Secure empty trash.

I am trying to use 'secure empty trash' but it gets so far and then stops of its own accord.  Any suggestions?

Information.
Trash Can’t Empty – Big Files
Trash – Can’t Empty or Move File To Trash
Trash FAQ       
Trash – Empty When File is Locked or in Use

Similar Messages

  • Is it possible to create a secure empty trash shortcut in file menu?

    I have second finger click enabled so that I can quickly move files to the trash bin from the contextual menu. This is fine and dandy, however, for files containing sensitive informaton, I'd like to have a "Secure File Delete" option available (file bypasses the trash bin and is wiped after selecting said option).
    I've searched the threads and checked system prefs. Only options are to change "empty trash" to "secure empty trash". This wouldn't work as I have more files that are typically trashed and not wiped. It'd be nice to have it available as a convenience I suppose
    I know theres an app in the app store that offers this functionality. It's $3-4.
    So my question...is it possible to create such a contextual menu option on my own?
    heres an example of what I'm ltalking about...

    Create a new Service in Automator.
    Set it to receive files an folders in the Finder.
    Drag in an Ask for Confirmation action if you want it.
    Drag in a Run Shell Script action from the Utilities section of the Library.
    Set it to Pass Input as Arguments and Replace the code with:
    srm -r "$@"
    --That's ess-ar-em for Secure ReMove (just copy and paste)
    Save it and it will show up in the Services menu when you right-click on an item in the Finder.
    There are options you can add to it like -s for simple, -m for medium. The default (without options) is 35-pass Gutman.
    You can see what options are available by opening Terminal and typeing
    man srm
    Hit space to scroll down. Q to quit the man page.
    The Verbose and Interactive options won't work since you can respond.
    Note that depending on the algorithm chosen, it may take some time for the file/folder to disappear from the Finder view.

  • Hi guys, an empty folder is stuck in my trash & I get this message: "The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in the folder can't be read or written. (Error code -36). It won't shift no matter how I try to Secure Empty trash. Any ideas?

    Hi guys, an empty folder is stuck in my trash & I get this message: "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in the folder can’t be read or written. (Error code -36). It won't shift no matter how I try to Secure Empty trash. Any ideas?

    The Time Machines Backup is formated as Mac OS Extended (Case Sensitive, Journaled), my mac is formated as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
    The names on the file are all Uppercase
    When I try to copy the Aperture file, it copies about 70% of the file (it's about 33GB in size), and halfway through I get this error.
    I'm able to copy 99.99% of all of the images if I open the Aperture Folder using the "show package contents" under the backups using finder (Time Machine Backups>Backups.backupdb>CQ Macbook Air>2012-04-30-070933>HD.....>Pictures>Aperture Library). The only file I can't copy is that picture, which I'm totally ok with deleting, but Finder won't delete it for me. If nothing else works, I could copy the individual masters and re-create the folders, however I'd hate to do this as I would have to go through 10,000+ pics

  • Hi, Question about secure empty trash. I moved some Time Machine backup files to the trash from an external hard drive. Now I can't secure empty trash. It starts, finds 74,003 files, and does nothing. The external hard drive shows it's empty, but it isn't

    I moved some time machine backup files from an external USB hard drive to the trash. Tried secure empty trash. It counts 74,003 items, then just sits there. The external hard drive window shows it's empty, but the info pane says it only has 50G of memory left. I left the secure empty trash on over night. It did nothing. Ideas?
    Thanks,
    Ron

    Relaunch the Finder, then from the Finder menu bar, select
    Finder ▹ Preferences ▹ Advanced
    and uncheck the box marked Empty Trash securely. Try again to empty the Trash.

  • How do I override "error code -61" when attempting to put things in the Trash? Cannot empty Trash or use Secure Empty Trash.

    How do I override "error code -61" when attempting to put items in the Trash?  Cannot empty Trash or use Secure Empty Trash. I have a MacBook OS X 10.5.8

    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

  • Help, I deleted some files and then secure empty trashed it.

    I accidently deleted important files, and also secure empty trash, is there any way to recover those files?

    no, unless you have a backup.

  • Secure Empty Trash & Trash Cache

    Am old Mac addict home user with Apple from day one but not a guru. Still have Apple IIE that runs like a clock. With 17 Macs in between, years ago when G3 would slow down, get sluggish and tired, I discovered that setting trash cache and deleting many thousands of cached files would invigorate the machine and restore it's original speed using Preferences in TechTool Pro V 3.
    Currently have TTP V4 in both G5 Pro Mac OS 10.5.6 and G5 Power Mac OS 10.4.11. Cleaning out old manuals got rid of TTP V2 and V3 manuals. Still have CDs but unfortunately no serial numbers. So, unable to open those programs. Micromat archives couldn't help. Also, unable to use TTP V4 preferences to set trash cache as there's no Preferences capability. Apparently it can be assumed there's no trash cache in current versions of TTP.
    Queried Micromat about trash cache who said to "Go into "System Preferences" --> "TechTool Protection". In the "Volume Usage" tab, you can set how many days you want TechTool Pro to save the "Trash History"." No joy as I couldn't figure out what that meant about "System Preferences" or how to do what they recommended.
    No problem as both G5s are operating fine. But, I'm curious.
    I use "Secure Empty Trash" exclusively shutting down my G5s. My questions: Does that shut down feature remove all data from the HD thereby eliminating the need for a trash cache? If there's still a trash cache, is there any way to set it? Thank you and regards. Ol' Jim.

    Did you get a response to this? There is no solution listed, but it’s marked Solved.
    I think you are right that there is no longer a Trash Cache. I did a search and it came up with two files called Trash Cache, both were dated 2002, obviously many systems ago which probably came over with Migration Assistant from previous computers.
    The TechTool Protection is new with TTP 5. You won’t see it in System Preferences with TTP 4. That’s probably why you couldn’t figure out what they meant.
    Secure Empty Trash writes over those files which makes them nearly impossible to recover, so I don’t think you need to worry about them.

  • Why is the "Empty Trash" option missing? All I have is "Secure Empty Trash" which takes a considerable amount of time.

    Why is the “Empty Trash” option missing? All I have is “Secure Empty Trash” which takes a considerable amount of time.

    check your finder preferences.

  • What exactly does "Secure Empty Trash" do?

    There's very little technical detail on the web about this. I'd like to understand exactly what secure empty trash does.
    What method does it use to overwrite?
    How does it deal with temp files?
    Why does it take so long?
    Why, when there's only one file in the trash, does it always claim it's erasing 9 files?
    What other files is it erasing in addition to the visible trash contents?
    Can it work across network connections and external drives?
    Has the method changed in Leopard?
    etc.. etc..
    Feel free to get all technical, if you know the answers!
    Thanks!

    What method does it use to overwrite?
    It writes over the files with 0's.
    How does it deal with temp files?
    Not sure what you mean. It treats any file in the trash the same. Could you elaborate?
    Why does it take so long?
    Because it has to first write over the item with 0's, then delete the item.
    Why, when there's only one file in the trash, does it always claim it's erasing 9 files?
    What other files is it erasing in addition to the visible trash contents?
    It's a bug.
    Can it work across network connections and external drives?
    Yes.
    Has the method changed in Leopard?
    Not that I know of.

  • How do I make trash not do a "Secure Empty Trash"?

    Here is what's happening to my Trash whenever I move a file to it for deletion. Ever since I changed the Trash settings to "Secure Empty Trash", and I securely empty the trash when it only have 1 or 2 files in it, it comes up saying there's like 20. when there isn't...so help?
    OR Could someone tell me how to chnage the Trash settings so it is just "Empty Trash".
    Thankayou.

    Uncheck "empty Trash securely" in Finder > Preferences > Advanced tab.
    Regards,
    Captfred

  • Huge number of files in 'Secure Empty Trash'

    I'm not sure if this is that noteworthy or not, but I went to go and 'Secure Empty Trash' recently, and I had 2.1 million files. It has been deleting for about 4 days now, and I'm about halfway through it. I perform this function monthly to keep things clear, but I'm used to 2,000 - not 2 million. The only thing I can think of is that I installed FCS upgrade recently but I don't know why I'd have that many files to get rid of.
    Thoughts..

    I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.
    BTW, did you post this from the wife's computer?
    Type '''about:support''' in the address bar and press '''Enter.'''
    Under the main banner, press the button; '''Copy Text To Clipboard.'''.
    Then in the reply box at the bottom of this page,
    do a right click in the box and select '''Paste.'''
    This will show us your system details.
    '''No Personal Information Is Collected.'''

  • Is it possible to change zero options in "Secure empty trash"?

    In the "Secure Empty Trash" feature in Tiger, is it possible to change the settings regarding how many times the file being deleted is zeroed out? Can I choose a 1-pass or a 7-pass, etc?

    I don't think the "Finder" itself offers a way to change the number of overwrites performed during a "secure empty trash". Note that "secure empty trash" just calls '/usr/bin/srm', using the '-m' option -- 7 passes, including zeroes, FF, F6 and random according to the 'man' page.
    Depending on what you are after, and being mindful of the different possible paths for items in the "Trash" in OS X, you might be able to use 'srm' directly, using the options of your choice. Though not recommended, if you get into hacking system files, the options probably can also be changed to some extent from there.

  • My secure empty trash keeps stopping and saying 'I do not have permission to trash" I ahve checked the file info and there is no tick in the locked box also the files are from a memroy stick

    My secure empty trash stops and will not let me empty the trash. It says; I do not have access to some of the items. I have clicked continue, but it will not empty them. I have tried looking at the files in the trash box and the file info does not have the "locked box" ticked. Any suggestions please.

    Open Terminal.app(/Applications/Utilities/Terminal) and type
    sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash
    Be careful all of files in the trash are deleted with above command.

  • HT1526 Secure Empty Trash not working

    when I press secure empty trash : the items load up then when I press either of the options (locked or unlocked) it stays on screen for a few seconds then disappears ??

    Hello. Thank you for your help. When I follow your directions using the
    terminal window I get the following message: unable to execute /bin/rm:
    Argument list too long. I have over 100K items in my trash folder. Could
    this be the problem?
    Edward Frebowitz
    615 406 3255
    On Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 9:20 AM, Apple Support Communities Updates <

  • Secure Empty Trash seems to repeat itself

    If I use "Secure Empty Trash..." I may (for example) see that 8 files are being deleted and the Trash is now empty. If I then delete 1 file and repeat the aforementioned process I see that once again 8 files are being deleted. Why would this happen? Thanks.

    Hi,
    That doesn't explain some of my own findings - the numbers don't add up.  In my system, if only the startup disk is mounted and a single file is placed in the Trash, a secure-delete progress window will show four items being deleted.
    Just mounting an additional external volume will add two items to the apparent number of items being secure-deleted for each such volume added, even though no files on the additional volumes are placed in the Trash to begin with.
    Here are the tests I did.
    Start with a text file that is on the DeskTop.
    For each test:
    1) duplicate the text file
    2) move the duplicate copy to the Trash
    3) secure-empty the Trash,
    4) repeat step 1
    5) repeat step 2
    6) repeat step 3
    Steps 1-3 were done to be sure the Trash folders were truly empty before performing the actual test in steps 4-6.
    To be determined:
    In step 6, after that single file has been placed in the startup volume's Trash, how many items does the secure-delete progress window show as being deleted?
    Results:
    In my system, if the test is run with no disk volumes other than the startup disk mounted, the secure-delete progress window shows four items being deleted.
    If I run the test after first mounting a single external volume, then the secure-delete progress window shows six items being deleted.  Again, just one file was in the Trash after step 5, the same as for the first test.
    If I mount a second external volume and repeat the test, again with only a single file in the Trash after step 5, the secure-delete progress window now shows 8 items being deleted.
    If I first mount all 15 of my external partitions and run the same test, again with a single file in the Trash after step 5, the secure-delete progress window shows 34 items being deleted!

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