Very Computer

I've just started using the Redhat 4.2 systems after using Slackware
for about 3 years.  I'm very impressed with the RPM system.  But I
have a question on how to handle a situation that has come up.  I
originally had a program that I only had a tar.gz file for so I
installed it on the system using the standard method.  Now I have an
update in an RPM file.  Can I just install the RPM file or should I
delete all traces of the old version before installing the RPM.
Remember that RPM has no knowledge of the old version since it was

                                        Bernie Borenstein

  Bernie> I've just started using the Redhat 4.2 systems after using
  Bernie> Slackware for about 3 years.  I'm very impressed with the
  Bernie> RPM system.  But I have a question on how to handle a
  Bernie> situation that has come up.  I originally had a program that
  Bernie> I only had a tar.gz file for so I installed it on the system
  Bernie> using the standard method.  Now I have an update in an RPM
  Bernie> file.  Can I just install the RPM file or should I delete
  Bernie> all traces of the old version before installing the RPM.
  Bernie> Remember that RPM has no knowledge of the old version since
  Bernie> it was installed as a tarball.  Please post and email

You could just install the RPM.  If the tarball contains config files
that are missing from the RPM (and hence won't get over-written), this
could feasibly confuse the program.  You may want to use "tar tf" to
extract a list of filenames from the tarball and use that list to
delete the existing installatino of the package.

On Fri, 15 Aug 1997 14:27:25 GMT, Bernie Borenstein

I would try to delete all the old files first, just to be on the safe
side.

Dave Cook