# Gem on ubuntu problem : /usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygem

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [December 27, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329 "2007-12-27T18:43:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jpc_001)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329/1 "2007-12-27T18:43:04Z")

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Hi all,

I’ve got a serious problem installing gem on my ubuntu. i used the  
apt-get manager.

here is what i get when i try to launch gem :  
/usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`gem_original_require': no such file to load -- sources (LoadError) from /usr/local/lib/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`require’  
from  
/usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/source\_info\_cache.rb:6  
from  
/usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`gem_original_require' from /usr/local/lib/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`require’  
from  
/usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/remote\_installer.rb:12  
from  
/usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom\_require.rb:27:in  
`gem_original_require' from /usr/local/lib/site_ruby/1.8/rubygems/custom_require.rb:27:in`require’  
from /usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/1.8/rubygems.rb:112:in  
`manage\_gems’  
from /usr/bin/gem:10

even whe I add a “require ‘rubygems/gem\_runner’” in /usr/bin/gem, same  
error (but last line number is 11).

what can I do ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jpc_001)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329/2 "2007-12-28T04:08:53Z")

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Something doesn’t add up. It’s looking in /usr/local. It looks to me  
like  
you’ve either done a ‘gem update --system’ or tried to install gems from  
source at some point. Regardless removing it and reinstalling it should  
fix  
the problem.

This should remove it  
$\> sudo apt-get remove --purge rubygems

Then you’re free to install from source or from apt  
$\> sudo apt-get install rubygems

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**Author:** ![jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jpc_001)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 10:33am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329/3 "2007-12-28T10:33:46Z")

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Michael G. wrote:

> This should remove it  
> $\> sudo apt-get remove --purge rubygems
> 
> Then you’re free to install from source or from apt  
> $\> sudo apt-get install rubygems

it stil doesn’t work for me ☹

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jpc_001)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329/4 "2007-12-28T11:04:32Z")

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I’m betting there’s a partially installed ‘from source gems’ there then?  
Make sure there’s nothing in /usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/gems or  
/var/lib/gems  
before reinstalling.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jpc\_001](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jpc_001)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 11:14am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gem-on-ubuntu-problem-usr-local-lib-site-ruby-1-8-rubygem/124329/5 "2007-12-28T11:14:00Z")

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Michael G. wrote:

> I’m betting there’s a partially installed ‘from source gems’ there then?  
> Make sure there’s nothing in /usr/local/lib/site\_ruby/gems or  
> /var/lib/gems  
> before reinstalling.

well you are right about a partially installed ‘from source gems’, but  
I removed everything in both directories

I ended with compiling ruby 1.9 myself and gem provided with it is ok.  
compiling ruby is pretty fast and harmless.  
still, I don’t understand why my standard ubuntu ruby installation was  
KO…