How to keep only minimum system files or program?
 

I am with Ubuntu 11.10 now, main use is for internet surfing and emailing. i found that there are about 1000+ items installed in my system and this making my laptop lagging and slower.

How to decide which files to delete without deleting important files? i know i can go to software center but it was too slow for me as i mentioned there are 1000+ items to delete if i want to.

My memory is 480MiB, Intel Pentium processor 1.70GHz.

A better way would be to make only a minimal install and then add the programs you need, instead of deleting packages from a full blow system (with the risk of breaking things).

Look at e.g. http://wiki.dennyhalim.com/ubuntu-minimal-desktop and http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/minimal

It's much easier to not install so much to begin with. Do a minimal installation of a system then add the things you need so all you have is core components, drivers, and things you use. The links in the above post give information about how to do that with Ubuntu.
However some more streamlined distributions may be more appropriate for a machine with 480MiB Memory. Maybe Slitaz, DamnSmall Linux, Tinycore, or Puppy, or any of a long list of small distributions available. would be more appropriate given the limited hardware. All of those should be able to handle internet surfing and email with no problems, some of them do have some trouble with wireless internet though.

With 480MB you should be able to run distros that use Gnome 2 (for example Debian, Mint), XFCE (any major distro, for example Xubuntu, Slackware, Vector), LXDE (any major distro, for example Debian, Lubuntu) or Enlightenment (for example Bodhi). If you want to go more minimal try distributions that use a WM as main user interface, for example antiX or Crunchbang . I think that Bodhi may be what you want, it comes as a rather basic install with Enlightenment desktop and you can build up on that, using Bodhi's and Ubuntu's repositories.

You might also look at: http://askubuntu.com/questions/61445...ndled-software

Files sitting on a disk do not make anything run slower. They do consume disk storage, but only when they are loaded into memory as running processes do they consume any CPU time, or compete for memory. If you want to reduce the number of processes competing for memory and CPU resources, use a process monitoring tool such as ps or top to evaluate resource consumption. Simply deleting unused files from the disk will do absolutely nothing to speed up your system.
To get a snapshot of what files actually are being used at any instant, the tool lsof displays a list of all open files. Perhaps you could set up some kind of scheme to take periodic snapshots of open files, and distill the results into a list, built up over time. Move (not delete) everything that doesn't make it to the list onto another temporary storage media, and be prepared to copy it back to the working disk when something tries to use it. After a while, you should be able to reach a near optimal filesystem size.
--- rod.

Thank you all for the prompt reply and information.
i don't think i can try out all the distros u guys mentioned in a short period, however will explore myself in times to come. Wanna just stick to Ubuntu for the time being.
i am planing to reinstall my OS with a miniCD from Ubuntu downloaded just now. Try it out after i do some back up.
Yes this is in fact trying to save up more disc space because i find that not all the programs or system files currently installed are needed for my daily usage.

theNbomr, you had enlighten me that in order to avoid speed slow down thats nothing to do with files sitting, thanks for that...the steps u suggested is kind of aliens for me as newbiee :), would like to learn more from you. Please kindly lead me to any website or some additional reading?

By the way guys, my system showing that memory is 480MiB but actually my physical memory is 512. why?
The reason i migrate to Linux from Windows is limited disc space(60G) and memory(512MB). With Windows XP it eaten up a lot of my disc space and very much slowing down my speed.

How not to get myself lagging and slow with Linux?

I would guess that you have an onboard graphics chip that reserves 32MB of your memory for its work.

By using a 'lighter' distro. Ubuntu in general is one of the heaviest distros, and while some versions are a bit lighter (Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Bodhi) the 'ubuntu-desktop' versions are always farily heavy.

If you are new to linux, I'd suggest using a different desktop enviroment to the standard ubuntu 11.10 'unity' desktop. Only ubuntu uses unity, so you cant change distros and get the same desktop you are used to, its heavy (heavier than gnome 2.X which unity replaced) and IMO its nowhere near as userfriendly as some of the other desktops.

I'd suggect Xfce or Lxde- they are avaible for almost all distros, lighter than unity or gnome 2.X and easy to use.

If you want to stick with a ubuntu variant, Xubuntu or Lubuntu if you dont want to do a more 'minimal' setup.

BTW, if you check the pyschocats link that arochester posted (post #3) you can see that it is possible and not that hard to convert a 'normal' ubuntu-desktop install to xubuntu, lubuntu, etc.. You dont have to reinstall! ;)

TobiSGDs guess that you have 32MB used for onboard video is probably right, but IMO its more likely to be 8-16MB for video use and the rest of the 'missing' RAM is being used for onbaord sound, onboard network, with some extra reserved for system use.

I suggest that you find a distro that provides a minimalistic installation, and includes a good package manager. Debian oriented distros use apt for package management, and also provide interactive versions in both GUI (synaptic) and text-mode (aptitude). Using such a tool, you will be able to browse installed packages, and remove them in a coherent manner. The tools are also good for browsing what packages are available to install, of course. They should give you a good view of what you've got installed, and how much disk space will be recovered or used for each package.

--- rod.

Initially plan to stick with Ubuntu MiniCD installation, but i am having problem downloading the archive mirror in order to proceed the install process. Anyway i can sort that out thru Ubuntu forum. Anyhow this had trigger me to try out other minimalistic installation. Downloading Bodhi now to be installed into my laptop and Puppy Linux for USB mobile PC.

With that it solved my Q&A in this thread. With that thank you all and will be 911 u guys again for any coming problem with Linux.

Edit:
After trying out the Ubuntu MiniCD installation and some others mini distros u guys suggested, i chose Bohdi and again Ubuntu11.10. Reason is Ubuntu Mini only installed the minimal system base, i need to manually install other applications. i found that this is not suitable for me as newbee, however it does provide me a lot of free space.

Bodhi is what i am looking for, preserve not only space but also speed with my own selected programs. Keep rolling back to Ubuntu11.10 is to keep myself updated with the development of Ubuntu, if i happened to have a new Notebook or more advance PC i will make full use of it. Of course i will keep explore other distros.

Now playing with WINE learning how to install windows base software, of cause there are many software available which can provide the same functions but i can't get away of it for my daily working activities. Still a lot of things to learn.Wish me luck :)