My Computer will not Delete!


here are several reasons why the Wastepaper Basket, or the 'Trash' if you have an American computer, will not delete something. If you really cannot delete something and the problem is serious, get hold of Wipe Info, part of The Norton Utilities which will wipe anything see below for just how 'anything' this is.
The List:

The file is busy
This is a common enough occurrence, and happens because the file has been loaded into memory by an application. Simply quit the Application and all should be well. (Sometimes, due to a bug in the Finder, simply closing the document does not work). If this still will not work, re-boot, and empty first thing on start-up.
The file is shared
This problem has been known to occur when the file is not actually being shared, but first, check that it is not. Whether it is or not, if you can, simply turn off file sharing and this should allow you to delete it. If it says it is when actually it is not, try selecting Empty Wastebasket/Trash with the option key held down. If this does not work, it is possible that it has actually been deleted already but it is not registering as so. Try 1) Restarting and attempting, and 2) Rebuilding your desktop and doing so. For more help on rebuilding your desktop, click here.
The File is Locked/Busy
Take the file out of the trash, Get Info on it and uncheck the Locked box. If it was already, make sure the file is not open anywhere. Should neither of these work, then follow the two steps above.

You did what I did to it
If you want to make a completely undeletable folder, here is how it can be done. (I can't find any way to delete it from the finder, though there is probably something obvious that I am overlooking). Simply (simply?!?) create a folder on a non-existant directory in the finder and give it more than 32 characters in the name using illegal control code characters, next, create two invisible folders inside that one, one inside it and the other inside the other. Second last, put the folder inside those and create a file and check the shared, name locked, and can't be renamed box. Last reboot and delete it. You will find the folder is (I think) completely undeletable from the finder and why you would want to create it anyway is beyond me. (The finder will come up with it being shared if you have file sharing on, and that you do not have enough privileges if it is off. Stuck.) You would need ResEdit to do this, Yes and Norton's Fast Find.

Practically the only way to get rid of a folder like this is to use Norton's Wipe Info program. If you Do not have The Norton Utilities, or at least temporary access to the Wipe Info Utility, DO NOT TRY THIS!

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