LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] how to use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove unnecessary packages

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how to use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove unnecessary packages

I was installing something and ran into this (in the terminal). So just how do I remove them? Thanks!

The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libpostproc52 linux-headers-3.13.0-24 linux-headers-3.13.0-24-generic
linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic linux-image-extra-3.13.0-24-generic
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.

Hi,

you run exactly that command with root privs. Eg open a terminal an run

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 5279203)

Hi,

you run exactly that command with root privs. Eg open a terminal an run

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Evo2.

Thanks Evo2. Is this how it would work out step by step?

So I run:

sudo apt-get autoremove

then I run:

libpostproc52 linux-headers-3.13.0-24 linux-headers-3.13.0-24-generic

then I run:

sudo apt-get autoremove

then I run:

linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic linux-image-extra-3.13.0-24-generic

Hi,

no you just have to run:

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove

That's all.

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 5279821)

Hi,

no you just have to run:

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove

That's all.

Evo2.

Evo, I did it and it wants to remove more than what I mentioned.

gregory@UpstairsComputer:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get autoremove
[sudo] password for gregory:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
libpostproc52 linux-headers-3.13.0-24 linux-headers-3.13.0-24-generic
linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic linux-image-extra-3.13.0-24-generic
wine-gecko2.21 wine-mono0.0.8
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 7 to remove and 2 not upgraded.
After this operation, 290 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

I don't know what those other things do, so I said no. Should I go back in run it again and say yes? Which is another way of saying, 'Are those other things important or should I get rid of them?'

And 290MB seems a fair amount of file size. Maybe some of that stuff is imporant? I know I've been trying to do some stuff with WINE lately.

Is there any way to remove just the ones I mentioned?

Hi,

from the apt-get man page:

Code:

      autoremove

          autoremove is used to remove packages that were automatically

          installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and are now no

          longer needed.

So I think you can just remove them. If you want more information about each package you can use apt-cache. Eg

Code:

apt-cache show <packagename>

If you just want to remove specific packages you can do:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove <packagename>

Or if you want to remove its configuration files too (you usually do).

Code:

sudo apt-get purge <packagename>

I recommend you read some apt tutorials online to learn how to use it.

HTH,

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 5279851)

Hi,

from the apt-get man page:

Code:

      autoremove

          autoremove is used to remove packages that were automatically

          installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and are now no

          longer needed.

So I think you can just remove them. If you want more information about each package you can use apt-cache. Eg

Code:

apt-cache show <packagename>

If you just want to remove specific packages you can do:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove <packagename>

Or if you want to remove its configuration files too (you usually do).

Code:

sudo apt-get purge <packagename>

I recommend you read some apt tutorials online to learn how to use it.

HTH,

Evo2.

Thanks, Evo2, for the superb information. I will definitely learn more about removing them too. Really appreciate your effort.