can't delete files - help!

tinhead · 05-05-2003, 04:34 PM

I'm having trouble with a few files that have been sitting on my desktop for awhile...

I think the problem started when I moved the files to a different location while they were in mid-download. Now, the system thinks the files are still 'busy' and I am unable to move / delete them from the desktop!

When I try to drag them to the trash, I get the error message : "The item 'file' is being used by another task right now. (other tasks include copying, emptying trash, etc.etc.) Try again when the task is complete.'

I've tried shutting down & restarting the computer, logging on as 'root', and I'm still unable to get rid of the files! My computer seems to think that the files are still in the middle of another task (probably 'still downloading' since thats when I first tried to move them).

Anybody else ever encounter this problem & know how to get rid of the files?

thanks!

hayne · 05-05-2003, 09:17 PM

The following macosxhints article indicates that the problem is that the type of the files has been set to "bzy ":
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...20920055805577

So you could fix your problem by using a utility program that can change the file type.

Or (perhaps more easily) you can remove the files by using the 'rm' command in a Terminal window. Search these forums and the main macosxhints site for hints on using 'rm' (search for "delete" or "trash").

bobw · 05-06-2003, 12:40 PM

Open the terminal and type:

cd ~/.Trash
<hit return>

sudo rm -rf

put a space after the f and drag the item you want deleted to the terminal so that its path is automatically entered, then press return

give it your admin password and hit return

You can also use third party programs like Cocktail. Search
http://www.versiontracker.com
for it.

gmleeii · 05-07-2003, 12:11 PM

I played with the SetFile and GetFileInfo commands after reading this thread. I took several Textedit files I had and used the SetFile command to make them bzy. I was still able to drag these files to the trash and empty the trash. Oh well. But them I decided to change the file and creator type with SetFile command and then see if I could do a unix copy of the file to another partition and see if it would strip the type and creator codes of the file. So I took another TextEdit file and changed the file type to bzy and then on a whim changed the creator to ttxt. Then I went to the Finder and deleted the rtfd extension from the file (it had mixed text and graphics in the document) and after getting rid of the extension the icon changed to a folder and the folder contained all the graphics as separate tiff files and a txt file that contained all the text intact. I changed the creator type back to several different file types and it would not reassemble the file. It would reassemble however when I changed the file extension back to rtfd. Everything was as it was. So I guess OS X really does use file extensions over creator codes. Oh well. I then used the Unix move command to move the file to another volume and it stripped the type and creator codes that I had assigned. So this too would get rid of the bzy type. But I could never get a bzy file to keep me from deleting it in the Finder. I tried several times with already existing files. I even created a new empty file with the touch command and changed its file type to bzy and it still let me drag it to the trash and empty the trash. An aside though, if the file was downloaded with Internet Explorer, deleting it from the Download Manager window usually allows you to delete these files as well. I do not know if that holds in Safari or other browsers.

hayne · 05-07-2003, 12:29 PM

Quote:


	I took several Textedit files I had and used the SetFile command to make them bzy. I was still able to drag these files to the trash and empty the trash.

The file type is (usually) a 4 character code and the type in question here is "bzy " (with a space after the 'y').

mervTormel · 05-07-2003, 12:32 PM

gmleeii, did you set the file type to

Code:

'bzy' or 'bzy '
             ^

note the space; type and creator codes are required to be four chars long.

i made a file busy and it couldn't go to the trash:

Code:

setfile -t 'bzy ' foo

[edit: clang! bump into hayne]

gmleeii · 05-07-2003, 12:36 PM

Cool I realized that after I posted that codes are 4 characters long. I did try again using a space after the y and was still able to delete the file in the Finder without incident.

gmleeii · 05-07-2003, 12:40 PM

Scratch that. I was using double quotes instead of single. Now I can make it unable to delete. It also gave it a broken stuffit icon in the Finder. Thats kinda cool.

And moving the file in the Terminal to another volume strips the code as expected and I can delete it then in the Finder. I was just curious.

Thanks guys.

dinoz · 05-08-2003, 05:09 PM

Hi! I never thaught I would be writting code again! Thanks again for the various ways you can delete those awkward files. Just found the site, looks like there's great help for a new inexperienced mac user!!

05-05-2003, 04:34 PM	#1
tinhead Prospect Join Date: May 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 3	can't delete files - help! I'm having trouble with a few files that have been sitting on my desktop for awhile... I think the problem started when I moved the files to a different location while they were in mid-download. Now, the system thinks the files are still 'busy' and I am unable to move / delete them from the desktop! When I try to drag them to the trash, I get the error message : "The item 'file' is being used by another task right now. (other tasks include copying, emptying trash, etc.etc.) Try again when the task is complete.' I've tried shutting down & restarting the computer, logging on as 'root', and I'm still unable to get rid of the files! My computer seems to think that the files are still in the middle of another task (probably 'still downloading' since thats when I first tried to move them). Anybody else ever encounter this problem & know how to get rid of the files? thanks! __________________ tinhead : online

05-05-2003, 09:17 PM	#2
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 32,473	file type is "bzy " The following macosxhints article indicates that the problem is that the type of the files has been set to "bzy ": http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...20920055805577 So you could fix your problem by using a utility program that can change the file type. Or (perhaps more easily) you can remove the files by using the 'rm' command in a Terminal window. Search these forums and the main macosxhints site for hints on using 'rm' (search for "delete" or "trash").

05-07-2003, 12:32 PM	#6
mervTormel League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,536	gmleeii, did you set the file type to Code: 'bzy' or 'bzy ' ^ note the space; type and creator codes are required to be four chars long. i made a file busy and it couldn't go to the trash: Code: setfile -t 'bzy ' foo [edit: clang! bump into hayne] __________________ On a clear disk, you can seek forever.

05-07-2003, 12:40 PM	#8
gmleeii Triple-A Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 228	Scratch that. I was using double quotes instead of single. Now I can make it unable to delete. It also gave it a broken stuffit icon in the Finder. Thats kinda cool. And moving the file in the Terminal to another volume strips the code as expected and I can delete it then in the Finder. I was just curious. Thanks guys. Last edited by gmleeii; 05-07-2003 at 12:45 PM.

05-08-2003, 05:09 PM	#9
dinoz Prospect Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ward Posts: 1	Thanks a lot! Great site Hi! I never thaught I would be writting code again! Thanks again for the various ways you can delete those awkward files. Just found the site, looks like there's great help for a new inexperienced mac user!!

05-06-2003, 12:40 PM	#3
bobw Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Phila, PA Posts: 366	Open the terminal and type: cd ~/.Trash <hit return> sudo rm -rf put a space after the f and drag the item you want deleted to the terminal so that its path is automatically entered, then press return give it your admin password and hit return You can also use third party programs like Cocktail. Search http://www.versiontracker.com for it.

05-07-2003, 12:11 PM	#4
gmleeii Triple-A Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 228	I played with the SetFile and GetFileInfo commands after reading this thread. I took several Textedit files I had and used the SetFile command to make them bzy. I was still able to drag these files to the trash and empty the trash. Oh well. But them I decided to change the file and creator type with SetFile command and then see if I could do a unix copy of the file to another partition and see if it would strip the type and creator codes of the file. So I took another TextEdit file and changed the file type to bzy and then on a whim changed the creator to ttxt. Then I went to the Finder and deleted the rtfd extension from the file (it had mixed text and graphics in the document) and after getting rid of the extension the icon changed to a folder and the folder contained all the graphics as separate tiff files and a txt file that contained all the text intact. I changed the creator type back to several different file types and it would not reassemble the file. It would reassemble however when I changed the file extension back to rtfd. Everything was as it was. So I guess OS X really does use file extensions over creator codes. Oh well. I then used the Unix move command to move the file to another volume and it stripped the type and creator codes that I had assigned. So this too would get rid of the bzy type. But I could never get a bzy file to keep me from deleting it in the Finder. I tried several times with already existing files. I even created a new empty file with the touch command and changed its file type to bzy and it still let me drag it to the trash and empty the trash. An aside though, if the file was downloaded with Internet Explorer, deleting it from the Download Manager window usually allows you to delete these files as well. I do not know if that holds in Safari or other browsers.

05-07-2003, 12:36 PM	#7
gmleeii Triple-A Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 228	Cool I realized that after I posted that codes are 4 characters long. I did try again using a space after the y and was still able to delete the file in the Finder without incident.