accidentally moved entire linux root "/ " file system to another directory

bks2010 · 09-16-2010, 08:57 AM

Hi,
I am running fedora core 6 and was logged in as root. I was in my test log directory /log/test_log when I accidentally issued the following command "mv /log/test_log/5.0.0 /* /log/test_log/6.0.0" Please note that I mistakenly had a space between 5.0.0 and forward slash. It moved the entire root file system / to /log/test_log/6.0.0 directory. Is there way I can restore this back. Please help!!!!

i92guboj · 09-16-2010, 09:05 AM

Sure, move it back. However since now most of your OS will not work you will probably need to boot off a livecd, mount the relevant fs(s) to any arbitrary mount point and move the stuff from there.

Valery Reznic · 09-17-2010, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i92guboj

Sure, move it back. However since now most of your OS will not work you will probably need to boot off a livecd, mount the relevant fs(s) to any arbitrary mount point and move the stuff from there.

While booting from livecd is definitely an option there is another one:

Code:

/log/test_log/6.0.0/lib/ld-linux.so.2 --library-path /log/test_log/6.0.0/lib /log/test_log/6.0.0/bin/mv /log/test_log/6.0.0/bin /log/test_log/6.0.0/lib /

After this command you'll get your /lib and /bin directories back and will be able in the sane way move the rest to it's correct place.

Kenny_Strawn · 09-17-2010, 05:49 AM

Yes, but unless you get /boot back, you will not be able to boot into your main OS. You will have to boot the Live CD, mount your root filesystem, and move the files back.

igadoter · 09-17-2010, 05:58 AM

For me most confusing is a pair of commands 'mv' and 'rm' - the former is a shorthand of 'move' the latter 'remove'. This way I accidentally removed some files.

Valery Reznic · 09-18-2010, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_Strawn

Yes, but unless you get /boot back, you will not be able to boot into your main OS. You will have to boot the Live CD, mount your root filesystem, and move the files back.

After executing command I wrote, /lib and /bin directories will be in place, i.e commands like mv, cp, rm, etc will work in the sane way. From this point one obviously have to move back all the parts of the system where they belongs, and in case Lilo used run /sbin/lilo too

chrism01 · 09-19-2010, 12:15 AM

It might also be a good time to point out that FC6 has not been updated in yrs (current is F12 or 13?), so it's probably wide open to exploits etc.
Why not take this opportunity to get a current OS?

tommyttt · 09-19-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bks2010

Hi,
I am running fedora core 6 and was logged in as root. I was in my test log directory /log/test_log when I accidentally issued the following command "mv /log/test_log/5.0.0 /* /log/test_log/6.0.0" Please note that I mistakenly had a space between 5.0.0 and forward slash. It moved the entire root file system / to /log/test_log/6.0.0 directory. Is there way I can restore this back. Please help!!!!

And you've now learned a lesson. Always be extremely careful what you do as root, the rm and mv commands cam make your system completely unusable.

Tom

harryhaller · 09-19-2010, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valery Reznic

While booting from livecd is definitely an option there is another one:

Code:

/log/test_log/6.0.0/lib/ld-linux.so.2 --library-path /log/test_log/6.0.0/lib /log/test_log/6.0.0/bin/mv /log/test_log/6.0.0/bin /log/test_log/6.0.0/lib /

After this command you'll get your /lib and /bin directories back and will be able in the sane way move the rest to it's correct place.

An excellent idea!

I've had the same problem, but I was not signed in as root, so the files got copied, but the subsequent delete couldn't take place because I didn't have the authority.

mv is copy-then-delete. It is really best to copy, then check, and only then do deletes. But mv is so much easier, isn't it?

For the job that the OP was doing, I would have used a file manager such as mc (midnight commander). The risks are much less!

Valery's solution is super!