empty trash

stathisx · #1 25th May 2005, 08:46 PM

i have filled my trash with a lot of garbage.the problem is that there are too many files there in many subfolders and i have to be root to erase them.i can't erase one file at a time because it is so annoying for all these files.is there any way to locate where all these files are located and finaly lead them to /dev/null?

bytesniper · #2 25th May 2005, 08:53 PM

not sure what desktop your using (or if its even different between kde and gnome, etc) but try looking in:

~/.local/share/Trash

there will be 2 subdirs called files and info that need to stay.

simoj · #3 25th May 2005, 10:05 PM

In my system they seem to be in ~/.Trash and there doesn't seem to be any extra files that need to stay

***Firewing1*** · #4 25th May 2005, 10:37 PM

Hey I do this when it gives me that error message: Just open up a terminal and type the following commands:
su
This will ask you for a password. Enter the root password
cd /home/myusername
rm -drf ./*
exit
exit
Just replace myuser with your real username. This will effectively remove all files in your trash.
Firewing1

bytesniper · #5 26th May 2005, 12:02 AM

rm -drf ./*

kind of a dangerous command to issue in ones home directory? that will remove every non hidden directory and file from the current directory on down, especially since the trash is going to be in a .hidden directory somewhere in his home.

jtang613 · #6 26th May 2005, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewing1

Hey I do this when it gives me that error message: Just open up a terminal and type the following commands:
su
This will ask you for a password. Enter the root password
cd /home/myusername
rm -drf ./*
exit
exit
Just replace myuser with your real username. This will effectively remove all files in your trash.
Firewing1

The above is an honest mistake I'm sure - but very BAD ADVICE nonetheless

Same as above, except change to the ~/.Trash directory and delete all files in it.
Open a terminal:

Code:

su
cd ~/.Trash
rm -rf
exit
exit

hth,
Jason

Daniyl · #7 26th May 2005, 01:00 AM

While we are on the subject... is it safe to delete EVERYTHING in my /Tmp folder? It's only a temp folder right?

jtang613 · #8 26th May 2005, 01:08 AM

Yes and No... That's kinda a grey area.

You probably can without any ill effects, but if you do, it's probably wise to reboot after you do it.

Jason

Daniyl · #9 26th May 2005, 01:12 AM

I hate grey areas.

gavinw6662 · #10 26th May 2005, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniyl

I hate grey areas.

Always with Linux buddy, always. To tell you the truth, the other day, I issued a command on my mail server, and guess what, bye bye went all my mail for that user. Sad thing, it was thursday, and I back up on the weekends, so I lost about 5 days worth of e-mails, not too bad. But grey area, issued a command much like the one suggested above, so be careful, never rm -f, never!!

***Firewing1*** · #11 26th May 2005, 11:50 PM

Hey,
Yes, i know it's dangerous... But that's why I say to cd to .Trash, then do rm -drf ./*. Nothing bad can happen, as ur in the Trash directory and I included a ./ part to it, so it's only files and subfolders of ~/.trash/ that get deleted...
Firewing1

jtang613 · #12 27th May 2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firewing1

Hey,
Yes, i know it's dangerous... But that's why I say to cd to .Trash, then do rpm -drf ./*. Nothing bad can happen, as ur in the Trash directory and I included a ./ part to it, so it's only files and subfolders of ~/.trash/ that get deleted...
Firewing1

The only problem is that is not what you said. Even in your followup - these sort of typos are potentially disasterous for someone less familiar with Linux than us. Gotta preview before you post

Jason

***Firewing1*** · #13 28th May 2005, 02:41 PM

Oops! Sorry, I forgot the cd .Trash part! OK, for newbies reading it this is the final code:
su
enter the password
cd /home/myusername/.Trash
rm -drf ./*
exit

Thanks!
Firewing1

bytesniper · #14 29th May 2005, 01:13 AM

i just went back and double checked my system here and on a default install of FC4t3 the trash folder is in ~/.local/share/Trash with 2 sub directories, files and info. not sure what reaction the system would have to deleting the subfolders but if i manually have to empty the trash i just delete what is in files.

note: i am running KDE, not gnome which will probably make a difference (but not sure.. since i can't stand gnome long enough to work with it :P )

if you want to make absolute sure where the folder is create a text file on the desktop and move it to the trash. drop to a terminal, will default to your home dir, and type "find . -name [name of file you put in trash]" and then cd to the dir and delete everything in it