# Rm rf \* inside directory

**URL:** <https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298>\
**Category:** Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [20 March 2023 17:44 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298 "2023-03-20T17:44:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/miguelpruivo/32/8837_2.png) [@miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/miguelpruivo)\
**Post date:** [20 March 2023 17:44 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/1 "2023-03-20T17:44:49Z")

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Hi, I was trying to delete all content from a folder which was inside a mounted device (mnt/data/downloads) and navigated to that folder and ran `rm -rf *` and immediately remembered that this could be the infamous command and cancelled it after like 5 seconds.

Everything seem to be working however I’m afraid I could have deleted any crucial files. Does this command run at root level or did it ran inside the folder?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![pulpe](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/pulpe/32/3074_2.png) [@pulpe](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/pulpe)\
**Post date:** [20 March 2023 18:40 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/2 "2023-03-20T18:40:46Z")

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You are safe, if you used it inside folder.

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**Author:** ![miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/miguelpruivo/32/8837_2.png) [@miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/miguelpruivo)\
**Post date:** [20 March 2023 18:41 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/3 "2023-03-20T18:41:36Z")

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> [@miguelpruivo](#):
>
> rm -rf \*

Yes I did, but it was taking a while hence the reason why I’ve cancelled it. What does it do inside the folder?

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**Author:** ![pulpe](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/pulpe/32/3074_2.png) [@pulpe](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/pulpe)\
**Post date:** [20 March 2023 18:51 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/4 "2023-03-20T18:51:10Z")

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Deletes everything, all folders and files inside.

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**Author:** ![WarHawk](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/warhawk/32/21_2.png) [@WarHawk](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/WarHawk)\
**Post date:** [21 March 2023 04:08 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/5 "2023-03-21T04:08:51Z")

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Which folder where you in? I hope not

`/`

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**Author:** ![Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/joulinar/32/57_2.png) [@Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Joulinar)\
**Post date:** [21 March 2023 07:05 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/6 "2023-03-21T07:05:13Z")

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just as a hint, always use the full path while removing files/folder like

```auto
rm -Rf /mn/test/folder/to/delete/*

```

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**Author:** ![Jappe](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/jappe/32/1788_2.png) [@Jappe](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Jappe)\
**Post date:** [21 March 2023 07:23 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/7 "2023-03-21T07:23:00Z")

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> [@WarHawk](#):
>
> Which folder where you in? I hope not
> 
> `/`

He was in `/mnt/data/downloads`

> [@miguelpruivo](#):
>
> Hi, I was trying to delete all content from a folder which was inside a mounted device (mnt/data/downloads) and navigated to that folder and ran `rm -rf *`

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**Author:** ![miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/miguelpruivo/32/8837_2.png) [@miguelpruivo](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/miguelpruivo)\
**Post date:** [21 March 2023 11:06 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/8 "2023-03-21T11:06:12Z")

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Ok, so I was doing the right thing anyway. That’s what I wanted but cancelled afraid it could possibly be using the root as path reference. 😂

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**Author:** ![Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/joulinar/32/57_2.png) [@Joulinar](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/Joulinar)\
**Post date:** [21 March 2023 11:08 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/9 "2023-03-21T11:08:37Z")

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> [@miguelpruivo](#):
>
> it could possibly be using the root as path reference.

did this one on my real job as admin 15 years ago. 🙈

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**Author:** ![WarHawk](https://dietpi.com/forum/user_avatar/dietpi.com/warhawk/32/21_2.png) [@WarHawk](https://dietpi.com/forum/u/WarHawk)\
**Post date:** [22 March 2023 02:47 UTC](https://dietpi.com/forum/t/rm-rf-inside-directory/16298/10 "2023-03-22T02:47:12Z")

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All it takes is one time…ask me how I know 😃