OK, it's an old thread. But I'd just like to highlight for the archives... Tony Nelson wrote: > They may also have actually said to do something slightly different: > > rm -rf $HOME/.* > > That would get all the .configuration files, even for other applications. > I'd have suggested trying a new user first, and it that worked, mv'd the > dot files out of the way. Wouldn't necessarily have helped (it would depend on which user issued the command). $HOME/.* will be matched by $HOME/.. So if $HOME is /home/user rm -rf $HOME/.* will expand to rm -rf /home/user/. /home/user/.. (and all the other files in /home/user) which is equivalent to rm -rf /home Similarly, if root tried running that, everything on the machine would potentially be deleted. James. -- New address: james | Remember, half-measures can be very effective if all you @aprilcottage.co.uk | deal with are half-wits.
