Shootout: 'rm -Rf /' vs. 'Format C:' 513
skyshock21 writes "There's an article over at hohle.net about what actually happens when you type the commands Format C: in windows versus rm -Rf / in Linux. Very interesting results indeed. Myths are busted, and hilarity ensues."
...vs Magnet vs Tossage (Score:4, Funny)
Before they got slashdotted.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:rm -fr / (Score:2, Funny)
rm
as in "remove france"
you know (Score:5, Funny)
i'll go back to laughing at the election results. or was it crying, i cant remember now.
Re:rm -fr / (Score:3, Funny)
Try it with NFS... (Score:5, Funny)
I'll tell you what happens. What happens is that the next several days are very, very, very long and very, very, very uncomfortable.
Re:rm -fr / (Score:2, Funny)
Now pass the freedom fries!
Re:Try it with NFS... (Score:2, Funny)
I once saw a script that had "rm -rf $(FOODIR)/*".
No problem in that. Except that one adminstrator run it as a root and nobody had thought to define $FOODIR for root...
rm -Rf / (Score:5, Funny)
Re:A more appropriate shootout (Score:3, Funny)
"I know that "format c:" and "rm -Rf
This comparison is mostly to check how well you can get a n00b to screw up his system, which is notoriously done with format and rm.
I've seen that image before... (Score:2, Funny)
The most beautiful of all solutions (Score:2, Funny)
The medium tech solution (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Try it with NFS... (Score:2, Funny)
The admintool quickly does
rm -rf
After that, everyone just went home for the day.
I've seen it happen (Score:1, Funny)
We were in the middle of an overnight service migration and my co-worker, intending to delete a copy of the directory types "rm -rf /etc" instead of "rm -rf etc".
We had to restore from backup, and boy was he red faced for weeks after...
Re:you know (Score:1, Funny)
Re:you know (Score:1, Funny)
Perhaps you had a stroke. Crying and laughing [aphasiahelp.org]
In the good old days (Score:4, Funny)
C:>FORMAT
Insert floppy into drive C: and hit return.
The rest is history. As was everything on the drive.
Kerry and Bush systems (Score:3, Funny)
format c:
rm -Bush *
The results were very telling. Both candidates made about 5,000 prompts all on the order of "5 more years?:" and "The American people will pick the right man for 5 more years?:". As most of these prompts were gibberish, I responded in a random fashion.
In the end, the files of the Bush system remained on the system, but still functioned poorly and continued to periodically core dump.
What amazed me on the Kerry system was that the files actually wrote over themselves many times before all simultaneously deleting!
All in all, the process took about 7 months and I can honestly say that I hope never to have to do that again. Further more, based on how both operate when active, I would like to see a completely new category of OS if I do have to go through this again.
I hate the finnish keyboard layout (Score:4, Funny)
Ok, I've just finished installing Linux on a fresh hard drive and have spent a few hours editing stuff in /etc using my favourite editor joe. The editor creates backup files everytime it overwrites a file, naming them as the original filename with a tilde appended. I wanted to quickly remove all the backup files so I typed
But curses, my caffeine-overloaded fingers were too quick to hit that spacebar and I ended up with AARGH! There goes BOTHRe:openbsd rm (Score:4, Funny)
Re:rm -Rf / (Score:3, Funny)
--Dan
Re:sudo password (Score:2, Funny)
>You assume a roll which gives you extra priviliges.
I assume a croissant which effectively makes me root.
not as thorough as... (Score:4, Funny)
These methods are pretty good ways to kill a system. However, I found that a large electromagnetic field generated by an old bulk eraser produces similar results in just seconds! Man, was my cube mate pissed!
I don't have screenshots, though. I think I'm sterile, too.
Re:A more appropriate shootout (Score:5, Funny)
mkdir foo; cd foo
end"
is even more effective.
Re:Get a life (Score:3, Funny)
Some might argue that simply having Windows XP means the users have already screwed themselves.
A Fun Game! (Score:3, Funny)
We then took turns at throwing stuff at the keyboard to see if we would just-so-happen to hit the Enter key.
Luckily, none of us were very good shots...
RM
Re:sudo password (Score:5, Funny)
You: My hard drive is fritzed, the s.m.a.r.t. diagnostics indicate a hardware failure.
Apple: Is root user enabled?
You: Yes, I am an old skool unix geek that has to have a terminal with '#' open at all times when I am at my system, along with my case of mountain dew and tub of beef jerky.
Apple: Sorry then, enabling root user voids your hardware warranty.
You: But I have to test out this rm -Rf / thingy
Apple: Not on our dime, you root abuser. Use sudo instead after you have purchased a new hard drive.
My guess is this is a lie that someone perpetuated to get some n00b to keep from (unwisely) enabling r00t.
Re:sudo password (Score:4, Funny)
Earlier in the game, Magicbane will serve you better (magic resistance, engraving, and curse resistance).
Nothing hides evidence like a stew. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:openbsd rm (Score:1, Funny)
Ye of little faith.
Interesting error messages (Score:3, Funny)
"You don't exist, go away!"
Very amusing.
Anybody know which Linux package is responsable for this message?
Did someone say shootout? (Score:1, Funny)
*NO CARRIER*
Re:...vs Magnet vs Tossage (Score:3, Funny)
Very true...I live in New Orleans. I think I mentioned it before, but, you put anything out that even LOOKS relatively useful (and some amazing non-useful)...and it will not be there by morning. Hehehe...one afternoon, while getting ready to move..decided it was time to get rid of some of the old playboys and such rather than move them. I put them all in a box, but, left the lid open. This was a good 40-50lbs easily...well, just went back inside packing readying for the move. Came out with another load of trash to put at the curb...the whole box was gone...hahaha. Was amazed at how fast it went and during the daytime.
Re:openbsd rm (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Interesting error messages (Score:3, Funny)
It doesn't exist. Go away.