sudo rm -rf --no-preserve-root /

This is what happens when you try to remove the root of an Ubuntu machine. At the end, when I tried to open one more term window, the computer crashed.

A few years ago, I was giving an intro to Linux course for freshmen and as an illustration that they couldn't sudo into our uni's servers, I jokingly asked them to try to remove the root (it was a very hands-on course). Of course they couldn't. But then, the question remained... What happens when you actually execute "sudo rm -rvf --no-preserve-root /"?

[scottforbes]

Noob: All my files are gone.
Data recovery specialist: No, they’re all still here.

[infinity]

"Now restart your computer to complete the installation"

[vgzxlxm]

Windows >no you can’t delete the windows folder that contains precious spyware
>doesn’t give any easy way to do it
Unix >no you can’t do that it will break your system
>use sudo or be logged into root and it will let you destroy your os

[DexterHarrison]

Beautiful. The slow death of a computer

[narenchris]

i think other than using "sudo rm -rf --no-preserve-root /" command, you can use "sudo apt autoremove" too for debian based distros.

[gurseerit]

I just ran sudo rm-rf --no-preserve-root / .. I think I might have to troubleshoot.

[shinshin]

How do i restart computer after this command

[pavelleifer]

Привет тебе с России. У нас тут конституцию поправили. Так что не болей.

[brandensalah]

if this wasn't on a virtual machine, then you're fucked