Can't delete a file in the trash on OSX 10.11.6


 
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# 1  
Old 12-19-2016
Can't delete a file in the trash on OSX 10.11.6

I use a Mac running OSX El Capitan = UNIX user the hood. After rearranging files on an external hard drive, I ended up with a folder in the trash containing a file called "~INITPicker 2.0". I cannot empty the trash, and so delete the file. I even tried terminal, using the rm file command and recursively remove folder command, all to no avail. I cannot re-name the offending file, as it tells me I can't. I think the problem is with the tilde in the name. Can any clever soul tell me how to delete this file using terminal (the Mac's command line utility)?

Any guidance gratefully received.
# 2  
Old 12-19-2016
Did you reboot your Mac and tried again?
# 3  
Old 12-19-2016
Yes, I re-booted. Still no luck.
# 4  
Old 12-19-2016
Try the terminal solution again and put the filename in quotation marks:

Code:
rm "~INITPicker 2.0"

hth,
DN2
# 5  
Old 12-19-2016
DukeNuke2, first of all, many thanks for taking the time to respond to my squawk.

Here's a record of my trial:

in the trash, folder xx, inside that folder ee, inside that ~InitPicker 2.0.

Code:
djCUDA:.Trash macuser$ cd ~/.Trash/xx/ee/
djCUDA:ee macuser$ rm "~INITPicker 2.0"
rm: ~INITPicker 2.0: No such file or directory
djCUDA:ee macuser$ ls
␀INITPicker 2.0
djCUDA:ee macuser$

I should have added that when I try to empty the trash via the Mac menu, I get the following errors:

Code:
unexpected error occurred -50   /*error in user parameter list*/
xx is in use
ee is in use

Just noticed that the first character in the offending file is not a tilde, but NUL.

Can this help diagnosis? How do I type a NUL?

ADDENDUM after copy and paste from ls

Code:
djCUDA:ee macuser$ rm "␀INITPicker 2.0"
rm: ␀INITPicker 2.0: Invalid argument
djCUDA:ee macuser$


Last edited by djfilms; 12-19-2016 at 02:55 PM..
# 6  
Old 12-19-2016
Hi,

Read this thread:

File name starts with esc character.

I'm not a OSX expert but, as with generic Unix/Linux, if all else fails, nuke the inode. The inode is the only route that the OS can find the file. If the inode doesn't exist, neither does the file.

Read Corona688's post#2.

If Corona688 is on here today with luck he may well chip in.

---------- Post updated at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous update was at 07:16 PM ----------

And don't forget you can have the same inode number on different filesystems. So make absolutely sure which filesystem you are operating on.

sent from my HTC smartphone
These 2 Users Gave Thanks to hicksd8 For This Post:
# 7  
Old 12-19-2016
Did you try booting into Safe Mode (hold shift key down during bootup)?
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