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About Jeff Greenberg
Expertise
I can comfortably answer most basic/advanced questions regarding Macintosh hardware and software - nowadays only OSX. In fact, if it's prior to 10.3, there's a good chance I'll reject your question. Forget OS9 stuff - Igave up OS 9 ten years ago). Please do not ask me about OS9. My particular specialties are in Video editing/DVD authoring. I am a certified trainer in the "pro apps" (Final Cut, DVDSP, Soundtrack, Motion). I have been using Macs since 1985.

Experience
I'm an Apple Cert. Trainer for FCP, DVD SP, since the inception of this program. I've was
certified as an Apple Cert. Technician back in 1989.

Publications
Videography, Macworld, Tibits

Education/Credentials
BA film- Penn State. Certifications from Apple, Adobe and Avid for training.

You are here: Experts > Computing/Technology > Focus on Mac Support > Macintosh OS > TRASH PROBLEM

Macintosh OS - TRASH PROBLEM

Expert: Jeff Greenberg - 10/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: Jeff:
is it possible to have a file, folder, or other digital item,
on your desktop,which CANNOT be processed by the trash "?

I have the current osx tiger on a mac mini.
I have an icon on my desktop, which I copied from a cd. It is
apparently an icon to an old OS 8 application.

This application is not installed on my computer.
However, the trash cannot process the item,
error message reads " MacDraft cannot be trashed because it it " LOCKED "
It cannot be possible that an item is UNERASABLE.
In OS 8, we hold down the option key and anything gets trashed.
I need help with this mystery.

IMAGE: TRASH PROBLEM .jpg

ANSWER: Jim,

MacDraft is locked. And it's permissions may be 'off.'

Step one. Unlock it. Then try to Opt-empty trash.

If that doesn't work?

Download Onyx (the appropriate version for your version of OSX from here - http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english.html )

Onyx has a force empty trash option.

Let me know if you need further help.

Best,

Jeff G

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jeff
Onyx worked perfectly to erase the unwanted item.
Thanks for tuning me into this application.

I used Norton to clean up my drive in OS 8.
What maintenance app and procedure would you
recommend with OSX TIGER ?
Does OSX get fragmented drives like those scssi drives ?
I really don't understand the difference between those drives and the current ones, and the manual with mac mini is very vague on most things.
Written for novice users I think.

Thanks for your help,
and all feedback is much appreciated.

Answer
Jim,

OSX is a much more modern OS than OS 8 (you're talking greater than a decade. A decade prior to OS 8 was almost OS 1 - the original Mac OS....I say this so you can get an idea how far we've come.

Onyx actually does most of the monthly maintenance I'd suggest (under it's automation pane.)

OSX doesn't become defragmented the way prior OS has - it uses a technology called Hot File Adaptive Clustering - where small files are written into a temporary area and written into a more permanent when they reach a certain size.

By the way - It's not the drives, its the filing system that's changed. You can actually buy a SCSI connector and SCSI Drives (firewire and USB are better) and the same process 'just works.'

IT's more of a connection (SCSI, FireWire and USB) more than a 'type.'
USB seems to be the cheapest
FireWire is a bit more reliable.
SCSI is pretty much over (although a variation of it is being used in some high speed needs...but it's pretty much done.)

Hope that helps,

Best,

JG

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