No files in /etc/skel/ ; Can't restore .bashrc

Question

I recently messed up my .bashrc file, which I mentioned in this question: How do I restore .bashrc to its default?, and I can't find a way to restore .bashrc to its default that works.

I can't make commands in the terminal because every time I try I receive an error message along the lines of

The command could not be located because '/usr/bin' is not included in the PATH >environment variable.

On other questions I have seen that some recommendations for this problem involve using default files in /etc/skel/ (Problem in .bashrc ).

This won't work for me, as I looked in /etc/skel/, and realized that I have practically no files at all in there! I don't know why this is.

Also, solutions that involve using the terminal don't seem to work because every time I use the terminal I get the above-mentioned error message.

I'd be really appreciative if anybody could help me solve this problem. I'm somewhat new to Ubuntu, and I'm having difficulties with this issue.

Answer 1

Most of the default files in /etc/skel are hidden ('dot') files, so to see them in the GUI file manager you will need to Show hidden files from the menu or use the Ctrl+h key combination.

To see them in a terminal you will need to use ls -a or ls -A i.e.

ls /etc/skel
examples.desktop

but

$ ls -A /etc/skel
.bash_logout  .bashrc  examples.desktop  .profile  .Xdefaults  .xscreensaver

Until you have fixed your path you will need to use the full path to each command e.g. /bin/ls, /bin/cp e.g.

/bin/cp ~/.bashrc ~/.bashrc_old
/bin/cp /etc/skel/.bashrc ~/

For the new .bashrc file to take effect, you will need to start a new shell or log out and back in - or you can source the new file in the shell using

source ~/.bashrc

Answer 2

Usually .bashrc file on /etc/skel/ was hidden.Press ctrl+h to see the hidden .bashrc file.