Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Cannot delete locked .mp3 from desktop

Minted - Jan 16, 2008 - 2:25 pm

Help, I have copied an mp3 from one of the servers at work to my G5 PowerBook (OSX 0.4.11). The ruddy thing is sitting on my desktop and is locked - I am listed as the owner with read & write permission in the 'Get Info' dialogue box, but am unable to delete or even drag it to Trash ... any ideas on how to get rid of the damn thing would be great - thanks in advance! M

tubajensen - Jan 16, 2008 - 5:13 pm

Is the "Locked" box under "General:" in the info window of the mp3 file checked? If so, try unchecking it and then see if you can trash it.

Allan

- Jan 17, 2008 - 2:39 am

Thanks for the speedy response - unfortunately the general locked box is both checked and greyed out, I've already tried that. Any other ideas?

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 3:32 am

Try this:

Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder in Applications. Type

rm -fPr /Users/your_user_name/Desktop/name_of_the_mp3_file

and hit return. That should take care of your problem. Be careful typing commands in the Terminal. If you mistype you might loose important data.

Allan

- Jan 17, 2008 - 4:42 am

Thanks for the speedy response - unfortunately the general locked box is both checked and greyed out, I've already tried that. Any other ideas?

- Jan 17, 2008 - 4:46 am

Sorry Allan, refreshed the page by mistake - I have tried that now, but still to no avail -

I get a dialogue box telling me the file is in use by another application, but NO applications are running (other than Firefox) - at this stage, I can either stop or continue, continue then comes up with operation cannot be completed because the item is locked ...

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 7:31 am

If you are sure it is your file, you could type this command in Terminal instead:

sudo rm -fPr /Users/your_user_name/Desktop/name_of_the_mp3_file

again, hit return but this time you will have to enter your password and press the return key once again. I'm not sure the sudo command will help. It could be a problem that the file is used by another application. If so, try and find out which application.

Get back to me if this still doesn't help.

Allan

Minted - Jan 17, 2008 - 8:04 am

Ok, starting to get a tad frustrated now! In Terminal, I have tried with and without the underscores in the file name, with nd without the extension (.mp3), with and without the space after '-fPr' but was only asked for my password once - but still no joy ...

You mentioned finding out which application was using it - how do I do that?

Is there a way I can simply unlock it and then delete it as normal?

Thanks again for all your help Allan, cheeres, M

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 9:28 am

The underscores are just to be able to talk about your username/file of which I don't know the exact names. These are never used in the command (unless of course the username or file really has these included in the name).

Here is an example. If your username is ted and the file you want to get rid of is called mint.mp3 you would type into Terminal:

rm -fPr /Users/ted/Desktop/mint.mp3

and then press the return key.

Or, as in the later response:

sudo rm -fPr /Users/ted/Desktop/mint.mp3

and hit return. Enter password and hit return again.

The above commands assume that the file is on your desktop.

Allan

Minted - Jan 17, 2008 - 10:21 am

Thanks for being so clear in your last response - have now tried both of those commands, but nothing happens, not even a password request ...

Anything else you can think of - sorry if I'm being thick!

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 10:55 am

Just read this in a discussions forum. Try the get info thing again. Is the "Stationary Pad" box under "General:" checked? If so uncheck it and now try deleting the file.

Here's a interesting article on the subject of deleting files:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106272

By the way what exactly is the name of your file?

Allan

Minted - Jan 17, 2008 - 12:20 pm

Hi again Allan, thanks for the article - still no further though ...

The details for the file are as follows:

Appearance: Normal iTunes icon, with small padlock in bottom left corner
File name: 01 - D'you Know What I Mean.mp3
Kind: MP3
Size: zero KB
Where: /Users/Min/Desktop
Stationery Pad: Unchecked (greyed out)
Locked: Checked (greyed out)
Opens with: iTunes.app
Ownership: Min - Read & Write

Hope this info helps!

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 1:13 pm

Hi again.

Maybe this command in Terminal will finally do the job:

rm -fPr /Users/Min/Desktop/"01 - D'you Know What I Mean.mp3"

(don't forget the quotations at each end of the song name). Then press the return key on your keyboard.

To explain the use of quotation marks:

if you omit these, the rm command (rm means: remove) thinks you want to remove the six files named:

01
D'you
Know
What
I
Mean.mp3

Good luck,
Allan

Minted - Jan 17, 2008 - 1:31 pm

Ok, tried that and got operation not permitted - have had enough for today (and I'm sure you have too!) Going up the pub, I'll try again tomorrow - have a nice night and thanks again! M

tubajensen - Jan 17, 2008 - 1:40 pm

Well then cheers ;-)

It's a good sign though - operation not permitted. Usually this can be overridden by using the sudo command at the beginning:

Type in Terminal:

sudo rm -fPr /Users/Min/Desktop/"01 - D'you Know What I Mean.mp3"

hit return. Enter password and hit return once again.

Allan.

Minted - Jan 18, 2008 - 2:36 am

Allan, that last one did the trick, oh to have your knowledge! You are an absolute star - thank you so much for all your help. I know where to come next time I do something stupid!!
Many thanks again, M :-)