Operation can't be completed... error code -8003

I've Trashed lots of Time Machine from a 1TB Maxtor drive and now can't empty the Trash, I get this response:
The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)
I've responded by clicking Stop, and then tried again. Have checked the permissions. Also ran Disk Utility on the drive. But nothing changed.
What should I do now?
Cheers,
John

Cocktail did the job in the end. Took over night. Thanks.

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I cannot empty my Trash can. I get error code - 8003

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I did open the trash and found s set of file that were highlited in red. I tryed to remove them from the trash but got the same error message.
Thank you for any help out there.
M

Try https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2138034?start=0&tstart=0
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HT1338 My kid down loaded mackeeper and now I can not get rid of it. I have tried all techniques suggesting on several sites and still can not empty the trash can. keep getting error code -8003. Help.

My kid down loaded mackeeper and now I can not get rid of it. I have tried all techniques suggesting on several sites and still can not empty the trash can. keep getting error code -8003. Help.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20020873-263.html
This should help you empty what's currently in the trash, but is no guarantee you got everything related to MacKiller off the drive. See Ogelthorpe's link.

Can't delete trash - error cod 8003

when trying to delete trash I get this error message: "The operation can’t be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)".
I have tried also to remove it manually - i.e. one item at a time but no luck
Does anyone know how to solve it?

Search is your friend...try this link...

Emptying trash cant be completed error code 8003

file:///Users/fljwb/.Trash/VLCStreamer%20(1.62).app/file:///Users/fljwb/.Trash/u ntitled%20folder/VLCStreamer.app/ completely uninstalled VLC & VLC streamer with App cleaner - tried using prompts in terminal restarted computer ran permissions repair trash will not empty these items receive error code 8003 short of downloading and reinstalling VLC streamer I have covered all that I can think of.

Ok sussed out a solution I moved named files to Hard disk number 4 then empty trash then found the folders on HD 4 trashed them them empty trash end of problem all gone(never had that one!)

The operation could not be completed (Error code -43)

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What is the partition map scheme (Apple partition map, or GUID?) and what is the format (HFS+/Mac OS Extended or other?) of the drive? For PowerPC Macs the Time Machine drive requires "Apple Partition Map", and for intel-based macs it requires "GUID". Both architectures require "HFS+" (otherwise known as "Mac OS Extended") for the format of the drives.

2006 macbook pro os x 10.6.8 can't empty trash (error code -8003)

some random files and 4 time machine backups that were deleted to make space on time machine drive(external)
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Thank you, but I found nothing that seemed to apply. I found one other individual that described the very same scenario. Below is the post that matched my circumstances exactly.
halfromtn
Re: I can't use empty trash or secure empty trash. Feb 28, 2012 6:01 AM (in response to aalterkait)
Does this work for an Error Code of 8003 when I try to empty my trash? I had dragged a hard-drive back-up file to the trash and that is when this message occurred.

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I have a iomega external HD that I am trying to use to back up my macbook pro. I just upgraded to 10.5.8. I used the iomega before using retrospect software to back up and now was trying to use time machine. Time machine went through the entire backup, but when I try to open anything I get the error message above.
Any ideas of what I need to do?
Thanks

I used migration assistant. There was a message that the transfer was complete. I googled the error message -
I got the solution to this problem at the Genius Bar.
As they explained it, Time Machine is software that saves files on the backup drive in a format that can only be read by Time Machine. So, when you open Time Machine, you can click on any file and it will open.
If you try to open a file directly from the backup drive, it needs a program to open it, and if Time Machine is not open, you get the error message.
If your computer crashes, when you get it fixed (or get a new Mac)and when you connect the backup drive, Time Machine will recognize it, will ask you if you want to associate it with your computer, and when you say yes, all your backed-up files are availabel and copied back into the computer.
I am so very afraid to do ANYTHING!!!!

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 is apple error code -8003?

I was trying to make a second backup of my iMac by dragging all the folders (Users, Applicaitons, System, Library, etc.) to an external hard drive (I also use Time Machine to back up to a different external drive), when I got a message saying that the operation was halted because of error code -8003. I haven't had this problem before. What is it and what do I do to enable me to do the backup? Thank you.

Now, you need to work on your shrot-term memory problem.

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

Operation can't be completed... error code -8003

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