How to reset Terminal to initial settings?

Question

Hi all,
I lately have been trying to learn programming through online sources (particularly YouTube). I managed to fiddle around with the terminal application successfully but I am afraid I have done some damage. Since my knowledge of computers is so small, I don't know what I have done. I just know that it is not behaving the way tutorials expect it to.
I would like to reset the Terminal to how it was without me touching it. Is there away to delete my progress and start fresh?
Thanks.

Answer 1

I suggest:
-- making a complete backup of you machine.
-- create another userid for messing with terminal/unix.
A book on Bash would be helpful.
Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming, A (2nd Edition) [Paperback] the book Don't be fooled by the name, the second addition includes Mac OS X.  
Advanced Bash Script. premise: Examples for everything. I have revision 6.2.
tldp.org/LDP/abs/abs-guide.pdf
BASH Programming - Introduction HOW-TO
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html#toc14
Apple administrative commands
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/IntroCommandLine_v10.6.pdf
Apple Shell Scripting Primer
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/OpenSource/Conceptual/Shel lScripting/ShellScripting.pdf
Check you local library. Any book on Bash syntax will do. There will be minor differences but they will not be great.
Sometimes you can get a good deal on used books in Amazon.
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Create new Account</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>blue apple &gt; system preferences </p>
<p> clicks on accounts icon</p>
<p> </p>
<p>click on lock icon if locked.  </p>
<p>enter logon password   </p>
<p><img alt="Picture 9.png" class="jive-image-thumbnail jive-image" src="https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-21015941-20777 6/Picture+9.png" width="450" __jive_id="207776" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>click on + icon ( left side of screen just above the lock icon )</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img alt="Picture 10.png" class="jive-image-thumbnail jive-image" src="https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-21015941-20777 7/Picture+10.png" width="450" __jive_id="207777" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>after creating new account, you need to logout of your current account.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>blue apple &gt; log out ... current count name ...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>log on to new account. see if problem goes away.</p>
<p><img alt="Picture 11.png" class="jive-image" src="https://discussions.apple.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-21015941-20785 9/Picture+11.png" __jive_id="207859" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>if it has gone  away, some preference file got messed up on your account. Rename the appropriate  Preference file. You will have to figure out the name.   They are .plist files.  Look for these files in Preferences folder which is in your Library folder [ more formally ~/Library/Preferences ].  ... reboot.</p>
<p>Post back for more help. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> More tips on creating a new account</p>
<p> http://pondini.org/OSX/Transfer.html </p>