Removing non-empty directory

satimis · 07-11-2005, 10:24 PM

Hi folks,

I was trying to remove '/sources/glibc-build' and '/sources/glibc-2.3.4-20040701', both non-empty with following steps without success

1) on LFS after chroot

Code:

root:/# rmdir -p --ignore-fail-on-non-empty ./sources/glibc-build/
root:/# rmdir -p --ignore-fail-on-non-empty ./sources/glibc-2.3.4-20040701/
root:/# ls -a ./sources/ | grep glibc-build
glibc-build
root:/# ls -a ./sources/ | grep glibc-2.3.4-20040701
glibc-2.3.4-20040701
glibc-2.3.4-20040701.tar.bz2
root:/# rmdir -p --ignore-fail-on-non-empty ./sources/glibc-build
root:/# ls -a ./sources/ | grep glibc-build
glibc-build

root:/# rmdir -pv --ignore-fail-on-non-empty ./sources/glibc-build
rmdir: removing directory, ./sources/glibc-build
root:/# ls -a ./sources/ | grep glibc-build
glibc-build
root:/# rmdir -pv --ignore-fail-on-non-empty ./sources/glibc-2.3.4-20040701
rmdir: removing directory, ./sources/glibc-2.3.4-20040701
root:/# ls -a ./sources/ | grep glibc-2.3.4-20040701
glibc-2.3.4-20040701
glibc-2.3.4-20040701.tar.bz2

They are still there.

2) Login as 'su -' on FC3 host

Code:

[satimis@localhost ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# rmdir -pv --ignore-fail-on-non-empty /mnt/lfs/sources/glibc-build
rmdir: removing directory, /mnt/lfs/sources/glibc-build
[root@localhost ~]# ls /mnt/lfs/sources/glibc-build/

still showing them there.

Finally starting Konqueror as root on Konsole, I can remove them on Konqueror.

Please advise what was the trick behind.

TIA

B.R.
satimis

masand · 07-11-2005, 10:35 PM

try

rm -rf <directory name path etc>

use this with caution do not end up deleting all files on ur root

regards

satimis · 07-11-2005, 11:43 PM

Hi masand,

Tks for your advice.

Quote:

rm -rf <directory name path etc>

Quote:

rm -rf /path/to/directory

Noted with thanks.

In my personal opinion it will be more safe to remove them on 'Konqueror'.

B.R.
satimis

masand · 07-12-2005, 03:40 AM

well u should know about some more options
so that we u work on remote systems u are not stuck anywhere

regards

amitshah.in · 03-05-2009, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masand

try

rm -rf <directory name path etc>

use this with caution do not end up deleting all files on ur root

regards

Hi Masand,

Thanks for you post. I'm trying to remove not empty directory and your post has provide me good help.

zzypty · 03-09-2009, 04:58 AM

Hey,

The best way to remove a directory is

Quote:

$ rm -r <path_to_directory>/<name_of_directory>

For eg, if I have a directory in my /mnt/lfs directory called foobar, then the command will be

Quote:

rm -r /mnt/lfs/foobar

The -r option is for 'recursive'. The 'rm' command recursively removes all the files from the folder and then the folder itself.

Please be very careful when deleting files as root. Please ensure that the path to the directory is correct. A wrong path might delete some important files off your computer.