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Can't Empty Trash

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Joined
May 20, 2015
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87
Motherboard
GA H97M-D3H
CPU
i7-4790K
Graphics
740
Mac
  1. Mac Pro
I can't empty the trash because it has a folder it won't delete.

Error:

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “sLMAbaLByfdHGLW” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)

(sLMAbaLByfdHGLW is the name of the folder I can't delete. Weirdly, the name keeps changing on its own to different gibberish. I didn't rename. After several attempts, the folder name changes by itself in the Trash bin.)

When I put the folder on the desktop, Trash is empty. But when I put back in the Trash, I can't empty trash.

I've tried the following:

Secure Empty Trash

Rename the folder

Shutdown/Restart

Terminal (tried all the following commands):

rm -f ~/.Trash/*
Result:
rm: /Users/angel/.Trash/sLMAbaLByfdHGLW: is a directory
(But Trash won't empty)

With the folder on the desktop, typed on Terminal:

sudo rm -rf (space plus dragged in folder for path)
Result:
rm: /Users/angel/Desktop/sLMAbaLByfdHGLW: Input/output error

sudo rm -ri ~/.Trash
Result:
examine files in directory /Users/angel/.Trash?
(But nothing happens.)

I've read that something I should try is boot up in recovery mode and try the Terminal command: sudo rm -rf . How do I boot up in recovery mode on a build?

Please help. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Had the same issue but followed your last suggestion. It worked :)
 
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