package maintenance questions

[occy8]

Noob questions!!!

1. I have Ubuntu installed for about 2 weeks and installed and uninstalled a couple of packages. Because of dependencies I installed other packages as well. How can I find and remove them?

2. When I download files with Synaptic, those files are kept on the computer?!?
If so I could burn them on a CD as backup

3. Ubuntu hasn't crashed so far, but I'm sure I will be able to do so one day :oops:
When I reinstall it will my /home folder safe? If I don't format it will I have access to it?

[occy8]

O.k. this is kind of a DIY project. I found out where the files are downloaded by synaptic that answers question 2. But I would like to know about the other two questions, specially question 3.



1. I have Ubuntu installed for about 2 weeks and installed and uninstalled a couple of packages. Because of dependencies I installed other packages as well. How can I find and remove them?

3. Ubuntu hasn't crashed so far, but I'm sure I will be able to do so one day.
When I reinstall it will my /home folder be safe? If I don't format it will I have access to it?

[panickedthumb]

1. Kinda tricky. Basically, you could right-click on the package in synaptic, choose properties, check the dependencies there, and then uninstall them manually.
3. Did you put /home on a different partition? I wouldn't suggest you reinstall Ubuntu without formatting / first (though it's possible it could work fine, you've got the possibility of lingering files that aren't needed, and that may cause issues, etc), and if /home isn't on a different partition, that will delete your /home folder.

[occy8]

1. Kinda tricky. Basically, you could right-click on the package in synaptic, choose properties, check the dependencies there, and then uninstall them manually.

Hmm but then other packages could depend on them as well, right? Unless I install something check it out and remove it straight away. But If I use it for a while there could be problems
There is no way a package could tell you " I'm here, but I just sit on my *** and take up space :lol: "???

3. Did you put /home on a different partition? I wouldn't suggest you reinstall Ubuntu without formatting / first (though it's possible it could work fine, you've got the possibility of lingering files that aren't needed, and that may cause issues, etc), and if /home isn't on a different partition, that will delete your /home folder.

/home is on its own partition. I was wandering if I get access to it if I loose my current Ubuntu and install a fresh one

[panickedthumb]

when you remove the package, just make sure it doesn't remove anything important.

and if /home is on it's own partition, you can indeed leave it unformatted and use what's already there.

[occy8]

o.k. I won't touch those packages for a while until I understand a bit more of it.

and if /home is on it's own partition, you can indeed leave it unformatted and use what's already there.

thats good news I can move all my files over from windows :grin: \\:D/
thanks for help