How to banish locked files on an HFS network share (OS X)

One problem I experienced with my Time Capsule (TC) is because it’s basically a NAS, you really don’t have true “superuser/root” access to it.

I experienced this problem when I was fiddling with a hack on putting an Aperture Vault on a network share. Aperture by default doesn’t allow you to create a vault in such a location; but you can always move it to one (and point Aperture to it) afterwards.

What you should NOT do however, is remove and delete that vault via Aperture because it will, quite literally, fuck up the file permissions. Even a sudo command cannot vanquish this evil that we have just unwittingly created.

Here’s a description I found on the net which was exactly what I experienced (and I paraphrased it):

… the folder locks, and unlocks whenever the goddamn thing feels like it

So its locked, I go into “get info”, and I deselect the lock checkbox, .5 seconds later, the thing locks it up by itself, and if I get it unlocked if I just click on the folder, it locks up, or the lock will appear, then disappear. I restarted the TC, no hope.

Basically, I have this folder on my TC, that is beyond delete-ability, and plays stupid folder games.

To fix this, what you’ll need is a free application called Hide Folders. Download it here

Fire up Hide Folders; visit the culprit(s) you want to delete; and drag the bastard(s) into it, and click on HIDE

The file should disappear (naturally), then click on SHOW to toggle it’s visibility back. Notice that the file now is not acting up; it’s now in an unconfused, stable state.

You may now trash the files 🙂

And resume regular programming.

Hope someone finds this is useful.

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