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Can't Delete Evil Folder

B

blackbones

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 24, 2003
93
0
Philadelphia
Hello, I'm on an imac running 10.11.5

I have folder that i just cannot delete and it's existence seems to be slowing my computer down. I initially had a dropbox syncing error and when resyncing all my files this one folder was the one file that wouldn't sync so i tried to delete it. When i try to delete from the trash i get an error code -36 ( some data can't be read or written). When the folder is actually in the trash it seems to slow any and all finder actions down.

I have tried to delete from the terminal with "sudo rm -R" the terminal beach balls for about 15 to 20 seconds and then ultimately gives me "input/output error"

I have tried deleting with apps such as cleanmymac and get error no matter what i do.

If i just leave the folder on my desktop it seems to not cause any major issues, however i would just like to get rid of the evil thing if possible.
 
How many items are in the folder? Can you delete one and then empty the Trash successfully?
Maybe this process would help to identify the culprit.
 
Return the folder to the original DB folder. If you haven't already, sign out of DB on each machine linked to the DB account, excepting one. Then try again to delete the "evil folder" from there. Sync.

If still no, try deleting any evidence of it at the DB site. Sync.
 
rshrugged said:
Return the folder to the original DB folder. If you haven't already, sign out of DB on each machine linked to the DB account, excepting one. Then try again to delete the "evil folder" from there. Sync.

If still no, try deleting any evidence of it at the DB site. Sync.
Click to expand...

I believe this is what caused the original problem. If i put it back into dropbox, it syncs the file (I can see it on the dropbox web portal) and i can delete the file from dropbox.com but it will not delete it from my desktop even if i turn dropbox on and off again. At which point dropbox just hangs because I can't handle the file.
 
blackbones said:
I believe this is what caused the original problem. If i put it back into dropbox, it syncs the file (I can see it on the dropbox web portal) and i can delete the file from dropbox.com but it will not delete it from my desktop even if i turn dropbox on and off again. At which point dropbox just hangs because I can't handle the file.
Click to expand...
This most likely has nothing to do with Dropbox as the source of the error. Check your disk for errors.
 
blackbones said:
I believe this is what caused the original problem. If i put it back into dropbox, it syncs the file (I can see it on the dropbox web portal) and i can delete the file from dropbox.com but it will not delete it from my desktop even if i turn dropbox on and off again. At which point dropbox just hangs because I can't handle the file.
Click to expand...
Try what @chrfr suggested at post #4. He has more experience than I, and checking the disk for errors won't harm anything.
 
My suggestion:

- Turn off wifi if you have it on.
- Unplug the ethernet cable if you're using ethernet.
- SHUT DOWN the Mac -- ALL THE WAY OFF
- Now, restart. DO NOT reconnect to the net... yet.
- When you get to the finder, can you delete the folder now?

If so, reconnect to net.

Easy to try.
Does this work?
 
Follow Fisherman's advice, but when you restart, restart in safe mode, holding down the shift key.
 
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