How do i "factory reset" arch?

Pena · 2021-03-19 13:45:08

I've been pilling up errors and bad configurations/workarounds so instead of spending hours figuring out how to fix all the problems i wanna just whipe everything Except arch linux itself and a mount to a hard drive which the folder is called /sav/,(the os and programs are all in a m2 nvme ssd in which i store images, files, that i don't want to whipe...

Is it possible? Or should i just unmount the drive and whipe the ssd and start everything from 0?

graysky · 2021-03-19 14:08:40

The wiki may have some advice but you can identify files that have been changed from their defaults by running `pacman -Qkk` as root. There is also a utility in [community] called lostfiles that can identify extra files not provided by packages.

Scimmia · 2021-03-19 14:10:55

A lot of configs are just for your user. Making a new user might be all you need.

Pena · 2021-03-19 15:06:16

graysky wrote:

The wiki may have some advice but you can identify files that have been changed from their defaults by running `pacman -Qkk` as root. There is also a utility in [community] called lostfiles that can identify extra files not provided by packages.

I know but theres so much garbage, and errors,
From folders with wrong permissions
To programs that seem to lack everyother library
To others that haven't correctly updated
A lot of programs that i want to whipe completely

Scimmia wrote:

A lot of configs are just for your user. Making a new user might be all you need.

That would just put tape over the crack, i also want to cut on space

Scimmia · 2021-03-19 15:22:39

How in the world did your system get in that bad of shape? Programs lacking libs, not updating correctly, and dirs with wrong permissions should never happen. Even if you reset things, how are you going to prevent it from happening again?

Resetting to just base is the same as wiping and reinstalling, really, but here you go: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pa … l_packages

Last edited by Scimmia (2021-03-19 15:24:52)

graysky · 2021-03-19 15:47:12

You can also grep relevant keywords from the pacman -Qkk output...

Mrhawkbox · 2021-03-19 15:50:29

Scimmia wrote:

How in the world did your system get in that bad of shape? Programs lacking libs, not updating correctly, and dirs with wrong permissions should never happen. Even if you reset things, how are you going to prevent it from happening again?
Resetting to just base is the same as wiping and reinstalling, really, but here you go: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pa … l_packages

Lvm and snapshots my friend.

Pena · 2021-03-24 17:25:47

Scimmia wrote:

How in the world did your system get in that bad of shape? Programs lacking libs, not updating correctly, and dirs with wrong permissions should never happen. Even if you reset things, how are you going to prevent it from happening again?
Resetting to just base is the same as wiping and reinstalling, really, but here you go: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pa … l_packages

Well when i had windows i was sick of low speed times so i changed to arch linux the thing is i had no linux experience so i made a bunch of errors that along the time i've learned how to correct
Also some applications that are either unstable or obsolete, that use weird libraries

graysky wrote:

You can also grep relevant keywords from the pacman -Qkk output...

i could also less'ed it or just output to some file... but im not going to fix a program that i no longer use just so a conflict of files, or some env variable starts working again, might as well just restart
When i say that this is getting Drastic i mean it
from yesterday to today A wine application stoped working and i installed around 4 programs(related to razer drivers) and none seem to work dead on arrival due to lack of libraries(which is really pissing me off)
Reseting and having the thing all cleaned up seems to be the only solution
Better to torch a bunch of trash then carefully getting rid of it just for the 5 cents that are lost in the middle of it

Pena · 2021-03-24 17:27:55

Scimmia wrote:

How in the world did your system get in that bad of shape? Programs lacking libs, not updating correctly, and dirs with wrong permissions should never happen. Even if you reset things, how are you going to prevent it from happening again?
Resetting to just base is the same as wiping and reinstalling, really, but here you go: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pa … l_packages

I forgot to say will this really whipe every program and config file without whipping the /sav/ mount(theres no program installed there)? when i mean a whipe i really mean it! i want to make shure everything works when i start installing everything again this time without bloat

tucuxi · 2021-03-24 19:49:30

If I were in your position, I would make a list of packages that have been explicitly installed (pacman -Qe), make a fresh Arch installation, and install the packages from the list (minus the ones that are no longer relevant).

Pena · 2021-03-25 18:55:51

tucuxi wrote:

If I were in your position, I would make a list of packages that have been explicitly installed (pacman -Qe), make a fresh Arch installation, and install the packages from the list (minus the ones that are no longer relevant).

yeah im kinda gonna do that
gonna take a screenshot of my programs
and then gonna install them one by one

Trilby · 2021-03-25 19:31:58

If you really want to whipe everything, then just to that. Recreate the filesystems and reinstall just like you installed the first time (assuming you followed the installation guide on the wiki).

Pena · 2021-03-26 15:13:16

Trilby wrote:

If you really want to whipe everything, then just to that. Recreate the filesystems and reinstall just like you installed the first time (assuming you followed the installation guide on the wiki).

everything except the mount

Trilby · 2021-03-26 15:58:55

So do recreate the relevant filesystems, and reinstall.

Pena · 2021-03-29 13:10:48

Trilby wrote:

If you really want to whipe everything, then just to that. Recreate the filesystems and reinstall just like you installed the first time (assuming you followed the installation guide on the wiki).

How do i wipe the sistem then? can you just link me some wiki article or something

V1del · 2021-03-29 13:11:53

If you recreate the filesystem everything that was on it is "wiped" for normal purposes. Technically one might be able to dig up older data with specific forensics tools but since that's not the intention nor the issue here that will do what you want.

Last edited by V1del (2021-03-29 13:14:06)

Trilby · 2021-03-29 13:50:00

Pena wrote:

can you just link me some wiki article or something

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide

d_fajardo · 2021-03-29 14:35:43

You can use wipefs to wipe everything out to a raw drive.

Trilby · 2021-03-29 16:50:54

wipefs has absolutely nothing to do with the OPs goals. Just installing according to the installation guide with the appropriate variant(s) of `mkfs` (which is already a step included in the installation process) will do everything they are looking for.

Last edited by Trilby (2021-03-29 16:51:23)

lazarys · 2021-03-30 17:40:49

Trilby wrote:

If you really want to whipe everything, then just to that. Recreate the filesystems and reinstall just like you installed the first time (assuming you followed the installation guide on the wiki).

what exactly is unlclear about this?

lazarys · 2021-03-30 17:50:33

...is this thread some kind of internal punt/troll? ..if so...my appologies.... trying to learn about community...

benm · 2021-03-31 11:23:27

If you run

pacman -Qeq > ~/proj-list.txt

you get a nice list of the explicitly installed programs so when you reinstall arch you can pipe these into pacman or edit the list first.

Arch Linux

#1 2021-03-19 13:45:08

How do i "factory reset" arch?

#2 2021-03-19 14:08:40

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#3 2021-03-19 14:10:55

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#4 2021-03-19 15:06:16

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#5 2021-03-19 15:22:39

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#6 2021-03-19 15:47:12

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#7 2021-03-19 15:50:29

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#8 2021-03-24 17:25:47

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#9 2021-03-24 17:27:55

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#10 2021-03-24 19:49:30

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#11 2021-03-25 18:55:51

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#12 2021-03-25 19:31:58

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#13 2021-03-26 15:13:16

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#14 2021-03-26 15:58:55

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#15 2021-03-29 13:10:48

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#16 2021-03-29 13:11:53

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#17 2021-03-29 13:50:00

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#18 2021-03-29 14:35:43

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#19 2021-03-29 16:50:54

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#20 2021-03-30 17:40:49

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#21 2021-03-30 17:50:33

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

#22 2021-03-31 11:23:27

Re: How do i "factory reset" arch?

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