Delete an entire directory of locked files?

[dmfresco]

I accepted a share of a Dropbox folder with ~150K folders and files all locked. I thought it would live in the cloud but it started downloading to my HD. I stoped Dropbox syncing and dragged the folder to the trash but cannot delete it because every file and folder is locked. I can manually unlock each folder but it requires about 30 clicks. Is there a way to block delete this entire folder? I know a bit of unix and could do it in the Terminal if a solution exists. TIA.

 

[MacUser2525]

I accepted a share of a Dropbox folder with ~150K folders and files all locked. I thought it would live in the cloud but it started downloading to my HD. I stoped Dropbox syncing and dragged the folder to the trash but cannot delete it because every file and folder is locked. I can manually unlock each folder but it requires about 30 clicks. Is there a way to block delete this entire folder? I know a bit of unix and could do it in the Terminal if a solution exists. TIA.

Well root should be able to delete them I would think. Open Terminal type in sudo rm -r then drag and drop the directory from the trash to terminal to get the proper path. Hit enter and type in your password which should remove the directory from the system as root user. There is a space after the -r if it does not show up in the posting.

 

[dmfresco]

Thanks. Helpful suggestion, but I am getting prompted to type Y after a bunch of embedded files and its not clear they are getting deleted. Is there a way to block delete files using the terminal?

BTW, the problem might be that the Finder believes they are shared "online" by Dropbox, but the folder is no longer shared with me on Dropbox.

 

[dmfresco]

override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00168.DCM? y


override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00123.DCM? y


override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00111.DCM? y


override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00114.DCM? y


override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00100.DCM? y


override rw-r--r-- david/staff uchg for /Users/david/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/.Trash/04193 pre/7705_04193-20181003/02 + 04193_pre_T1MPRAGE/s000005/04193_04193_20181003_S000005I00170.DCM? y


david@Davids-New-MacBook-Pro ~ % y

Some of the Terminal lines after issuing sudo rm -r

 

[dmfresco]

Thanks for the suggestion. I eventually figured it out using this command:

sudo rm -rf /path/to/my/files

 

[Nermal]

Use -rf instead of -r and, if I recall correctly, it won't prompt you. Be sure to double-check the path before you press Enter!

Edit: You're too quick

 

[dmfresco]

Use -rf instead of -r and, if I recall correctly, it won't prompt you. Be sure to double-check the path before you press Enter!

Edit: You're too quick

This was the answer! Thanks to both of you for leading me in the right direction.

 

[Bandaman]

I use this for batch unlocking large amounts of files and restoring permissions and such: http://lagentesoft.com/batchmod/

 

[MacUser2525]

Use -rf instead of -r and, if I recall correctly, it won't prompt you. Be sure to double-check the path before you press Enter!

Edit: You're too quick

You are correct the f is for force which eliminates the asking of the question if it is needed. The r in it removes every directory and the files contained beneath the one in the command line, for those who do not know that. And yes definitely check the proper path is there or you can run into big trouble with that command.

 

[Daverich4]

You couldn’t just Get Info on the folder and change the Permissions on the folder and the files within it?