Remove clearly and reinstall python on CentOS

Question

Today I messed up the versions of Python on my CentOS machine. Even yum cannot work properly. I made the mistake that I removed the default /usr/bin/python which led to this situation. How could I get back a clear Python environment? I thought remove them totally and reinstall Python may work, but do not know how to do it. Wish somebody could help!

Dora

You just deleted /usr/bin/python? if so, copy it from another machine – Kelby

What exactly did you do? You simply replace that executable with a different python executable? There are also executables there that should be named for the specific version of Python, e.g. /usr/bin/python2.6 (in CentOS 6) -- You can try copying that file to /usr/bin/python assuming you did not overwrite those as well. – Novelize

I deleted the default /usr/bin/python and made a soft link /usr/bin/python to /usr/bin/python2.7. I think copying one from another machine would help. – Dora

Dont try this, or you'll end up buying this: keepcalmstudio.com/gallery/poster/1BLAEVH – Holleran

luckily, it's just a virtual machine, thx bro. – Dora

Answer 1

The yum package manager is relies on an underlying tool called rpm, which does not require Python. You can use that to re-install the system Python package.

You can use this to reinstall the base python package from a CentOS mirror:

rpm -ivh --replacepkgs --replacefiles http://mirror.centos.org/centos/6/os/x86_64/Packages/python-2.6.6-66.el6_8.x86_64.rpm

For example:

# rm -f /usr/bin/python*
# yum version
bash: /usr/bin/yum: /usr/bin/python: bad interpreter: No such file or directory
# rpm -ivh --replacefiles --replacepkgs http://mirror.centos.org/centos/6/os/x86_64/Packages/python-2.6.6-66.el6_8.x86_64.rpm
Retrieving http://mirror.centos.org/centos/6/os/x86_64/Packages/python-2.6.6-66.el6_8.x86_64.rpm
warning: /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.DCR7QF: Header V3 RSA/SHA1 Signature, key ID c105b9de: NOKEY
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:python                 ########################################### [100%]
# yum version
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, ovl
Installed: 6/x86_64                 131:0e17bede37a026e5f95d6cb7e185701b989fa47d
Group-Installed: yum                 14:973b685dc3deb5d8f00cdb3ec97022064b5ff793
version

Massingill

@OscarJavierJimenez, I think you have misunderstood this answer. This does not remove the base Python. It reinstalls the base python after it has been removed or replaced, as in the original question. – Massingill

Yes, you are right, I tried to answer another question in another post. Sorry, it was late. – Romaromagna

this is probably not a valid solution since the OP mentioned that yum is not working – Garibaldi

@MayAnneLuyun The reason this answer uses rpm instead of yum is because yum requires Python, but rpm does not. – Massingill

Answer 2

To install Python on CentOS: sudo yum install python2/3 (select the version as per requirement) To uninstall Python on CentOS: sudo yum remove python2/3 (select the version as per your requirement) To check version for python3(which you installed): python3 --version To check version for python2 (which you installed): python2 --version

Adalie

This is not a valid solution because OP indicated they are unable to use yum. – Heterologous