Noob Question for sure - Mac Harddrives

.jr

.jr

Active member
Alright I feel like I should be slapped for making this thread, but when I have a hard drive, how do I completely delete individual files? When I right click, the only options I get are move to trash, but that doesn't delete the data off the disk.. just the viewable folder.

Im hoping this is just some easy step that Ive missed, because I would really like to delete indiviual files with out having to reformat.

Also, easiest way to move all data from one external to another?
 
ok you gotta move it to the trash then mouse over the trash bin in the right bottom corner of the screen and press ctrl + click the mouse button and select empty trash.
Or click on the trash icon and do this:

1250744035Picture_1.png

 
More specifically, what if something got moved to the trash on another computer, but the trash wasnt emptied..? Do I have any options?
 
i know you hate me, but on my mac, once its moved to the trash, i can still open it. the only time it completely gets deleted off my mac, is when i empty the trash.
 
you take the internet too personal kid.. but that didnt answer what I asked, just repeated what someone else said..
 
i just did answer it. you can drag it out of the trash to another folder, or to the desktop and it's fine. you just can't open it while it's in the trash bin.
 
No, no you didnt.

Im not trying to restore files I moved to the trash, Im trying to empty

my harddrive. If I move something from my harddrive to the trash on

computer 1, but dont delete the trash, and I am now on computer 2, is

there a way I can delete the data off the harddrive with out formatting

the hard drive.
 
See the reason you're not getting the answers you want, is because you are making 0 sense. I could help you here if your post made any sense.

You're talking about an external hard drive, right? Otherwise you've lost me even more.

To empty your hard drive you select everything on it, and click DELETE or MOVE TO TRASH or whatever. Once it's in the trash, you empty the trash, and wah lah. It's gone. Unless you have some other objective, this is what you should do.

If this isn't the answer you're looking for, then no, there is no other way to delete everything off your hard drive without reformatting it. Sorry.

 
I just dont know how I can say this any clearer.

I am using an external hard drive. I am also using two computers. I plug the external into computer one, drag a folder to the trash, but do not delete the trash, and then eject the hard drive and leave. I am now using a different computer but same external, this hard drive still has the data on it, but no file names. Is there anyway I can delete the data (while keeping selected folders) with out having to go back to computer one?
 
Ah, see that was clearer. I have no idea now. That seems like your external is malfunctioning, once you delete something, it should be off the hard drive for good. I have no idea how to fix that, sorry man.
 
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