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Thread ID: 107486 2010-02-17 22:40:00 Installing KDE on Debian Lenny nofam (9009) Press F1
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859552 2010-02-18 11:42:00 If you remove the gnome desktop metapackage then do an 'apt-get autoremove' it will remove all packages that were installed as a dependency but are no longer required by any installed packages.
This may be more than just your unneeded gnome stuff so pay attention to the list.
You can set any that you want to keep, as NOT auto installed with aptitude
fred_fish (15241)
859553 2010-02-18 18:58:00 If you remove the gnome desktop metapackage then do an 'apt-get autoremove' it will remove all packages that were installed as a dependency but are no longer required by any installed packages.Does this now work for packages selected during the install? It wasn't capable of this in the past (because the version of apt used for the installer wasn't able to track auto / manual package installs), but I wouldn't be surprised if that's changed - it's been a while since I've used the installer. Erayd (23)
859554 2010-02-18 19:30:00 ah, ok, never noticed that.
I usually do a base install, then pull in what I need.
fred_fish (15241)
859555 2010-02-18 19:43:00 The best way was actually to not install it in the first place... That said, now that you've got it, it's probably easier to just leave it there.



How do you not install it in the first place? I don't recall seeing an option to install without a gui, or even pick the packages I wanted; there was a roles selection option (desktop, laptop, web server etc).

Would I have to download the binaries and compile my own build sans all the Gnome stuff (and include KDE at that stage)?

Will have a hunt around for the recommended way to uninstall Gnome and report back! :D

This is so exciting - learning heaps! And Linux is so much nicer to use than AIX!

:punk
nofam (9009)
859556 2010-02-18 20:16:00 I think I'm going to blow away my install of Debian and download Mepis instead.

I too had no option about Gnome desktop and wanted to use KDE. I note that Mepis seems to come with KDE anyway. Probably my first mistake was downloading the minimal net install. I spent most of the day yesterday getting KDE as my data cap went and about an hour short of completing I lost my connection with the server.

I too think it's a bit of a learning experience but I'm sure I'll work it out.
Sweep (90)
859557 2010-02-18 20:55:00 How do you not install it in the first place? I don't recall seeing an option to install without a gui, or even pick the packages I wanted; there was a roles selection option (desktop, laptop, web server etc).The installer should give you the option of choosing 'desktop', 'server' etc - just de-select the 'desktop' option. If the standard one doesn't, run the 'expert' or 'expertgui' installer (type this at the boot prompt on the install cd).


Would I have to download the binaries and compile my own build sans all the Gnome stuff (and include KDE at that stage)?No - nothing like that! Debian is generally very easy.


Will have a hunt around for the recommended way to uninstall Gnome and report back! :DThe recommended way is autoremove if available, otherwise the deptree method.


I think I'm going to blow away my install of Debian and download Mepis instead.Wha..... why?


I too had no option about Gnome desktop and wanted to use KDE. I note that Mepis seems to come with KDE anyway.See above - the option is called 'desktop'.


Probably my first mistake was downloading the minimal net install. I spent most of the day yesterday getting KDE as my data cap went and about an hour short of completing I lost my connection with the server.Minimal netinstall is actually the best way of doing it - otherwise you end up downloading a lot more, most of which you either don't need or is out of date.


I too think it's a bit of a learning experience but I'm sure I'll work it out.Absolutely - although it's not that steep; in my humble opinion you should persevere with Debian. That said, I've heard good things about Mepis (although I haven't used it myself), so I'll be interested to see how you go.
Erayd (23)
859558 2010-02-18 20:56:00 I ended up doing a apt-get remove gnome gnome-utils gnome-core gnome-desktop-data gnome-desktop-environment which seems to have done the trick, followed by desktop=kde.

Will see how that goes.
nofam (9009)
859559 2010-02-18 22:07:00 I would recommend aptitude instead of apt-get. It's a bit more informative and better at resolving dependencies.
Also, in interactive mode, you get a ncurses interface to look at all the package lists & info & status. Any installations or removals show you exactly what it is going to do first, and you get multiple choice prompts for resolving any issues.

I haven't used Mepis either, but other debian-based distro's have not impressed me as much as the original, but then I prefer things 'working' rather than 'shiny'. :)
fred_fish (15241)
859560 2010-02-18 23:04:00 I would recommend aptitude instead of apt-get. It's a bit more informative and better at resolving dependencies.
Also, in interactive mode, you get a ncurses interface to look at all the package lists & info & status.Aptitude can be a bit risky, as it accepts some things by default that shouldn't be accepted. It's generally pretty good though, and the consequences of its (occasional) decision-making errors are usually trivial. If you care about such things, the ncurses interface is definitely nice.


Any installations or removals show you exactly what it is going to do first, and you get multiple choice prompts for resolving any issues.Apt can do this as well, you just have to ask for it.


...but then I prefer things 'working' rather than 'shiny'. :)
Agreed there! Although when you can get working *and* shiny in the same package, that's just too darn brilliant for words :rolleyes:.


I ended up doing a apt-get remove gnome gnome-utils gnome-core gnome-desktop-data gnome-desktop-environment which seems to have done the trick, followed by desktop=kde.

Will see how that goes.
That won't have got rid of everything - there will still be quite a bit of leftover junk - but it shouldn't bother you, and can safely be left alone.
Erayd (23)
859561 2010-02-18 23:45:00 That won't have got rid of everything - there will still be quite a bit of leftover junk - but it shouldn't bother you, and can safely be left alone .

Indeed - have blown away the VM and re-installed without Desktop packages . . . and now re-installing KDE :)

All this Linux stuff gets easier when you re-do something over and over . I even figured out why you put a ^ and a $ on your apt-cache search string ;)
nofam (9009)
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