Uh oh! Disc space full, can't empty trash because I don't have privileges

AND...I can't print or save anything from iWork. Yikes yikes yikes.
Thanking in advance for help

Hi bdtphd, and a warm welcome to the forums!
Are you using Filevault perchance?
Filevault- "There isn't enough space on your hard disk..." alert ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1974
Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4: FileVault - How to verify or repair a home directory image ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2631?viewlocale=en_US
This will give you a bit more space, not much, but maybe enough to work with...
Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), it will try to repair your Disk Directory while the spinning radian is happening, so let it go, run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, then do a Get Info in the Finder on some big file(s) you can afford to trash, then unlock the Lock at the bottom, change Permissions so you can Trash them, Empty the Trash while holding the Option Key down.
Where aiming for 20+% or 10+ GB whichever is more for free space.
When you get a little elbow room...
How much free space is on the HD, where has all the space gone?
OmniDiskSweeper is now free, and likely the best/easiest...
http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnidisksweeper/

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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
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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.
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Always use the same websites you are having problems with so you can monitor the changes.
Try the reset for Safari:
And for Firefox:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6874158_keyboard-working-certain-websites-firefox.html
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When you setup the Mac, you created a Admin user account with say name X
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Hey guys,
trying to open a folder on my harddrive full of photos but it comes up with "can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents."
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cheeeeers

Hey elmsy,
Here is an article with some helpful information about troubleshooting permissions issues in OS X:
Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2963
Thanks for coming to the Apple Support Communities!
Cheers,
Braden

The folder "iPhoto Library backup 1/2007" can't be opened because you don't have permission to see its contents.

When I try to view my iPhoto backup I get the error: "The folder “iPhoto Library backup 1/2007” can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents."
I tried opening the Get Info box and changing my access from no access to read only, authenticated with current and old admin passwords but access does not change.
Help!

In that case reset the ownership and permissions on the iPhoto Library as follows:
1 - download and launch BatChmod .
2 - drag the iPhoto Library into the BatChmod window.
3 - set the ownership and privileges settings to that shown in this screenshot:
Click to view full size
4 - launch iPhoto and see if that helped.
OT

Trying to reload firefox and getting this message, when moving to the applications folder: "The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items."

Been having problems with Firefox/internet for several days, and all my updates seemed current. I decided to try to reload and have removed the other icons/download attempts from the app file. When I try to drag the icon into apps, I now get this message:
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* Download a new copy of the Firefox program: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/all.html
* Trash the current Firefox application to do a clean (re)install.
* Install the new version that you have downloaded.
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The operation can't be completed because you don't have the necessary permission.

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First of all why are all the files I create "Read only" for "staff" and "everyone" in first place?
Is the problem with my computer or with hers?
Is there a way for her to overide the permissions so I dont have to spend days or weeks going through every file I have created on my Mac?
Here is a screeen shot of one file:
Here is a Screen shot of the Folder on her MacMini that I drop files into:

She needs to connect to the file server with your name and password. Then she'll have the same access you have. I assume that's what you want.

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This is a strange one... I just recently did a complete format/reinstall of Lion because of very poor performance after upgrading.
So I'm on a totally fresh system, no TimeMachine restore or anything. I've installed all my apps from scratch - no prefrence file backups or anything. Everything is fresh.
Yesterday I tried to copy a file from one folder to another and I got the error "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items". Checked file permissions... repaired disk permissions... made sure I was logged in as admin (I only have one account)... everything looks good.
This is now happening when trying to copy any files anywhere on my machine... Very frustrating.
There's a couple strange side-effects I've noticed:
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jsd2 wrote:
Try creating a new admin user account, logging into it, and then creating some new items on the Desktop and elsewhere. Does the same thing happen there?
Ok the strangeness continues!
I created a new "TestAdmin" account, but it doesn't show up in the Users & Groups prefrences sidebar... The /Users/testadmin folder was created, but the account doesn't show up in the prefrences or login window...
I tried a reboot to see if the account would show up and it still doesnt.... However after the reboot I am now able to copy files again!
I'm paranoid that the problem will show up again since I have no idea what fixed it. I tried rebooting previously after repairing permissions which didn't solve the issue so it's not like I haven't rebooted since it started.
And now I have the issue of not being able to create user accounts.
A little dissapointed with Lion to be honest... the new features are cool but there are so many little bugs it really feels half-baked.

Can't save multiple folders to external drive. Get: "The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items." when dragging large folders to mac os extended journalled external drive from OS 10.6.8

Hi
I am feeling VERY desperate!
After losing an external drive [dont ask....] -   I got another one : 2TB WD formatted properly [ OS extended journalled for mac ] ready for action to move my thousands of files and images and ppts in hundreds of folders across from the laptop to this drive because I travel a bit with the laptop and this is too risky not to back up at home.
But this message came up after starting on moving folders across [** and not straight away, sometimes after moving a folder when 4 of 6 gb of files across then the message comes up = very frustrating]:
"The operation can’t be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items."
I am dragging mixed sometimes large complex folders to this os extended journalled external drive from my mac book pro OS 10.6.8 - it would take decades to move items one by one or even folder by folder and really confusing.
I have dragged-copied various small folders and files across successfully, but it is only working 50:50 and I can't leave machine with the idea of things copying eg: overnight - it just won't work....
I have been browsing google and find some people describing in CODE how they overcome this 'message'   .... but I [and I guess some other viewers of this in future & also in desperation] would need instructions for beginners.... to try this type of thing. I don't know any code.
How can this be happening - I feel ANGRY at APPLE !!!! for not posting easy fix instructions yet re; this, or better still updating software so it doesn't happen [ that I can find at least !!! ] .   There seem to be hundreds of people stuck with this stupid message and inability to back up their projects etc.
Can anyone help ?
Many thanks
Julie
15 August 2011

hi Samberl
thanks a lot for the fast reply.
I was dragging folders from main folders on the laptop-desktop onto the external drive icon - to copy them across....
Your suggestion sounds very promising - I didn't know about 'cloning'.
Yes the idea is to backup the laptop -    I thought I would just move it all now, new - and then keep saving/dragging physically   across to the new drive myself each day or two...
Would this be the sizeof the internal hard drive = c.500 gb ?   =   under the HD icon on desktop is written :
" 499.76gb , 311.5 gb free "
I can erase and start agin on the new external drive - so this plan is to make two partititions, rather than the one at present, and make one of them 500 gb ?
I have found CCC [carbon copy cloner] googling - looks good.
When CCC site says it backs up the hard drive - would this mean all my files [over 100 gb] that are mostly in folders on the desktop, plus the others in itunes, iphotos etc found in the HD icon, would all copy across successfully [wherever they are in the computer ] ?
thanks again, hope you can clarify these things and then I will go for it.
It would be great and amazing if this 'lack of permission' message doesn't show up in the process of doing this ccc transfer - hopeful!
Julie

Uh oh! Disc space full, can't empty trash because I don't have privileges

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