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You're giving out needlessly dangerous instructions. Novice users unfamiliar with UNIX should not be using \"rm -f\". The -f option causes rm to delete files without prompting the user. A simple slip of the finger when entering the complete command line can be disastrous (\"rm -f *\" instead of \"rm -f *~\", for example). Users should use \"rm -i\", which will instead prompt them to confirm the deletion of each file. They can cancel a screw-up.

Note that the -f option means \"force\" as in \"force rm to delete files without prompting\", and not as in \"force rm to delete stubborn files\". It's not the option you're looking for.
roothog | 04.18.07 - 9:33 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Hi,

What can also be used is the UNIX command \"lsof\". This command LiSts Open Files. Try this for example:

lsof ~/.Trash

you will get a list back of processes that have that specific file open.

Investigate what processes that are, and when safe, use kill to kill the process number.

Here is a full example:
$ lsof ~/.Trash
Program 12345678 username txt VREG 14,12 16119 9889039 /Users/username/Desktop/file-or-program
$ kill 12345678
$
Robert de Bock | Homepage | 07.12.07 - 9:09 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ You can also enter the following into terminal,
sudo chflags -R nouchg,noschg
then a space, then drag the offending file(s) into the terminal window and press return. This will unlock the file in the two ways Finder generally objects to.
Joel D. Reid | 10.01.07 - 9:18 pm | #

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