Cannot trash a file

I have a .GZ file on my desktop that I cannot put in the trash. Everytime I try I get the message "the item is being used by another task right now. (other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the trash.) Try again when the other task is complete."
The file was generated on the desktop when I started to download the latest Netscape browser software. I aborted the download. Now I am left with this untrashable file. Any suggestions anyone? It's been on my desktop for 3 days now...

Rename the file so that it ends in .rtf, and then open TextEdit. From here, create a new document and save it to your desktop with the same name as the unwanted file; confirm your action, and then throw away the TextEdit document.
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I cannot delete a file from the document folder. I can move it to the trash and then empty the trash, but when I go back to the documents folder it is still there.

I cannot delete a file from the documents folder. I can move it to the trash and then empty it, but when I go back to the documents folder, the file is still there.

Gay,
I wonder what your computing environment is. Is your account being administrated by another account? Are you working in an account subject to "Parental Controls"?
Jerry

Cannot move any files into trash to delete them. I get a Trash warning box saying "The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in 'file name' could not be read or written.(Error code - 36)".Macbook has so much data it is almost not working

Cannot move any files into trash to delete them. I get a Trash warning box saying "The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in 'file name' could not be read or written.(Error code - 36)".Macbook has so much data it is almost not working.
I have tried reseting to factory settings by removing battery and holding down the power switch for more than 5 sec but this does nothing.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I think with so much unwanted data on the desktop and other places the whole os will crash very soon.
Thanks, Rick

The hard drive may be dying anyway, or the directory damaged because it is so full. You should never let the hard drive get over 85% full.
A -36 error is a read/write error.
All you did with the power is reset the SMC. Does nothing to reset everything to factory settings.
Do you have your original 10.4 installer discs for the MacBook?
Is your data backed up?

After last Moutain Lion update, suddenly and sporadically I cannot move my files using my mouse. I only get a "ghost" image. Moving items to the trash is, of course no problem. Does anyone have a solution? I've updated my permissions...no go!

Cannot move icon files using my mouse or cursor after installing Mountion Lion's last update. After rebooting several times, this sometimes fixes the problem. I've tried checking and updating my permissions, but this hasn't worked. What's happening? I haven't backed up so I can't go back to Lion. Has this happened to anyone else? What can I try? Thanks!

Try this:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions - Lion/Mountain Lion
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Repair
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
Now download and install OS X Mountain Lion Update v10.8.3 (Combo).

Cannot delete specific files.

I am unable to delete certain files, but I can delete others. Finder says "The operation cannot be completed because the item...is in use." I have tried:
*Alt+Empty Trash
*Secure delete
*Empty trash from the Terminal
*Repair permissions
*Verify disk
*Various utilities (Trash it!, OnyX, etc.)
*Restart
*Closed all applications
I have noticed that if I try to delete from the Terminal it says "rm: /Users/mymacrules/.Trash/Cannot Delete/nl.lproj: Directory not empty". I also tried to move one file that would not delete from the trash, this file disappears when I click on it, but is there after restart. As long as that specific file is on the desktop it also makes another folder disappear. Even though I can't see it in Finder I can see it with the "ls" command. Any ideas?

mymacrules wrote:
I have noticed that if I try to delete from the Terminal it says "rm: /Users/mymacrules/.Trash/Cannot Delete/nl.lproj: Directory not empty".
Right. The rm command by default will not delete nonempty directories. To force it to, use the recursive flag:
rm -r /Users/mymacrules/.Trash/Cannot Delete/nl.lproj
But keep in mind that I'm just a Unix person...people like Joshz who know MacOS better than me may know good reasons to not use the Terminal to try to empty the trash.

I cannot delete a file from desktop

I cannot delete a file on my desktop that I downloaded from the internet. The error message is 'cannot be moved to trash because it cannot be deleted.'
I cannot 'get info' either.

Solving Trash Problems...
http://thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html

Photosmart C4780 install fails at "system cannot find specified file"

My problem started simply with the printer, an HP Photosmart C4780 which has always had a wireless connection and would not print. At first, the network connection checked out fine from the printer control panel. I ran a Microsoft printer troubleshooter, which found a block in the print queue, and cleared it. The first test page would not print, but the "inner test page" did print. I didn't understand whatever that meant, so I looked for help from the HP site.
I ran the HP Print and Scan Doctor, and it suggested I reinstall the driver. I downloaded and saved the current one from HP (PS_AIO_06_C4700_USW_Full_Win_enu_140_175.exe) and then uninstalled the existing driver. When I attempted to install the new one, a window popped up saying, "The system cannot find the specified file," with only one box to click which said simply "OK". The installation went through to "review installation options", after which came “checking updates, downloading updates, installing updates” and then it was while “checking system” that the “cannot find the file” window popped up, and when I clicked “OK”, the installation window as well as the error message box, just disappeared. What I assume was the file path was in the frame of the window, but the whole thing didn't fit so it didn't show the end. What I could read was “C:\Users\ … \Local\Temp\7zS588E\Setup\.\Setup\hpzpnp40 …
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5. Open the ccc folder
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Once your computer is back up, you will need to reinstall the printers software. You can either do this by using the Installation CD, or downloading the software.
I did what was suggested, until it got to the point where it said it did not recommend removing any further items if I intended on using the HP Officejet printer (yes I have a second HP printer attached to the network) anytime in the future. Not really understanding how this all works, I decided to stop what I was doing, so unfortunately it did not solve my problem.
Do I need to uninstall both HP printers before I can reinstall one? And if I do that, is there any reason I would not be able to reinstall both printers? Sounds like I'm asking for trouble. Bottom line... I still cannot install the driver.
I have tried to install both the full and basic versions of the driver and always get the same result.
I have an HP Pavilion dv6-3100t notebook, running Windows 7 Home Premium, version 6.1.7601 service pack 1, 64 bit. I haven't installed any new hardware or software. This printer has always had a wireless connection. The router I use is a Netgear 54 Mbps WGR614 v6 (supplied by my cable company), and the network includes not only my notebook and the Photosmart printer, but also an ASUS desktop, another HP printer, an Officejet 6300 series (used only for printing graphics and photos with a wired connection to the router), and a Vizio smart-TV. I use Norton 360 Premier Edition and disabled the anti-virus auto-protect when I downloaded and attempted to install the driver.
Please help! And thanks in advance for your time and attention.
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hi wakey-wakey,
I would recommend accessing your Temp folders, rename a Temp folder to 7zS588E and run the installation from that folder.
Please keep me posted.
Please click “Accept as Solution " if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks" for helping!
Jamieson
I work on behalf of HP
"Remember, I'm pulling for you, we're all in this together!" - Red Green.

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Back up all data.
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Triple-click anywhere in the line of text below on this page to select it, the copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
/Library/Internet Plug-ins
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Go ▹ Go to Folder
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If you still have the issue, repeat with this line:
~/Library/Internet Plug-ins
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Back up all data.
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Triple-click anywhere in the line of text below on this page to select it, the copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
/Library/Internet Plug-ins
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder
from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-G. Paste into the text box that opens (command-V), then press return.
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The "Silverlight" web plugin distributed by Microsoft can also interfere with PDF display in Safari, so you may need to remove it as well, if it's present. The same goes for a plugin called "iGetter," and perhaps others — I don't have a complete list.
If you still have the issue, repeat with this line:
~/Library/Internet Plug-ins
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Cannot trash shared HD

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check permissions on the hard drive. select it in finder and enter command+i. is admin listed as having read+write access? what are the exact permissions listed?

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Cannot trash a file

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