Well I logged in as "root" and tried to empty the trash and got the same error message "folder in use." I tried Cocktail and "no go." I tried DeleteIt! (it was the program that suggested try logging in as root). After giving me some REALLY strong warnings about destroying my system, so strong I actually stopped the program and thought about it some more before letting it go pass that dialog box. I let it do its thing and the dialog box reported the folder deleted. But when I closed the program out, there it was, the "undeleteable" folder still on the desktop. I logged out, disgustedly, and logged back in as admin. It was several hours before I noticed.... There wasn't an Undeleteable folder on the desktop any longer. It's gone! But is it really? I'd bet its somehow in my root user settings for the desktop but doesn't show up for my admin user desktop! I need to relog as root again and see if it's there??? gary