Error occurred (error code -8003).?

I'm geting the above error code and the trash won't empty. Any ideas folks?

I don't have the exact answer for this but the following are some references and programs that may be of help:
Solving Trash Problems
You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
Trash It! (application)
Google search "-8003" site:discussions.apple.com
That last item, the google search, will show you you are not alone getting that error!

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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

HT201250 i'm getting message: can't be opened because you don't have permission to see its contents. and he operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

I took my computer in to have the Backup restored onto my computer after having a new harddrive put onto my 1year 1/2 old MacBook Pro. When i got it home there was a new User that i had to logout of to getting into my normal user. Don't know why this was, just figured the Mac guys that installed my backup did this for some odd reason. Today i could not open any of my files in the backup on the time machine. All the folder had line going thought them and when i clicked on them I revieved this message: can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents. After talking with that same mac store. I decided to just delete all the files out of the time machine as it was just put back on my computer and i have everything i need. Hours later when i tried to empty the trash i got this messsage: the operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).
Any advise how to fix my problem?
thanks in advance

While you see a single trash can, in reality there are trash folders on each mounted volume. I don't use TM but what you are describing implies that a TM drive is no different with the way trash is treated. So when the TM is unmounted the trash folder on there is gone and thus the trash looks empty. Remount the drive, the trash folder on it now causes the trashcan to look like something is in it.
If TrashIt! could not remove the file, I'm sorry, you will need to use the terminal. We can do this one step at a time so you only have to copy/paste the lines into terminal (except the first time). So launch Terminal (in utilities). You might want to make the window that is shown a bit larger with the grow box since it's pretty small.
This first line is the only exception to the copy/pasting since you have to enter some information.
sudo ls -laR /Volumes/your-TM-volume-name/.Trashes
where your-TM-volume-name is the name of your TM volume. That's the part you have to fill in since I don't know it.
When you hit return the sudo in that command will cause a prompt for your admin password. Enter it and hit return again. Note the password will not be shown as you type it. Post the results so I can tell you what to do next.
Note this ls command is not doing anything but listing the files in the TM's .Trashes folder. Remember I said each drive has it's own trash folder. .Trashes is it.

Empty trash The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

I can't empty my trash. The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).
I have started up in a guest account and that show empty trash bucket.
I have use 'option' or all three, control, option, command. and nothing works.
This has been a problem for about 3 weeks now.
I have an external WD hardrive for back up, these are the files that I try to erase - and I have unlocked each one, still no luck....
Can some one give me a hint what to do?
Jan

Don;
Plus all of you that have tried to help me with my 'empty trash' problem. I have it solved!
I am running a Western Digital external hard drive. I phoned them just now and they asked me to unplug the WD drive, and I reset the back up occasions, it was backing up every hour, which was way too often. The trash emptied when I unplugged and now I have rebooted and the trash is still empty
Thanks to all who gave me suggestions as to what I needed to do to empty my trash can! It had more than 1600 items living there. What a relief.
Jan

When trying to empty trash, (securely or not), I get this: The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

When trying to empty trash, (securely or not), I get this: The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003). FWIW, there are nearly 3000 items in my Trash - although this does not seem the source of the problem.

Have you read for possible solutions over in the "More Like This" thread over here?----------------------->

My 15" MacBook Pro (early 2008) will not empty the trash can.The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

My 15" MacBook Pro (early 2008) will not empty the trash can.The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).

Just the Option key. Third from the left on the bottom row.
If that does not work, try the more elaborate steps described here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20020873-263.html

Can't empty my Trash-Keep getting "Operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003). Anyone know what to do?

Can't empty my Trash-Keep getting "Operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003). Anyone know what to do?

I had the same problem yesterday with an application file that was deleted after installation of an update. I used "Put Back" to move it back to its original location, then used "Show Package Contents" to delete/empty trash for small groups of files at a time. I suppose the application file itself may have been too large to empty at one time. I hope this helps.

How do I deal with error code -8003 ?

When I try to empty my Trash with a certain app in it I get error code -8003. I can't find reference to that code anywhere and do not know how to clean up the trash.
"The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)."

Try using Trash It!
Possibly helpful articles:
The X Lab: Solving Trash Problems
You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
Error -8003 or other problems with emptying the OS X Trash

I'm getting an error code -8003 when I try to empty my trash.

I recently emptied several old backup files from an external hard drive to the trash folder. Now when I attempt to empty the trash, I get this message: "The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003). What should I do? I just took the computer and external hard drive to an apple store for genius support a few days ago and the tech fixed a few things. He advised me to empty the backup files, which is what I'm trying to do.

See this general resume of trash problems.
I suspect you've been trying to remove some of your Time Machine back ups.   Not a good idea without doing the necessary research first. Read about ways to solve Trash problems.
From the X LAB.       Solving Trash Problems
Then, for clearing stubborn trash.                Download Trash It! for Mac
In particular related to Time Machine.       Time Machine - Troubleshooting
http://pondini.org/TM/E6.html
Can't empty the trash after deleting backups via the Finder

When I try to empty trash, I get error code -8003 what does it mean?

When I try to empty the trash on my imac I get error code -8003 and a message saying This operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occured. Then it gives me the option to STOP or CONTINUE. If I STOP, then it stops. If I CONTINUE, it stops anyway.

Read this.

Empty trash bin gives an error code 8003

When I choose empty trash or secure empty trash in Finder, it craps out with the following message
The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).
I used the diskutility to repair permissions, and that didn't solve it. I also rebooted the system, and that didn't resolve it either.
I don't see any messages in the Forums with this topic.
Anyone got any ideas what the problem is and how to fix it? I've got quite a bit of disk space that I'd like to recover and I can't the way it is right now.

I don't see any messages in the Forums with this topic.
http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?search=Go&q=8003

Error code -8003 when trying to empty trash on external HD

Hi I have a 2008 MacBook and a couple of external drives by iomega. Yesterday I was trying to copy 15 gb of files from my MacBook to my USB external drive, and didn't have enough space. So I attempted to delete all my Time Machine backups from 2011 (the oldest ones) from the USB external in an attempt to free up space. Time Machine began doing an auto backup while this was happening. I let it run while I slept, then this morning found I cannot empty the Trash when the USB external drive is connected and turned on. The Trash contains all the backups I was trying to delete yesterday, and when I try to empty Trash it says "The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occured (error code -8003)". I have run Disk Utility to "verify" the USB external and it checked out ok. I've also rebooted both MacBook and restarted the USB external. Any other ideas on how I can get the trash to empty?

Hi Andvari,
If you are having issues emptying the Trash on your MacBook, you may find the following article helpful:
Apple Support: You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1526
Regards,
- Brenden

Error code 8003 when trying to empty trash

I searched the Internet for a while trying to find an answer to this, but I can't seem to come across one. On my own I was able to determine the cause for the problem, to some degree, but I don't know how to fix it. I have repaired my permissions.
Every time I try to empty my trash with the office update installer package "15089Office 2008 12.2.5 Update" in it I get the message: "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)."
I'm not sure what to do. Figures it is a Windows program causing me grief. All I want to do is put it in the trash and get rid of it forever. I honestly have no idea why this isn't working.
Does anyone have a suggestion?

Hi s:
Here is a thread that seems to have addressed the problem. Hard to tell, but some program called trash it appears to have worked with the code:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10452955
Barry

Error Message When Emptying Trash - (error code -8003)

I have recently had to erase and re-install my hard drive a couple of times (under instruction from Apple) and now I have previous hard drives in my trash which I am wanting to erase (along with other stuff). However I have tried to empty the trash the usual way to no success, I have tried using the 'trash it' app again to no success and I have even opened up Terminal and typed in: sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash. (This I copied and pasted from another users issue for an error code -36. with their trash)
MY error message however reads as follows:
The Operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003).
Can anyone help please?

Choosy Bernie wrote:
(error code -8003)
AFAIK there is no error such error code. Methinks your Mac is delusional.
Have you tried this Terminal command?
sudo rm .Trash/*
Do you have another drive or Windows installed? If you have Windows installed boot from your Windows partition and run Chkdsk utility.
-mj

I can't empty trash. Error code -8003

I can't empty the trash (neither "secure" nor regular).
OSX 10.6.8
Full error message: "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)."

This is not unusual, and has been discussed here a few times.
There maybe some useful tips here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1166851/really_empty_trash.html

Trash refuses to empty (error code -8003)

I keep trying to empty the trash on my iMac but it refuses. It says "unexpected error occurred" and quotes the error code -8003.
Any suggestions?

Fantastic, thanks a lot, this link was very helpful! Especially when you want to delete all the Time machine backups before you leave for 3 weeks!

Error occurred (error code -8003).?

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