TITLE
    Mac OS X 10.0 : About Trash, Deleting Locked Files
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		106272
4/10/01
4/13/01
TOPIC

    Mac OS X includes changes to viewing Trash contents and deleting locked files.

DISCUSSION

    Viewing contents of the Trash

    As in previous versions of the Mac OS, you drag items to the Trash to delete them. But in Mac OS X, each user has a separate, invisible Trash folder that is in her Home Directory. When you view contents of the Trash, you see only items you placed there and not the Trash folder of other users.

    Deleting files
      1. Drag an item's icon to the Trash (in the Dock instead of on the desktop).
      2. Choose Empty Trash from the Special menu.

    If you change your mind about deleting the item before you choose Empty Trash:
      1. Click the Trash icon in the dock.
      2. Drag the item out of the Trash.

    Deleting locked files

    In previous versions of Mac OS, you could hold the Option key while emptying the Trash to delete locked files. This is not a feature of Mac OS X.

    If you are unable to delete an item because it is locked:
      1. Select the item.
      2. Choose the Show Info command from the File menu.
      3. Click Locked to deselect that option.
      4. If you have multiple affected items, leave the Show Info window open and repeat steps 1 and 3 for each additional item.
      5. Choose Empty Trash from the Finder menu.

    If the item still cannot be deleted, try creating a new folder and placing the item in it. Drag the folder to the Trash and empty the Trash. If you still cannot delete the item, start up your computer from the Mac OS X CD-ROM and choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu of the first screen. Use Disk Utility to verify and, if necessary, repair your disk.

    Note: When started up from CD, do not click Continue. Disk Utility is only available in the first screen. If you click Continue, restart the computer from the CD.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: Mac OS X
Sub Category: General Topics

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