[drphoto]

Our office manager is using our old G3 iBook. A previous user account was deleted, but apparantly a bunch a files were left behind on the hard drive. Because you can't log in under the previous user, the files don't show up.
Anyway to find them as to delete and clean up the drive?

I know how to make hidden files UNIX files show up by using terminal, but this is not the same thing.

Maybe the only way to go is to backup what's desired, and just wipe the drive and start over.

[JohnR]

I know how to make hidden files UNIX files show up by using terminal, but this is not the same thing.

Why is it different ...?

Assuming your own account is set up as a superuser, in Terminal you can go

sudo -s

then

cd /users
ls
cd useraccountname
rm -r directoryname

If the files are outside of the user directory, you can use the 'find' command.

[JohnR]

If the files are on a different drive to the user file system, you can get there by

cd /Volumes
ls
cd drivename

[drphoto]

Thanks John, I'll give it a try.

[dB Cooper]

From the help menu:

If you saved the user’s files, they are stored in a disk image in the Deleted Users folder, which is in the Users folder on your startup disk.

Have a look; maybe you'll get lucky! If that disk image is there, drag it to the trash and choose Secure Empty Trash from the Finder menu.
If that doesn't work, 'Erase Free Space' in Disk Utility should erase (over-write) the files without requiring you to find them.
Good luck.