title: Linux rpm installs but cannot erase. Why?
body: <p>My Perl code installed several (4) rpm files as root. the next install removes them (<code>rpm -e</code>) before installing a newer version.  One does not remove, with <code>rpm -e</code> giving the error that it is not installed.  However, later when the updated file is installed, the message is given that it is already installed.</p>
  
  <p>Manual attempts to remove give the same results.  My questions are how to force removal something from the rpm database, and why does this contradication exist (not installed from <code>rpm -e</code> and already installed from <code>rpm -Uvh</code> and <code>rpm -ivh</code>)?</p>