how do I move a directory in shell

DKY · 07-30-2003, 07:33 AM

HELP!!!! I accidentally moved my usr directory into the lost + found directory, now nothing works. I cant even open a terminal.

1. How do I open a terminal?
2. once opened, what commands do I use to move a directory?

DKY · 07-30-2003, 07:54 AM

okay, I figured out how to get a terminal.....now how do I move a directory?

Unifex · 07-30-2003, 08:01 AM

mv -r /path/to/mydir /path/to/where/it/should/be/.

In this example "mydir" and it's contents are moved into the directory "be"

The -r tells mv (move) to act recursively. You need this when moving a directory.

DKY · 07-30-2003, 08:02 AM

i just did it without the r....gulp
is that bad?
what does recursive mean?

DKY · 07-30-2003, 08:07 AM

okay, I moved it back to lost+found directory, then went to the lost+found directory, and tried
mv -r usr /
only to have it say
mv: invalid option -- r
Try 'mv --help' for more information.

ksgill · 07-30-2003, 10:08 AM

recursive means it calls itself over and over. If you dont use -r option than it may not transfer all the files(inside the directory). Normally, you use recursion when removing/deleting the directory but when you are simply moving it, you dont.
just do this:
mv /whatever/file /whatever/desitnation

coo

Unifex · 07-30-2003, 04:40 PM

Ah... it's removing directories when the -r is compulsory isn't it?

ksgill · 07-30-2003, 05:33 PM

yes, thats correct