error message problems

[gr/cbs]

I recieved the following message aflter trying to delete a group of picture files with 0 kb "some of the items you are moving are in use by another application. Moving the items can cause problems with the application using them. Are you sure you want to continue?" The files are DFSC files. Theu cannot be opened. When I try I get the following message "DSFCnnnn.JPG is used by MAC OS X and cannot be opened". These files are located on my external drive. I would appreciate help in figuring out how to get rid of them without causing any problems.

thanks. My first time on line

[Phil St. Romain]

Try something simple like logging out and logging back in and then see if the problem persists.

(How do you have a "group of picture files with 0 KB? )

[psychomuse]

Same error message, details:

01. Tried to add ONE picture to iWeb.
02. Whole roll was selected in iPhoto.
03. Nearly added 900+ pictures to iWeb.
04. Moved iWeb window somehow.
05. 900+ pictures ended up in neat pile on desktop.
06. Attempts to delete pictures off desktop yielded error message below.
07. Have shut down completely several times since.
08. Continue to have error message:

"Some of the items you are moving are in use by another application. Moving the items can cause problems with the application using them. Are you sure you want to move these items?" (stop/continue)

Otherwise the system is fine, and eventually I'll manage to click "continue" enough to get rid of all of them, but... whatever...

~psych

[hayne]

In case your problem is related to the fact that the photo files are on the Desktop (which is treated specially by OS X), you should have a look at this recent thread where someone had a problem after accidentally dumping thousands of files onto the Desktop. The solution explained there would perhaps work for you as well:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?p=329692

The relevant command (mentioned in that other thread) is:

sudo mv /Users/your_username_here/Desktop /Users/your_username_here/LotsOfStuffHere

In your case, you seem to be able to use your user account, so no need to log in as a different user. Just open a Terminal window ("Terminal" is under /Applications/Utilities) and then enter the above command, making the obvious substitutions.
You shouldn't need the 'sudo' in your case, so you could omit that and you won't even be asked for a password.

[sergenian]

I was consigned to a Friday night of pressing continue literally 10,000 times. Thank you you genius!

[vortex0007]

Thank you for the great info.

My father the non-techie has done this for a second time and ended up with over 200,000 files on the desktop. I end up getting a call to help with no idea that this is what he's done.

Is there any way to stop a user from doing this to himself on accident? Some kind of warning before doing this - a script to run to clean it up automatically - anything?

[woodyblue]

I'm new to this forum - impressive, helpful information!
My problem is similar to the one above. As a newer mac user, I clumsily moved about 5,000 images from an external hardvdrive to the desktop on my mac 10.5.8. I tried to stop the move, ended up with many files with no data, and now cannot delete. Message say the files are in use by another application or I can delete one at a tedious time.

I tired using the command above in the terminal, but with no success. On one attempt when asked for my password, it would not enter as typed. I was also unsure about entering dashs or underscores, or if the command may need to be updated as this post was somewhat dated.

Any help and suggestions would be much appreciated!

[ganbustein]

Quote: Originally Posted by woodyblue I tired using the command above in the terminal, but with no success. On one attempt when asked for my password, it would not enter as typed. I was also unsure about entering dashs or underscores, or if the command may need to be updated as this post was somewhat dated.

When you use the sudo command, it prompts for your password, which you need to type blind. Nothing gets echoed back to the screen as you type. This is by design, to protect you from someone watching over your shoulder as you type.

Special characters (dashes, underscores, spaces, etc.) in your password do not need special handling; just type them normally.

To use sudo, you do need to be logged in as an admin user, at least within this Terminal session, and you do have to have a non-empty password. (There are ways around the first requirement, but IMHO they involve poking unnecessary holes through your security.)

[hayne]

Quote: Originally Posted by woodyblue I was also unsure about entering dashs or underscores, or if the command may need to be updated

Your above mention of underscores makes me think that you were considering entering the command of post #4 exactly as written.
Entering it exactly as written won't work - it was intended to indicate that you need to use your own username in certain places. For example, instead of "/Users/your_username_here/Desktop", you would use your actual username in place of "your_username_here".