After clicking empty trash securely, it still leaves 4,492 items and the following message:

The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in "501" could not be read or written. (Error code -36) Then it has the Stop/Continue buttons.

When I look in the Trash there are numerous files like the following:

Name: ŸDÍå2çF½.è*¼,Date Modified:Dec 31,1903 6:00 PM, Date Created: Dec 31, 1903 6:00 PM, Size:ZeroKB, Kind:Alias
I have tried MacHelpMate, SuperEmptyTrash,MacPilot.....

Error -36 sounds bad. See the description here. If I were you, I would ascertain SMART status with Disk Utility (instructions here) and run a surface scan with TechTool Pro or Drive Genius to see if the drive has developed bad blocks.

Hello, tonyg7.

If you do not currently own a version of TechTool Pro or Drive Genius which is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5.x, you might try following the diagnostic steps developed by Virtual1. See: How to check a hard disk for I/O errors.

Keep us posted on how it goes for you.

Welcome to MacFixIt Forums,
dianne.

In addition to Dianne's excellent advice, it would be prudent to back up all your important files ASAP, just in case. Actually, a backup strategy should be part of every computer user's arsenal.

I tried and this is what I got:

Last login: Thu Jul 2 23:15:16 on ttys000
tony-geraghtys-imac:~ vettony$ clear;echo;echo "Enter your admin password to allow direct access to your hard drive.";echo;echo "(your password will not be shown as you type)";echo;sudo -k;r=1;while [ $r != 0 ];do sudo -v;r=$?;done;clear;echo "Password accepted.";echo;if [ "$(echo "$(diskutil list | grep "/dev/disk")" | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" == 1 ];then d="/dev/disk0";echo "(automatically selecting only attached hard drive)";else echo "Select number of device to scan:";select d in $(diskutil list | grep "/dev/disk" | cut -d '/' -f 3);do if ! [ -z "$d" ] ; then d="/dev/$d";break;fi;done;fi;passmb=10;passb=$((1024*1024*passmb));testmb=$((testmb));clear;echo;echo "Quick read-scanning $d:";echo;echo "(if the progress indicator stops responding, the drive is bad)";echo;while true;do echo -n "Test at ${testmb}MB ... ";start=$SECONDS;r=$(sudo dd if=$d of=/dev/null bs=1048576 count=$passmb iseek=$testmb 2>&1 | grep "bytes");time=$((SECONDS-start));if [ -z "$(echo "$r" | grep "$passb")" ];then echo "END OF DEVICE";echo;echo "If your hard drive capacity is rated $((testmb/953))GB, then it looks ok.";exit;elif [ $time -gt 10 ];then echo "SLOW READ";exit;else echo -n $'\r';fi;testmb=$((testmb+passmb));done








Enter your admin password to allow direct access to your hard drive.

(your password will not be shown as you type)

Password:


















Password accepted.

Select number of device to scan:
1) disk0
2) disk1
3) disk2
4) disk3
5) disk4
6) disk5
7) disk6
#? disc1
#?

> I have tried MacHelpMate, SuperEmptyTrash,MacPilot.....

I'm not familiar with the functionality of those apps, so I'll ask whether you've tried depressing your Mac's alt/option key when you try to empty your trash?

Also, and this is just out of curiosity, precisely what are you trying to delete?

I ask because "501" sounds suspiciously like something that should not be deleted.

tonyg7,

I might be misunderstanding your post so you will need to correct me.

I am not clear if you are reporting that the -- How to check a hard disk for I/O errors -- is stuck at

Will the diagnostic run if you enter 1 after
#?
instead of
#? disc1

dianne.

In English, "Select number of device to scan" means "type in the number that you see next to the disk you want to scan." If you want to scan disk5, do not type "disk5", type the number "6".

IF you are absolutely sure that you wish to delete the "501" files, iShred may do the trick for you.

Note: This app will NOT shred what is in the Trash Bin. However, as a workaround, you can create a new folder on your desktop; then, highlight and drag the "501" items (and whatever else) from the Trash to the New Folder. Finally, use iShred to delete the contents of the New Folder.

http://www.freemacware.com/ishred-and-ishred-express