I cannot delete the old backup files

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 10:14 AM

Does anyone know how to delete the old backup files with yum as super user (su)?! I am running on fedora 10 remade to desktop (installed only 'f10-i686 live' on a HD). It is a small wonder, but I still cannot manage it. Pls., advise

marozsas · 05-19-2009, 11:48 AM

I guess I don't understand what do you mean by "old backup files" and "with yum" in the same sentence.
When some packages are updated a post script saves the new configuration files as "whatever.rpmsave".
Also, yum can keep the files on the cache.

So, can you explain this a little more ? Maybe you are not using the right term...

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 02:22 PM

I installed a package Simple backup for desktop use from the package list. On my PC it does not work as intended (the controls are not accepted by the backup utility). I instructed it to remove the old backups and it didn't do so. The backups are on the desktop, managed by root. If I enter the terminal as su how can I remove these backups. What is their extension '*.~' or something else.

emclinux · 05-19-2009, 02:29 PM

You can use the rm command to remove file.

i.e.

Code:

rm -i file_name

Read http://www.computerhope.com/unix/urm.htm before ever running the rm command and always research a command before running so you know exactly what it does.

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 03:38 PM

It doesn't work. It is not a joke.
(I renamed it after the backup manager was unable to manage it, because the name was too long. I have also another backup of the system with original file name, if this is a problem)

In the properties settings I read:
Basic
Name: 1
Type: folder (inode/directory)
Contents: unreadable
Location:/home/user-f10
Volume: unknown
Permissions:
Owner: root
Group: root
How can I move it at least to a flash memory. There are three backups to delete and the fourth one is the last back up, and I need it I guess.

John VV · 05-19-2009, 04:02 PM

as far as I know there IS NO file that

Code:

su -
cd /to/the/folder/it/is/in 
rm FileName
-- or --
rm -f FileName
-- or --
rm -fR FolderName

will not remove
you can even REMOVE THE RUNNING opperating system with
DO NOT TRY

Code:

su -
rm -fR /

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 04:07 PM

It is a directory with backup of the system.

emclinux · 05-19-2009, 04:46 PM

Code:

rm -rf folder_name

Will remove it

marozsas · 05-19-2009, 08:33 PM

yes, the guys above are all correct. try "rm -rf folder_name" as emclinux pointed.
anyway, a good way to get the permissions of a folder/file is "ls -ld folder_name". The information returned is far better than the basic properties you gave to us in a previous post.

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 10:35 PM

Thanks guys. You are great. Are you curious to see the terminal log:

[user-f10@localhost ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# cd /home/user-f10
[root@localhost user-f10]# rm 1
rm: cannot remove `1': Is a directory
[root@localhost user-f10]# rm -f 1
rm: cannot remove `1': Is a directory
[root@localhost user-f10]# rm -fR 1
[root@localhost user-f10]# rm -fR 2
[root@localhost user-f10]# rm -fR 3
[root@localhost user-f10]#

All the three are removed successfully and the system is in good shape. Thank you a lot.

f10-next · 05-19-2009, 10:48 PM

The next question.
How can I make a backup of the system on a live CD with automatic recovery?

archtoad6 · 06-18-2009, 08:25 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...oning_software