Xian
July 30th, 2005, 02:03 PM
Your Ubuntu installation will accumulate packages over time that are no longer required. Usually this occurs because they have been pulled into the system so as to satisfy the dependency requirements of other software that has since been removed. When using Apt and/or Synaptic (the default Ubuntu package manager), these dependent packages don't get uninstalled during the normal process of removing the parent package.
This is one method in which to find and remove orphaned packages from your system. It is notably easy since you will be using the Synaptic package manager, which is a tool that most people are already familiar with and use regularly.
Please note that orphaned packages cause no harm and can be left installed with no ill effects. The primary reason to remove them is just to make your system leaner, and for anyone that simply doesn't want installed packages which may no longer serve any purpose.
It is important _not_ to remove any orphaned packages that you might feel to be erroneously reported. The process and results are relatively safe, but obviously the results can not be taken for granted and should always be viewed with some level of scrutiny.
1. Enable the Extra Repos (http://ubuntuguide.org/#extrarepositories)
2. Install deborphan
$ sudo apt-get install deborphan
3. Open Synaptic and click the 'Custom' button in the lower-left corner.
You should already see sections such as 'Broken' and 'Marked Changes'.
4. From Synaptic's main menu choose Settings > Filters
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic70b.png
5. Click on the 'New' button.
In the Dialogue box type in 'Orphaned' in place of 'New Filter 1'
This will name the filter (choose any name you prefer).
6. Click the 'Deselect All' box then tick the 'Orphaned' box.
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic71b.png
7. Click 'Okay'
8. Highlight the 'Orphaned' option and view the selected packages.
Choose any/all of them and 'Mark For Removal' with right-click.
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic72b.png
This is one method in which to find and remove orphaned packages from your system. It is notably easy since you will be using the Synaptic package manager, which is a tool that most people are already familiar with and use regularly.
Please note that orphaned packages cause no harm and can be left installed with no ill effects. The primary reason to remove them is just to make your system leaner, and for anyone that simply doesn't want installed packages which may no longer serve any purpose.
It is important _not_ to remove any orphaned packages that you might feel to be erroneously reported. The process and results are relatively safe, but obviously the results can not be taken for granted and should always be viewed with some level of scrutiny.
1. Enable the Extra Repos (http://ubuntuguide.org/#extrarepositories)
2. Install deborphan
$ sudo apt-get install deborphan
3. Open Synaptic and click the 'Custom' button in the lower-left corner.
You should already see sections such as 'Broken' and 'Marked Changes'.
4. From Synaptic's main menu choose Settings > Filters
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic70b.png
5. Click on the 'New' button.
In the Dialogue box type in 'Orphaned' in place of 'New Filter 1'
This will name the filter (choose any name you prefer).
6. Click the 'Deselect All' box then tick the 'Orphaned' box.
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic71b.png
7. Click 'Okay'
8. Highlight the 'Orphaned' option and view the selected packages.
Choose any/all of them and 'Mark For Removal' with right-click.
It should look similar to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/camplear/forums/synaptic72b.png