unbelievably stupid mistake - i broke /usr/lib need help

[Robin Laing]

akonstam at trinity.edu wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 05, 2006 at 02:57:39PM -0700, Robin Laing wrote:
> 
>>Alastair McKinley wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>>Alastair McKinley wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Hi everyone,
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>>   I made a really daft mistake and deleted a lot of files in
>>>>   /usr/lib. Im not sure how many I have deleted. I was trying to
>>>>   delete a linux rootfs on an SD and thought I was in
>>>>   /media/usbdisk/usr/lib, clearly I wasnt. You would think I should
>>>>   know better this is at least the third time I have done something
>>>>   like this. My laptop is still up and running, can anyone give me
>>>>   any ideas on a way to fix all my broken libraries?
>>>>
>>>>Can yum do it?
>>>>
>>>>Please help me!
>>>>
>>>>Best regards,
>>>>
>>>>Alastair
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>>If rpm is still working.
>>>>
>>>>rpm -Va could be used to give you a list of damaged packages.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>In your /var/cache/yum/{repo} you will have the updated rpms that you 
>>>>could re-install many of the damaged packages with.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks for the advice Robin.
>>>
>>>Now I've just discovered rpm is broken. Missing dependency is 
>>>librpm-4.4.so or something.
>>>
>>>Could I maunally reinstall libraries to get rpm working again and then 
>>>try that?
>>>
>>>If this is possible where could I get the right copy of the shared 
>>>libraries?
>>>
>>>I dont have the install discs anymore, the sysadmin installed it, so I'm 
>>>downloading the fc4 iso's now just incase they might help.
>>>
>>>I'm quite distraught... my last resort is taking it back to my sysadmin 
>>>who unfortunately has the bios password. I will quite happily spend a 
>>>week reinstalling stuff to avoid that!!
>>>
>>>
>>>Alastair (weeping silently into laptop)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>It has been awhile but if you use the first CD or boot from the DVD, 
>>you have the option of a rescue mode.  This gives you a basic system 
>>but I don't know how many tools.  I believe that rpm is available from 
>>the rescue mode.
>>
>>I would have to search the RH site to confirm what is available. 
>>Maybe someone else can assist from here.
>>
> 
> I would add this.
> run: rpm -qf /lib/lib...
> to find out what package supplies that library.
> Then: rpm -Uvh --force ...rpm 
> will reinstall the rpm even if the database says it is there.
> yum install (or update) (rpm name from the rpm -qf command)
> might restore the rpm.
> 

I was thinking about this on my way home that the database would 
prevent an easy re-install.  My last response was made just before I 
walked out the door to go home.

Good luck.