How to delete "Synaptic Package Manager" config files?

**purgeinator** · May 8th, 2012

There is a bug in synaptic " https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ic/+bug/779756
" which prevents deleting custom filter created. How can I remove config files for synaptic, since 'apt-get purge' didn't work. I want to remove synaptic config files, so that on reinstall there is no custom filter created by me.

**Enigmapond** · May 8th, 2012

The easy way is to install ubuntu-tweak which has a package cleaner that also purges config files.

**purgeinator** · May 8th, 2012

Originally Posted by Enigmapond

The easy way is to install ubuntu-tweak which has a package cleaner that also purges config files.

How to do that manually since I don't like installing many software? Also why "apt-get purge" is not working?

**Enigmapond** · May 8th, 2012

apt-get purge <file name> will delete the programme and all config files from the original file. If there are dependencies they would need to be listed separately..

**Enigmapond** · May 8th, 2012

OR

Code:

dpkg -l | awk '/^rc/{ print $2}' | sudo xargs dpkg --purge

This will purge all orphaned configs....just found it.

SOURCE - http://tuxtweaks.com/2011/09/remove-...les-in-ubuntu/

**purgeinator** · May 9th, 2012

Originally Posted by Enigmapond

apt-get purge <file name> will delete the programme and all config files from the original file. If there are dependencies they would need to be listed separately..

Tried this but didn't work.

**drs305** · May 9th, 2012

I created a custom filter and found it in /root/.synaptic/filters. Remove that file and it appears to remove any custom filters. To be on the safe side, you could also try moving it out of that folder rather than delete it.

**purgeinator** · May 9th, 2012

Originally Posted by drs305

I created a custom filter and found it in /root/.synaptic/filters. Remove that file and it appears to remove any custom filters. To be on the safe side, you could also try moving it out of that folder rather than delete it.

Thanks! This is what I was looking for. Any idea why "sudo apt-get purge synaptic" didn't remove these files?

**drs305** · May 9th, 2012

Originally Posted by purgeinator

Thanks! This is what I was looking for. Any idea why "sudo apt-get purge synaptic" didn't remove these files?

Not really. The filter file is in root's .synaptic folder, which seems like a normal location for configuration files to me.

Perhaps someone else might know, or maybe the Launchpad bug thread will provide some insight.

Once you have found the answer, no longer care, or give up, please mark the thread SOLVED via the thread tools link at the upper right of the right post.

Happy Ubuntu-ing !

**CatKiller** · May 9th, 2012

Purge doesn't remove files from any Home directory. It really isn't a good thing to do, no matter what bad habits people have picked up from using Windows.