Who uses Mac?

[doanster]

Is there a way to bypass the Trash? For example, in windows, if you want to "permanently" delete a file, you just press SHIFT+DEL. Is there an equivalent control in OS X?

 

[chcarnage]

The closest to this is Command+Backspace, followed by Command+Shift+Backspace. The second shortcut permanently deletes all files in the trash can.

 

[n0cmonkey]

rm filename in the terminal.

 

[halfadder]

I don't know of a shorter way. I usually just right click on the icons and "Move to Trash", then later right click on the trashcan to "Empty Trash". There are keyboard shortcuts for these as well.

As n0cmonkey pointed out, Mac OS X is variant of unix and has all of the standard unix tools, so you can use "rm" from the command line.

You can also use "srm" or Finder Menu -> Secure Empty Trash. This not only "deletes" the files in the trash can, but it also writes jibberish over the original file 35 times to ensure that it can never be recovered. Handy for those who wear tinfoil hats.

 

[doanster]

Originally posted by: halfadder
I don't know of a shorter way. I usually just right click on the icons and "Move to Trash", then later right click on the trashcan to "Empty Trash". There are keyboard shortcuts for these as well.

As n0cmonkey pointed out, Mac OS X is variant of unix and has all of the standard unix tools, so you can use "rm" from the command line.

You can also use "srm" or Finder Menu -> Secure Empty Trash. This not only "deletes" the files in the trash can, but it also writes jibberish over the original file 35 times to ensure that it can never be recovered. Handy for those who wear tinfoil hats.

Actually, that's one of the main reasons why i bought a Mac... Most of the engineering apps at school are unix based, plus macs are simply nice 🙂

 

[kamper]

The os x trash can is basically brain-dead. I use the commandline almost exclusively for deleting stuff.