ICal,Trash,Desktop Folder

Question

Hello need help I was unable to empty my trash one day and check in the Discussions group and find a post about a link http://www.thexlab.com that was able to help me empty my trash. But after trying what they say to do I lost folders and icon It was like I started the computer back over from day one. I lost all data in iCal all applications ask for me to sign in or enter the key code again. this is what I enter in that change everything.
Force the Trash to empty using Terminal
This technique uses a Terminal command to fore the Trash to empty. Perform the following steps in the order specified:
Launch Terminal, located in your Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities folder.
At the Terminal prompt, type the following command exactly as written:
sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*
Note that:
There is a single space after each of the terms sudo, rm, and -rf in the command.
Assure you have typed the command exactly as written before proceeding: typographical errors in this command can have dire consequences, including erasing your hard drive!
Press Return.
Type your Admin password when prompted, then press Return. The files in the Trash are now deleted.
Can someone help me get back my files and folder PLEASE
1.67 GHz PowerBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  
1.67 GHz PowerBook G4   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

Answer 1

Hi, Michael. It sounds as though you may have put things in the Trash that shouldn't have been put there, and maybe that's why you had trouble emptying it. That could easily explain your present difficulties, too.
Another possibility is that your hard drive directory is damaged; that too could account for both your Trash-emptying problem and your current missing files. You didn't tell us what other steps you had tried before using the Terminal to empty the Trash, but as a next step from here, I would suggest starting up from your Tiger installer DVD and running the Repair Disk routine in Disk Utility to repair your hard drive directory.