Can't Empty Trash - Yosemite

[AngelThMan]

I can't empty the trash because it has a folder it won't delete.

Error:

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “sLMAbaLByfdHGLW” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)

(sLMAbaLByfdHGLW is the name of the folder I can't delete. Weirdly, the name keeps changing on its own to different gibberish. I didn't rename. After several attempts, the folder name changes by itself in the Trash bin.)

When I put the folder on the desktop, Trash is empty. But when I put back in the Trash, I can't empty trash.

I've tried the following:

Secure Empty Trash

Rename the folder

Shutdown/Restart

Terminal (tried all the following commands):

rm -f ~/.Trash/*
Result:
rm: /Users/angel/.Trash/sLMAbaLByfdHGLW: is a directory
(But Trash won't empty)

With the folder on the desktop, typed on Terminal:

sudo rm -rf (space plus dragged in folder for path)
Result:
rm: /Users/angel/Desktop/sLMAbaLByfdHGLW: Input/output error

sudo rm -ri ~/.Trash
Result:
examine files in directory /Users/angel/.Trash?
(But nothing happens.)

Please help. Thanks.

 

[AngelThMan]

Also tried Repair Disk and Repair Permission, plus Terminal command:

sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/

Result:
rm: /Users/angel/.Trash//PmXO7MHCrMmGn4: Input/output error
rm: /Users/angel/.Trash/: Directory not empty

Tried Using third party software:

Trash it

Cocktail

(No luck with either).

Still can't empty Trash.

 

[IWT]

A warm welcome to Mac-Forums.

Two things to try....no promises

Open Trash. Click on the item to highlight it. Then Option + Command + Backspace. This should open a window asking you if you're sure you want to delete. Choose Delete.

No luck? Okay, go to this site: https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html

Download OnyX from here (it is the developer's site) and make sure you get the version specific to your OS which I believe is Yosemite.

Download and install in the usual way.

Open Application - Admin PW needed - Click on Automation - use the default options making sure that "Empty Trash" is checked (bottom item) - now Execute/Run Tasks

This will take a while as the Automation checks lots of things including Permissions and should Empty Trash as advertised.

After completion of all tasks, reboot Mac (very important).

Please post back.

Ian

 

[AngelThMan]

Neither option worked.

Onyx yielded this result:
rm: /Volumes/Hackintosh HD/Users/angel/.Trash/NWuqHxWIHDV84K: Input/output error

Let me know if there is anything else I can try. Thanks for your help, Ian.

 

[IWT]

Thank you for trying and thank you for your rapid reply.

No solutions to offer:

May I ask you the nature of the file/Folder - is it a system file? Where did it come from and what was its function before?

Lastly: is it a typo in your last reply /Volumes/Hackintosh HD? No offence intended at all, but if it is "Hackintosh", rather than Macintosh, then we don't usually get involved in discussing such.

Ian

 

[AngelThMan]

It's a Mac Book Pro. As a joke, I named the drive Hackintosh. But's it's just a good ol' Mac

 

[IWT]

Good enough, that's fine. Thanks.

Any answers to the first question about the nature and origin of the File/Folder?

I'm rather out of ideas, I confess, but I don't have a grip on the origins and prior functions of the File/Folder, why you wanted to delete it and do forth.

Sorry about this

Ian

 

[ferrarr]

When you put the folder on your desktop, did you “Get Info” on it? Is it locked, or protected, or something similar? Is there anything inside the folder, or is it a file?

 

[AngelThMan]

The folder was from an application (Avid Media Composer) that I deleted because it was slowing down the computer. Most of the files and folders emptied in the Trash, but not this one. I reinstalled Avid MC and now the program works fine, but the folder from the previous install still won't empty.

The folder may have leftover files or data that are invisible, but I'm not sure.

 

[harryb2448]

Download a little utility called AppCleaner, drag the file to box when the software is installed and opened, and empty. Just download the correct version for your operating system.



https://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/

 

[AngelThMan]

Tried Appcleaner and Appzapper. The folder would not load into either, so they didn't work.