Emptying the Trash - Positive number to Negative number?

Should I worry when emptying items in Trash that "Items to delete" goes from a positive number to a negative number?

I understand your reluctance to use Terminal, and it'a healthy respect. The rm command can easily wipe the entire drive if it's entered incorrectly.
However, if you copy and paste the lines direct from the page you should be OK.
Whatever you choose to do, first get another external drive and clone your system to it using the Restore function in Disk Utility (after partitioning as GUID and formatting as Mac OS Extended, Journalled if necessary)
Restart with the alt/option key held down and select the new clone to boot from.
When you're happy it works OK, restart normally, eject the drive and remove it. This is your safety net.
While you may be fearful of Terminal, I hesitate to suggest taking it to the Genius bar. You could end up with a re-installed system, which wouldn't be your current Tiger.

Similar Messages

Negative values when emptying the trash

I'm doing a secure version of emptying the trash. The "Items to delete" status has now reached a value of -2 (yes, it went from 0 to negative 1 to negative 2). Any idea what's going wrong here? It's still going.

This solved my problem.
Re: Trash going into negative?

IPhoto 6 quit when I empty the trash

Hi, I just installed the last iLife 06 and I've a problem with iPhoto. When I empty the trash iPhoto quits and when I relauch it I can see the number of element into the trash. If I click on the trash then it seems there are elements inside but without any thumbnails.
Is this a bug and how to be sure elements have been really erased ?
Thanks

Using the iPhoto menu to empty the trash instead of the contextual menu seems to relly empty the trash...

Why do I get error code -8003 when attempting to empty the trash?

I moved a number of folders from a back-up drive (using Time Machine) to the trash, and have had no success in getting them out of the trash. Option+Empty, Option+Secure Empty Trash, after using Disk Utility to repair permissions and then try again, and the TrashIt! app.. nothing is working. I'm not in need of the space, I just want to get rid of the items. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as I can't even find 'Error Code -8003' anywhere. tx

The reason why some of the files are blocking the trash from emptying is because of specific ".app" files from third party companies like Adobe products. Not the user files or the various help documents but instead the actual mother program. Here's how to fix this problem:
1) remove from the trash all the actual software programs like Photoshop, InDesign, DreamWeaver and so on and put them on the desktop.
2) Command "I" (info) and when the dialog box opens go to the "Name & Extension" text box and remove the ".app" from the software name. Example: Photoshop.app change to Photoshop.
3) the program icon will change to a "folder icon".
4) put the folder icon back into the trash and you should be able to now empty the trash.
If you continue to get the error code 8003 it's because you may still have one or more software programs in the trash that needs to go through this process. Remember - it's not the user files or help documents or supporting files that is causing this but instead the "actual product programs".
JKai

What does error code -8003 mean regarding emptying the trash?

I have a MacBook Pro '08, w/OS 10.6.8. Need to clear the contents of my external drive, and keep getting this code while attempting to empty the trash. I cannot find this error code on the Apple website, and need to know where to turn. Any help would be appreciated.

Since asking this question, I've found a number of updated answers and solutions to my question.

When emptying the trash, the counter goes up...

What's going on when emptying the trash, the counter goes past zero on the way down and then proceeds into the tens of thousands of negative numbers? I am trying to get rid of back ups on my external disk.
Thanks

David Wilson24 wrote:
But now, I just want to get the trash cleared so that further actions will work as far as future "emptyings".
The count going negative is normal, in a way, when deleting TM backups. Not a problem.
If the trash won't empty, hold the Alt/Option key while selecting Finder > Empty Trash... from the menubar.
You shouldn't ever need to delete backups, however. Let Time Machine delete old ones when it runs out of space.

I don't have permission to empty the trash securely.

The initial cause of the problem may be that accidentally dragged my downloads folder from the tool bar into the trash. I do not see the downloads folder in the trash. When I try to empty the trash, I see indication that many files are being deleted. I eventually get a message telling me that I do not have sufficient permission to empty the trash. My options are STOP or CONTINUE. Seems that no matter what option I choose, no more trash disappears. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Repairing permissions is important, and should always be carried out both before and after any software installation or update.
Go to Disk Utility (this is in your Utilities Folder in your Application folder) and click on the icon of your hard disk (not the one with all the numbers).
In First Aid, click on Repair Permissions.
This only takes a minute or two in Tiger, but much longer in Leopard.
Background information here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751
and here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302672
An article on troubleshooting Permissions can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2963
By the way, you can ignore any messages about SUID or ACL file permissions, as explained here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448?viewlocale=en_US
If you were having any serious problems with your Mac you might as well complete the exercise by repairing your hard disk as well. You cannot do this from the same start-up disk. Reboot from your install disk (holding down the C key). Once it opens, select your language, and then go to Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. Select your hard disk as before and click Repair.
Once that is complete reboot again from your usual start-up disk.
More useful reading here:
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417?viewlocale=en_US
For a full description of how to resolve Disk, Permission and Cache Corruption, you should read this FAQ from the X Lab:
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/repairprocess.html

I am using iPhoto 2009. If I empty the trash bin, will it delete those pictures from albums I have created? I noticed some of the pictures appear to be the same in both the trash and album.

I have a lot of photos in my trash bin and was thinking about emptying the trash. However, I got a message that said that if emptied, I would not be able to recover them. I chickened out. I looked at several pictures in the trash and noticed that they were the same pictures in albums that I had created. I compared the numbers shown on those pictures in the trash and found that they were the same as the numbers shown in on the pictures in the albums that I had created. I would like to delete the pictures to create more space, but I don't want to lose pictures that I can't replace.

yes - albums are not copies or places - they are pointers in the databae pointing to the photo in the library - you can see it in an album, under photos or under events - but it is all the same photo - if you delete it it is gone everyplace - and no additiponal space is used for an album (or many albums - a photo can be in many albums without using any additional space
Only put photos that you do not want to keep in the trash
How much free space do you have on the disk volume that the iPhoto library is on?
LN

I am deleting files through my trash in my macbook pro (2010) and then emptying the trash can, but my hard disk space is not increasing! i recently upgraded to lion and the problem is new, wasn't the same with snow leopard! HELP!!!!!

i am deleting files through my trash in my macbook pro (2010) and then emptying the trash can, but my hard disk space is not increasing! i recently upgraded to lion and the problem is new, wasn't the same with snow leopard! HELP!!!!!
When i press command+I (Get Info) i see that there is 140 GB "Available Space" on my hard disk but when i click on my hard disk icon on the desktop, and then press "space" i only see 102 GB free!! What the f*???
Please HELP!!!!!! Getting second thoughts on Lion!!!!

Hi b,
Have you restarted yet?

I have sent a file to the trash bin. When I come to empty the trash bin everything goes out except this one particular file and I get a note saying the file is 'in use' but it is not. How can I delete this file from trash?

I have a Macbook Pro with OS X Lion 10.7.2. I have sent a work file to the trash bin along with many other files. When I empty the trash this one particular file remains and I get a message that this file is still in use. I have tried returning the file to my documents, opening it, closing it and then sending it to trash and again I try to empty trash but the same message comes up - Q - How can I trash this file permanently?

First just try logging out and back in. Whatever is holding on to it may not be running after the logout thus freeing it so you can trash it after logging back in.
You might also try Trash It!
Lastly, look at the following for suggestions:
The X Lab: Solving Trash Problems

I tried to empty the trash, full of back up file from my hard disk and it just says: "The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)"

I have an external hard disk of 319.73 GB that I use as back up memory and where I put all the movies and other files that I can't leave on the computer as they occupy too much memory space . One day I was deleting all the previous dated back up to have more space on it , but had to stop the trash for doing it cause it was taking too long and now every time that I try to empty the trash it just says "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)" and even if I press CONTINUE it won't empting it . I'm not really pratical with this things and I tried already to find out the solution here and on Google but apparently nobody ever had a similar error code and I don't know what else to do.
I've a MacBook Pro with a Mac OS X 10.6.8 Version.
Thanks again for the help and sorry if I did some english mistakes !
PEACE & LOVE

Hey donnie90,
It seems like this article might be the best for helping you address this issue:
You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1526
Thanks for coming to the Apple Support Communities!
Regards,
Braden

Regarding emptying the trash

Regarding emptying the trash, I tried using key cmd+shift+BackSp and it worked.

If you look on the Finder Menu, that key sequence is shown as the shortcut for Empty Trash. You have not uncovered anything secret.
Unlike the PC, that key near the upper right of a Mac keyboard is deliberatley labeled "delete" to make its function unambigously clear.

I imported an hour of video into iMovie HD and cut it down to a 33 sec clip, and emptied the trash. When I save the project, the file size is 20Gb. How can I save just the 33 sec clip?

I imported an hour of video into iMovie HD and cut it down to a 33 sec clip, and emptied the trash. When I save the project, the file size is 20Gb. How can I save just the 33 sec clip?

Non-destructive editing is an important feature of iMovie HD 6.
iMovie preserves the entire copy of every clip you place into your movie in case you change your mind at a later stage.
So, if you have cut out one minute from a 45 minute clip, iMovie will have stored two complete copies of that clip. This is why is helps to set import as 3-5 minute clips rather than one huge chunk. As DV runs at 13GB per hour your project files can get very big.
One workaround is to complete the editing of a section of the movie, then export that to Quicktime: highlight the clip/s, choose Share-Quicktime, turn on Share selected clips only, and choose Full Quality from the pop-ip menu.
Once you have saved the stand-alone clip to your hard drive, you can re-import it into your project using the File/Import command, and delete the original long clip/s from the project.

Can you recover deleted files which were stored on an external HD after emptying the trash on the Imac using Time Machine.

Hello - I had deleted files off of my external HD which I thought would not affect my Itunes library... Unfortunately I was incorrect in my assumption. Additionally, I empty the trash as I was hoping to regain storage space for the external HD. My question is, can i restore these files now that the trash has been emptied? I do have a regular back-up running on a Time Capsule, however when I chose the ext HD and enter into the time machine to restore it will not allow me to locate any files on the external HD??
Help!!!

Is Time Machine configured to backup the external disk drive?
It doesn't sound like it is. Which means that they is no way to get anything from that EDD from TM.
Your only alternative now is file recovery software. For a review on such software, try http://data-recovery-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-recovery-software/

I accidently deleted half my music in itunes (600 songs) - and yes, emptied the trash. It's all on my ipod touch...ANY way to get them back??!!

HELP! I bought a new Mac (my first) and used my nano as an external hard drive to transfer my itunes library from my old PC to the new Mac, then re-synced the nano. However, something happened when I transferred because it duplicated every song. So I went through the entire library (about 1400 songs X 2) and deleted the duplicates, then emptied the trash. Then when I tried to listen to the music, I found that about half of the songs cannot be located! I have my entire library still on my ipod ouch - is there any way to transfer them??!! Somebody help me please!!!

check out this post by Zevoneer.
also, there are PhoneView and iRip.
edit: and start backing up !! you might want to bookmark this article for future reference: The Complete Guide to Backing Up your iTunes Library

Emptying the Trash - Positive number to Negative number?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for