How can I reset Vim back to a plain vanilla install?

Question

I have mismatched plugin files floating around ~/.vim; I am experiencing a corrupted behavior within vim itself, and both my .vimrc and .gvimrc are filled with things I don't understand.

Examples: NERDTree plugin displays two identical file drawers on start, settings in .vimrc and .gvimrc aren't manifesting themselves.

Is there any way that I can completely "re-install" vim? Or, is there a way that I can get a new .vim folder, and start over form scratch? I want to learn vim, but it's hard with all these plugins installed. I just want to start with a plain vanilla installation.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Solution 1

To remove everything from your vim configuration remove the entire .vim folder as well as everything from your .vimrc file. Keep the empty file in place though because without it vim will start in compatible mode by default and you almost certainly don't want that.

Note that there are system-wide files that are not stored in your home directory but if you haven't tweaked any of those then the above steps are all you need to do.

Solution 2

cd
mv .vimrc .vimrc-old
mv .vim .vim-old
touch .vimrc
mkdir .vim

Solution 3

I know this is a bit old question but there is another useful command you can use mv ~/.viminfo ~/.oldviminfo

Comments

[Facundo Casco]

can't you just move or remove everything on ~/.vim and ~/.vimrc?

[element119]

If I just deleted everything in ~.vim, would that break vim, or would it just reset itself? I have no idea, that's why I'm asking.

[FrustratedWithFormsDesigner]

Maybe this should be migrated to superuser.com/questions ? VIM-related questions always seem to have the possibility to be appropriate there as well as here...

[element119]

Ok, thanks- but what happens if I then want to install a plugin? Do I just create new directories in ~/.vim?

[rampion]

and then touch .vimrc; mkdir .vim