Git: How do I checkout a branch ignoring all local changes?

Question

After I have messed around with directories (created/removed) and added/edited both text and binary files, how do I tell git to throw away all my changes, and bring the branch down again, as if I never messed with anything?

Currently I'm doing these two commands.

git stash
git stash clear
git pull <remote> <branch>

which seems to work. I read in help that -f is used to throw away local changes. If that's the case does ...

git checkout <branch> -f

do the same thing?

Thank you!

Answer 1

http://linux.die.net/man/1/git-reset

git reset --hard

Answer 2

git reset --hard

If you want a visual representation of the Branches and commits first type

gitk

Right-click on the desired previous commit and click on "Reset branch to here" You will be presented with 3 options

Use HARD : to discard all the local changes

OR

Use MIXED: to keep the local changed incase if you want to commit again, and it resets the index to the previous commit