somehow damaged. Either by user/file permissions or some strange preferences. Try to trash the Finder's preferences (the Finder.plist file in your Library/Prefs), try to repair permissions again etc.

Also: Does this happen _all_ the time? Or just with special files (i.e. Word files)?

Try completely removing the Trash folder as root in Terminal? (You would have to enter

sudo rm -rf /Users/YOURUSERSHORTNAME/.Trash

in order to do that.)
 
Thanks for a proper answer fryke.
Unfortunately I have tried all you suggest but still I cant trash anything. I created a new user and that was fine, i could trash stuff.
I trashed finder prefs for the problem user (as root user) and repaired permissions again. Still cant trash stuff.

I tried completely removing the trash folder as root user in Terminal- Still cant trash stuff.

This is not only specific files. It is any file or folder. I can move the files to the trash but when it comes to emptying it-no go!

I have tried all the force empty trash options I can find.
I have tried Batchmod and Trash X- still no go


Help anyone??
 
bump


I really really need to sort this one out fast.

What if i delete the problem user account and recreate a new user with the same name? How would that affect permissions. Bear in mind this is a server at a workplace, with lots of peoples work depending on this.


Any help greatly appreciated
 
If you delete the problem account and do not save anything from it except for the documents, it should work perfectly fine.

You will of course have to delete the account from root.

Make sure that you have at least one other admin account on the machine before you do it though.
 
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