[ILUG] Commands have stopped working

[Conor_D_Wynne at Dell.com]

>> export PATH=$PATH:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin
>> And try a command, if successful, then edit the file yerself.

you wrote: 

> well, you'll have to either restart bash or have it re-read
> your .bashrc.
> 

Well if you export a path, its instant, no need to restart bash. In fact,
I'd say if you restarted bash then it'll read the file again and you will
likely loose the current path. Never tested this but I know that the path is
instant. Certainly if you do an "su -" it will re-read it.

> While this is a perhaps a temporary solution to your problem,
> it's a fairly
> crap one.  If root's path is still correct then the chances
> are that gets
> set in /etc/profile for all users.  Then some one of your
> user config files
> (probably ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile etc) is mangling it.
> If you add a
> line to fix this, it'll only work if that line comes after
> the mangling and
> you'll still be left with a rather silly situation where each time it
> starts off good gets knackered and reset again.  This renders useless
> the /etc/profile.

Agreed 

> It'd be better in the long run to find all mentions of PATH
> in your home
> dir dotfiles, figure out which one is mangling the PATH and
> fix the line.
> Of course if you use this solution to get a working path
> initially fair
> enough.
> 
> Gavin

Agreed.

Guess I'm not disagreeing with ya at all here ;--0
Off to the dentist now, cant wait, what a bunch of great people they are,
thrilled!

Later.