# Accidentally removed Cert **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [September 19, 2022, 9:11am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696 "2022-09-19T09:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 9:11am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/1 "2022-09-19T09:11:25Z")
I want to remove this domain [mwiki.takylstudios.com](http://mwiki.takylstudios.com) but I did it manually. I ran this command: rm -r /etc/letsencrypt/live/mwiki.taktylstudios.com can't start the nginx due to this error: systemd[1]: Starting A high performance web server and a reverse proxy server... nginx[2264]: nginx: [emerg] cannot load certificate "/etc/letsencrypt/live/mwiki.taktylstudios.com\> nginx[2264]: nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test failed systemd[1]: nginx.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE systemd[1]: nginx.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'. systemd[1]: Failed to start A high performance web server and a reverse proxy s\> My web server is (include version): ubuntu 20.4 The version of my client is (e.g. output of `certbot --version` or `certbot-auto --version` if you're using Certbot): certbot 0.40.0 I don't need that cert anymore that's why I deleted it but upon researching it should not be manually deleted ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Osiris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/839c29/32.png) [@Osiris](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/Osiris)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/2 "2022-09-19T12:21:58Z")
The contents of the `/live/` directory are symlinks to the most recent files in the corresponding `/archive/` directory. You can manually recreate the symbolic links. ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/3 "2022-09-19T12:44:28Z")
Hello, there are no files in /etc/letsencrypt/archive. can you please elaborate on manually recreating the symbolic links? ---
**Author:** ![Osiris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/839c29/32.png) [@Osiris](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/Osiris)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/4 "2022-09-19T14:43:39Z")
> [@zzzniczxz](#): > > there are no files in /etc/letsencrypt/archive Where did the content of that directory go? > [@zzzniczxz](#): > > can you please elaborate on manually recreating the symbolic links? That's of no use if there are no contents in the `/archive/` directory. In that case you need to use a backup or, if no backup is available, issue a new certificate. ---
**Author:** ![rg305](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/rg305/32/91314_2.png) [@rg305](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/rg305)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/5 "2022-09-19T15:26:54Z")
> [@zzzniczxz](#): > > `rm -r /etc/letsencrypt/...` Please don't do anything like that [ever again]. Whatever you are trying to do, there should be an instruction for `certbot` to do it for you [correctly]. ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/6 "2022-09-20T00:30:36Z")
I mean there's a folder in archive but other domain name not [mwiki.takylstudios.com](http://mwiki.takylstudios.com) ☹ I also tried to issue a new cert with [mwiki.takylstudios.com](http://mwiki.takylstudios.com) but still same error I got \>.\< ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:31am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/7 "2022-09-20T00:31:06Z")
Yes I will take note of that sir in my life, Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/8 "2022-09-20T01:15:01Z")
How bout reinstalling the nginx and certbot? ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/9 "2022-09-20T02:16:47Z")
Would you show output of this? We can probably fix the damage ```nohighlight ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/{live,archive,renewal} ``` And, don't just try to reinstall certbot. It won't help. What you have is an nginx config problem because you deleted files it still requires. ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/11 "2022-09-20T02:24:35Z")
Here sir: /etc/letsencrypt/archive: total 4 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Sep 10 12:08 [staging.taktylstudios.com](http://staging.taktylstudios.com) /etc/letsencrypt/live: total 12 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 740 Feb 8 2022 README drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Sep 19 08:12 [mwiki.taktylstudios.com](http://mwiki.taktylstudios.com) drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Sep 10 12:08 [staging.taktylstudios.com](http://staging.taktylstudios.com) /etc/letsencrypt/renewal: total 4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 582 Sep 10 12:08 staging.taktylstudios.com.conf btw I tried to recreate the cert of [mwiki.taktylstudios.com](http://mwiki.taktylstudios.com) ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/12 "2022-09-20T02:25:43Z")
Ok, now please show: ```nohighlight ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/live/mwiki.taktylstudios.com ``` EDIT: And also ```nohighlight ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/live/staging.taktylstudios.com ``` ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:26am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/13 "2022-09-20T02:26:53Z")
ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/live/mwiki.taktylstudios.com total 0 ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:27am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/14 "2022-09-20T02:27:49Z")
Sorry, was too late, also this: ```nohighlight ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/live/staging.taktylstudios.com ``` ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/15 "2022-09-20T02:28:21Z")
ls -l /etc/letsencrypt/live/staging.taktylstudios.com total 4 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 692 Feb 8 2022 README lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 49 Sep 10 12:08 cert.pem -\> ../../archive/staging.taktylstudios.com/cert4.pem lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 50 Sep 10 12:08 chain.pem -\> ../../archive/staging.taktylstudios.com/chain4.pem lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 54 Sep 10 12:08 fullchain.pem -\> ../../archive/staging.taktylstudios.com/fullchain4.pem lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 52 Sep 10 12:08 privkey.pem -\> ../../archive/staging.taktylstudios.com/privkey4.pem ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/16 "2022-09-20T02:31:25Z")
OK, just one more but it's long. Then I can give good advice on what to do. Please show result of `sudo nginx -T` (skip sudo if you don't need it). Place 3 backticks before and after the output like ``` output of: sudo nginx -T ``` Or, upload the txt file created by doing `sudo nginx -T >upload.txt` ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/17 "2022-09-20T02:35:06Z")
sure btw Thanks a lot for your time sir! ````nohighlight nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test failed``` [upload.txt|attachment](upload://fprEVGUMf2UMGFJrVQzYCl7p3d.txt) (382 Bytes) ```` ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/18 "2022-09-20T02:37:13Z")
Oh, right, ack. OK, can you upload the nginx.conf file (might have to copy it to .txt file) ---
**Author:** ![zzzniczxz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/zzzniczxz/32/64065_2.png) [@zzzniczxz](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/zzzniczxz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:39am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/19 "2022-09-20T02:39:21Z")
noted sir [nginx.conf.txt](https://community.letsencrypt.org/uploads/short-url/rUWKqHvT6W9eMsz0FXesLnDYKVX.txt) (1.9 KB) ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/20 "2022-09-20T02:43:20Z")
thanks. Give me a minute ---
**Author:** ![MikeMcQ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/letsencrypt/user_avatar/community.letsencrypt.org/mikemcq/32/52772_2.png) [@MikeMcQ](https://community.letsencrypt.org/u/MikeMcQ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 2:45am UTC](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696/21 "2022-09-20T02:45:03Z")
show ```nohighlight ls -l /etc/nginx/conf.d/*.conf ls -l /etc/nginx/sites-enabled ``` [Next page](https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/accidentally-removed-cert/184696.md?page=2)