Probably another "I accidentally emptied my trash" thread...

Great...
So while not a completely new mac user, I've had my mini for 2 years, and have greatly enjoyed owning and using it.
The other day I learned you could "hide" the hard drive from the desktop. I didn't know it was possible before. One previously owned, and current work, windows machine I usually have a clear desktop.
So, my SO had a few folders on the desktop with pictures in them and I'm about to sell my SO the machine (to buy a MBP) so I allowed those pictures to be put on the computer but not into iPhoto as I have not yet moved my stuff out of iPhoto.
In attempting to finally "clear" off the desktop I created a "CB's Pictures" folder on the desktop, then dragged it to the dock thinking it was making a duplicate folder. I then moved all of the picture folders into that folder and moved what I thought was the duplicate folder from the desktop to the trash.
I emptied the trash last night and instantly knew there was a problem because on the dock the picture of a folder turned into a picture of a question mark...
I started googling and downloaded that phoenix program, let it run overnight, and this morning I was able to see TONS of jpg's, and scattered throughout them were the photos I accidentally deleted.
So, then I found out that program is $89!
I found another program, the name escapes me, for $69 and left it running when I came to work...
Is there any other way to retrieve these files? It seems RIDICULOUS to pay $69 to retrieve what is clearly there, just not seen by the OS.
I've searched and searched, lots of "forums" I come across seem to get spammed out by software sellers so I thought I would try here for a clear answer...
Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to read this!
--MP

Get the pictures from your backup? That's what Time Machine is for...
If you don't have a backup, well, scavenging deleted data and reconstructing the files is not easy. It seems ridiculous to expect someone to do it cheap. $89 is a bargain. If your pictures are not worth $89, then write them off.
Incidentally, it is crucial that you +do not use the disk+ with these deleted files +at all+ until they are recovered. You need to be using a different startup disk to download and run recovery software. Every second that the original disk is in use, the chances of successful recovery dwindle.

Similar Messages

I put my ibook author file in the trash and then accidentally emptied my trash. Is there a way to recover the file? Does iBooks Author have a backup?

I put my ibook author file in the trash and then accidentally emptied my trash. Is there a way to recover the file? Does iBooks Author have a backup?

if you use time machine, you should be able to get it back that way. Although IBA saves changes on an ongoing basis, it doesn't create a back up or supplemental copy elsewhere on your drive.

I have accidentally emptied the trash and deleted files that i was trying to put back

I have emptied the trash accidentally, deleting files that i was trying to put back! Can you help me to recover them?

I cannot recommend any specific data recovery software because I have not been in a situation where I needed it. I am fairly diligent having my important data backed up (two copies) so this is not a problem for me. Do look at Time Machine (one of my two backups) since it is very easy to set up and use. Look through these forums for situations where others have had to recover data and see if they mention specific recovery software.
Do not take these remarks as my being condescending. I am simply stating the facts. Try to view the price of the software as punishment for your faux pas. We all make mistakes and I have committed my share, but not in data loss.
Ciao.

HELP, i've accidentally emptied my trash with my photos in it

Is there a way that I can restore any of the photos?

Try using an application such as Data Rescue or FileSalvage. Using the computer for other purposes may overwrite the deleted content; if you can't get the files back through software, a professional data recovery company may succeed.
(27064)

How do I recover a directory that I accidentally emptied in the trash?

How do I recover a directory that I accidentally emptied in the trash?

Restore it from your backups. If you don't have backups now you have a really good reason to start keeping a backup. Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. You may also find my FAQ on maintenance helpful.
Basics of File Recovery
If you empty the Trash the files are gone. Recovery is possible but you must not allow any additional writes to the hard drive - shut it down. When you delete files you erase only the directory entries, not the files themselves. However, the space occupied by the files has been returned to the system as available for storage. Writing to the drive will then eventually overwrite the space once occupied by the deleted files in which case the files are lost permanently. Also if you save a file over an existing file of the same name, then the old file is overwritten and cannot be recovered.
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten with recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.
Kappy's Personal Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
For disk repairs use Disk Utility. For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.0 is now Intel Mac compatible. TechTool Pro provides additional repair options including file repair and recovery, system diagnostics, and disk defragmentation. TechTool Pro 4.5.2 is Intel Mac compatible; Drive Genius is similar to TechTool Pro in terms of the various repair services provided. The current version, 1.5.1, is Intel Mac compatible.
OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.
OS X automatically defrags files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems.
I would also recommend downloading the shareware utility TinkerTool System that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old logfiles and archives, clearing caches, etc.
For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack. If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the commandline.
When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is significant):
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. PsynchX 2.1.1 and RsyncX 2.1 (Freeware)
The following utilities can also be used for backup, but cannot create bootable clones:
1. Backup (requires a .Mac account with Apple both to get the software and to use it.)
2. Toast
3. Impression
4. arRSync
Apple's Backup is a full backup tool capable of also backing up across multiple media such as CD/DVD. However, it cannot create bootable backups. It is primarily an "archiving" utility as are the other two.
Impression and Toast are disk image based backups, only. Particularly useful if you need to backup to CD/DVD across multiple media.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
Additional suggestions will be found in Mac Maintenance Quick Assist.
Referenced software can be found at www.versiontracker.com and www.macupdate.com.
Why reward points?(Quoted from Discussions Terms of Use.)
The reward system helps to increase community participation. When a community member gives you (or another member) a reward for providing helpful advice or a solution to their question, your accumulated points will increase your status level within the community.
Members may reward you with 5 points if they deem that your reply is helpful and 10 points if you post a solution to their issue. Likewise, when you mark a reply as Helpful or Solved in your own created topic, you will be awarding the respondent with the same point values.

OMG, I accidentally deleted my iPhoto and emptied the trash, is there any way to get it back?

Please help! I'm having a heart attack right now, I accidentally deleted my iPhoto that has hundreds of pictures and I have already emptied the trash, please tell me if there is any way I can get it back?

If you have not backed it up, then your only option is to stop using the computer immediately, as further use will risk writting over the sectors of your HDD, and make it difficult to recover.
Now the recovery process is long, and expensive, and your files may not be in any particular order. There may be millions of files to sift through.
You would need to use a program like Data Rescue 3, and pull out your HDD, and plug it as an external into another machine.
Or you could spend thousands having it done professionally.
For "hundreds", is it worth it?

Error message: File can't be opened right now because it's being used by another task, such as moving or copying an item or emptying the Trash. Try again when the current task is complete.

I recently transferred some data from my external hard drive to my desktop, but there was an error transferring some of the files and it couldn't respond, and eventually i simply removed the external hard drive. However, the folder/files are still on my desktop, and when i try to move them or delete them, this error message appears:
“-folder/file name-” can’t be opened right now because it’s being used by another task, such as moving or copying an item or emptying the Trash. Try again when the current task is complete.
Since I removed the external hard drive before the files were finished transferring, there is no way for the current task to be completed. How can I resolve this and delete the folders/files from my desktop?

I just managed to resolve this by going to the apple sign in the top left, choosing force quit (or you could do option+command+esc), then i chose finder, and i clicked relaunch. After relaunching finder, the error message doesn't appear anymore, and I could move these files/folders, and delete them just fine.
Hope this will help other people who encounter similar problems in the future!

Is there a way to recover data from accidental "empty trash"?

I accidentally deleted 111GB of data, my entire Movies folder, off my Macbook running 10.4.11 and imovie 6.03 and emptied the trash. I have been to the Apple Store but they basically sold me Data Rescue II which does not return a completed iMovie but rather a fragmented collection of quicktime bits of the movie. It's easier for me to re-do every movie I've ever made than try to piece together a bunch of QT clips. Norton's used to recover files fairly intact but I understand it can't be used on Intel Macs. My first question is why not? Has anyone tried using Norton's V5.0 on an intel and if so what happened? My second ? is does anyone know of a reliable method (other than the $500-$3k services out there) to undelete files. My research suggests once files are gone, they're gone but I'm still holding out in an attempt to resurrect at least the last month of work. Thank you.
Message was edited by: twmissmt

Norton's used to recover files fairly intact but I understand it can't be used on Intel Macs.
Not only not on Intel Macs but on pretty much any Mac running OSX. People had pretty bad experiences running Norton in the early days of OSX and Norton gave up supporting Macs. Any version of Norton out there pre-dates Intel Macs and you never want to run any disk tool on a computer when that tool pre-dates the release of OS you are using.
There's also [FileSalvage|http://subrosasoft.com/OSXSoftware/index.php?mainpage=product_info&productsid=1] but I don't know if it will do anything different from DRII.

Another "I can't empty my trash!" problem...!

Hi All,
Sorry, but this is another "I can't empty my trash" problem.
Have scoured the internet trying all the remedies but can't seem to delete these stupid folders.
I've tried the option key, secure emptying, going into Terminal, Cocktail doesn't want anything to do with these files.
There are 5 left over folders from my external hard-drive. They don't appear to be locked anymore (Get Info panel says so) but Leopard keeps shouting "Insufficient Privileges" at me every time I try to delete them.
"/Volumes/EXHD/.Trashes/501/MUSIC", that's the direct path to the main folder that's being stubborn.
Please help me, all I want is a clear Trash Can!

tenorhorn wrote:
Hi All,
Sorry, but this is another "I can't empty my trash" problem.
Have scoured the internet trying all the remedies but can't seem to delete these stupid folders.
I've tried the option key, secure emptying, going into Terminal, Cocktail doesn't want anything to do with these files.
There are 5 left over folders from my external hard-drive. They don't appear to be locked anymore (Get Info panel says so) but Leopard keeps shouting "Insufficient Privileges" at me every time I try to delete them.
"/Volumes/EXHD/.Trashes/501/MUSIC", that's the direct path to the main folder that's being stubborn.
Please help me, all I want is a clear Trash Can!
Welcome to Apple Discussions:
Remember how the trash works. The trashed files are not necessarily on your Mac.
When you trash a file, it goes into the local (maybe hidden) trash folder on the harddrive. The desktop trash only contains a link to the actual file in the trashbin on the external drive.
The proper way to delete that trash would be to reconnect the external drive and then empty the trash, assuming that the external drive has not been modified.
You say you used the terminal - exactly what did you do?
In a terminal, enter the following commands
cd .Trash
ls -al
you should see a listing of the files in the trashbin.
On my machine here are the results for a trashed folder and file:
-rw-r--r--@ 1 nero nero 4 Oct 20 20:27 testfile.txt
drwxr-xr-x 2 nero nero 68 Oct 20 20:19 untitled folder
Notice that I own both files/folders and most importantly, I have write (w) permission on them.
Post back your results and perhaps we can diagnose the problem better.

I am unable to empty the trash. it keeps saying that it is being used by another task. I have tried rebooting and problem persist.

I am not very computer savy and am hoping one of you can give me an easy fix. I am unable to empty my trash. A window pops up and says, "the trash can't be emptied because it is being used by another task, such as moving or copying an item or emptying trash. Try again when current task is complete." That has been going on for several days. I did discover that my trash contained over 2,000 items. When I tried to empty them this is what happened. I also must have on auto save because everything I've ever worked on is saved.
HELP???

Did you by any chance hit Secure Empty Trash? Restart then see if holding down the Option (alt) key while hitting Empty Trash works.

I accidentally hit the stop (x) button when the "empty secure trash" process was going on. Have I screwed up my computer? Can I continue the "Empty Secure Trash" later?

I was cleaning my caches which was taking forever to clean up. (more than 4 hours). I accidentally hit the stop (x) button when the "empty secure trash" process was going on. Have I screwed up my computer? Can I continue the "Empty Secure Trash" later?

Just restart your computer. Then go to Finder menu and change 'Secure empty trash' to Empty trash.
Unless you work with state secrets you really don't need secure empty trash which takes seven times longer to do its job. Empty trash is fine for all but the afore-mentioned secret files.

How to restore photos from iPhoto, I didn't not backup, and accidentally empty trash bin

please help, I accidentally empty my iPhoto trash bin, and i do not have backup, how do i restore my photos ?(go back in 2 weeks)....and i did not have iCloud. Please help, thanks.

Look in the system trash - with iPhoto '11 when you empty the iPhoto trash the photos go to the system trash
If you have emptied both then you need professional data recovery or a program like file salvage
LN

I accidentally deleted my iPhoto when i empty my trash? i think 1year ago.i want it back but i heard that its difficult...my 2nd option is i'll buy iPhoto from apps. what do you think guys? thank you and god bless!

i accendentaly deleted my iphoto when i empty my trash. i think 1 year ago. i want it back but they say its difficult. now i think i'll buy iphoto to apps. what do you think guys??? ty and god bless!

A bunch of totally different questions
iPhoto is an application and it is in your applications folder - is it there? It must be in teh Applications folder on your boot drive - it can not be on an external drive
The photos are kept in the iPhoto library (by default and highly recommended) - is that what you deleted? It can be anyplace by by default it is in your pictrues folder
Time Machine is a backup program that backuse your your Mac - you do NOT directly access its backup files but you use the Time Machine application to restore files - see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US for details
Your post is not at all clear as to what you have or what you want to do
If in fact you do have a copy of the photos on an external hard drive as you say you thikyou do them you launch iPhoto and import them to iPhoto (file menu import -- or drag them to the iPhoto icon in the Dock)
If you have a time machine backup of your iPhoto library and you want to use that then you launch TM and go to the time you wna tto restore from, select the iPhoto library and click restore
If the above does not cover what you have and what you want please post back with exact details of what you have and what you want to do
LN

Mac OS 10.5 / I deleted the " Private" folder ... and emptied the trash. So the folder and its contents no longer exists on my computer at all !!! I do have the OS dvd that i purchased years ago... But my computer will not start from it on its own. My

Mac OS 10.5 /
I deleted the " Private" folder ... and emptied the trash. So the folder and its contents no longer exists on my computer at all !!!
I do have the OS 10.5 dvd that i purchased years ago...
But my computer will not start from it on its own.
My question is what is the open source or terminal language code used to tell my mac to look in the DVD rom drive for startup info? I know that im not the only person in this world who has deleted the "PRIVATE" folder and emptied the trash so it no longer exists on their machine...
That said theres gotta be a common fix for a Power PC G4 that has the OS X dvd in the rom drive but wont look to it to reinstall the vital contents of the PRIVATE folder.
Once again there is not a copy of this file or its contents in the recycle bin...
Also rebooting the machine , pressing and holding the letter C does not prompt the machine to look to the dvd rom drive.
I was reinstalling pro tools and figured I would make some room by cleaning my computers HD...
Lol It was a bad choice to delete this file ...
Thanks guys

Okay sorry it took forever to respond... But for a while there I gave up on this computer!!!!
Money's been tight lately , so taking it in to a professional was not yet an option... though I did consider it eventhough.
Anyway long story short im glad I didnt spend any money because I already had all the tools necessary to fix this issue but was going about it in the wrong way. Okay so here is my scenario and the breakdown... Though this may not fix the issue for everyone :( which *****... But I know we all will have different circumstances.
Anyway here we go...
Okay so first things first.... Years ago I purchased the OS 10.5.1 disk ... So that has always been in my possession!!!!
I realize that some may not have a disk to reflash your OS to your hard drive... but if you do your in luck.
2ndly ... I had an external harddrive with all of my itunes downloaded music so it was more than okay with me to delete my primary HD because all the important stuff could either be copied over or repathed to be located.
-------If you dont want to read through the whole story the fix is summed up in the bottom section-------
Okay so now the SOLUTION!!!!
By trial and error , and pure boredom I opened up my computer to clean the inside...
AND
"Disconnected the primary HD"
and just because ....... REBOOTED my computer. Just to see what it would do.
Upon restart and though it looked like it would repeat its usual cycle...
About 1 minute in to that process my computer froze for about 2 seconds and flashed to the OS installation screen.
Mind you I havent seen this screen yet... Probably hasnt been since I installed the OS years ago.
After a bit of trial and error...
I decided to tell my computer to startup from the OS 10.5 disk located in my dvd rom drive and restarted once again...
this setting is under
Utilities / startup disk
After a little more trial and error ... I realized that I could reconnect the primary HD , restart the machine and return to the OS installation menu.
So upon this discovery
I went to the Disk Utility located under Utilities
Highlighted my primary HD located in the left hand column
Once highlighted ...
In the heading section on the right I selected the option
Erase
in which I erased My current OS on my primary HD ...
I used the first option in the list under security... Because it seemed like the least invasive and would take the least amount of time to see if this process would actually work.
I FORGOT to add something...
Another reason why I deleted my primary HD!!!!!
I forgot to say that it WOULD NOT!!!!! Show up in the STARTUP list as an option...Even After multiple reboots....
But like clockwork... Once I deleted its name IT SHOWED UP as an option!!!!
So back to the next step...
I returned to the STARTUP option under utilities ... And was then able to see MY primary HD now as a startup option...
But ofcourse it had no name because it we previously erased it.
So when Clicking my newly erased HD ... I was almost immediately prompted to REINSTALL the OS ...
Which said it would take about 57 minutes ... But I believe was alot less...
My issue was resolved ... My computer then stated the install was SUCCESSFUL!!!!!!! :))))))))))) lol ;)
It was like I was setting up for the first time ;) asking for my registration info...
The dilemma of deleting the private folder and emptying the trash is finally over resolved. Done ... and no extra money spent!!!!!!!!!
Its really crazy that the information for such a simple thing is not readily available. Especially being such a simple fix.
I know im not the only person who's had this issue , because i've seen numerous posts with similar wording.
I also know I wont be the last person to have this issue... So I hope this synopsis makes sense.
-------One more time the fix------
*Insert your OS dvd into your dvd rom drive.
*Unplug your primary HD or corrupted startup disk
*Reboot your machine...
Upon restart your primary HD will not be recognized...
* you will then be prompted to select your language.
Once selected
*Click Utilities/startup... Highlight the the selection that refers to the OS dvd located in the dvd rom drive.
* Click restart...
!!!!!!!!!!Be sure to reconnect your Primary HD Before your computer restarts and you hear the chime!!!!!!!!
If you do not replug your HD before the chime it will not be recognized.
In that case restart again.
Upon restart once again
*Choose your language...
*Click Utilities / disk utility
In the left column select and
*Highlight your HD ...
Then towards the top portion / center of the page
*Click the heading Erase
Then on the page toward the bottom
*Click security options
This will then provide erase options.
I USED THE FIRST OPTION
"Dont erase data"...
*click OK
* click erase...
Once erased which should take a few seconds
*Cancel the disk utility...
* Click Utilities / startup
And your newly erased HD should now appear in the list.
* Select your drive from the list by highlighting
It should no longer have a name.
*Once selected, you will then be prompted to restart and install the OS to your newly erased HD...
Thats it!!!!
Once everything reinstalls re-add your personal info or registration info and you are up and running.
Goodluck ;)

Unable to export photos, original file was emptied in Trash and cannot recover.

Photo files are still in Lightroom, but I accidentally deleted and emptied the Trash with the original photo files. So now, as I try to export the photos, it is saying photos are offline or missing. I cannot recover the original file location because the trash was emptied. How can I still export the photos in Lightroom, it's a wedding that I HAVE to be able to export?!

If the file is deleted, you restore it from your camera card; or
If the file is deleted, you restore the photo from your backups.
If you have no backups, well I can't understand why anyone would not have backups of important photos. You might want to consider developing a strategy where all your files are backed up as soon as possible after the photos are copied from camera card to computer.
You can recover the previews from Lightroom, but these are usually small size and lower-quality versions of your photos, probably not suitable for printing. Use this plug-in to recover the previews: robcole.com - PreviewExporter
You might also try recovering the deleted files from your computer's hard disk and/or camera card, using something known as an "undelete utility", one of which is Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download
By the way, your photos are never stored in Lightroom, they are/were stored on your hard disk.

Probably another "I accidentally emptied my trash" thread...

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