Unable to reinstall PyTables for Python 2.7
I had to install libhdf5-8 and libhdf5-serial-dev first.
Then, for me, the command on Ubuntu was:
export HDF5_DIR=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/hdf5/serial/
I am installing Python 2.7 in addition to 2.7. When installing PyTables again for 2.7, I get this error -

Found numpy 1.5.1 package installed.
.. ERROR:: Could not find a local HDF5 installation.
You may need to explicitly state where your local HDF5 headers and
library can be found by setting the HDF5_DIR environment
variable or by using the --hdf5 command-line option.

I am not clear on the HDF installation. I downloaded again - and copied it into a /usr/local/hdf5 directory. And tried to set the environement vars as suggested in the PyTable install. Has anyone else had this problem that could help?