SYMPTOMS

You are unable to delete a folder after you drag it into the Trash and choose Empty Trash from the Special Menu.

CAUSE

This problem often occurs if the Finder loses track of how many files the folder contains.

MORE INFORMATION

The following information provides several methods for removing a folder that cannot be deleted from the Trash.

Keyboard Shortcut

Drag the folder into the Trash while holding down the COMMAND+OPTION key combination, then choose Empty Trash from the Special menu.

Replace the Folder with a Like-Named Folder

1. Create a new folder with the same name as the problem folder.
2. Drag the new folder into the folder that contains the problem folder.
3. When the Macintosh asks if you want to replace the problem folder with the one that you are moving, choose OK.
4. Try to delete the folder using the Trash.

1. Put a few unnecessary files in the problem folder.
2. Drag those files from the folder into the Trash.
3. From the Special menu, choose Empty Trash.
4. Try to remove the problem folder using the Trash.

Run the Disk First Aid utility to scan the disk on which the problem folder is located. (Disk First Aid is on the Disk Tools disk, which is one of the System disks that ships with each Macintosh.) To remove folders with Disk First Aid:

1. Restart the Macintosh with the Disk Tools disk.
2. Start Disk First Aid. Choose the Drive button and select the drive that contains the problem folder. Choose the Open button.
3. From the Options menu, choose Repair Automatically.
4. Choose the Start button to perform the repair.
5. When the "Finished. Repair completed" message appears, choose Quit from the File menu.

Use a utility such as ResEdit, MacTools, or DiskTop, to confirm that the folder is empty. The folder may contain invisible files that you cannot normally see.