I am slowly learning Linux by bringing up a server. Using tasksel, I installed the LAMP-server, which went fine. Now, however, I have mucked about with various config files and made the setup unusable. I'd like to do uninstall all of the LAMP packages and do a clean (and more thoughtful) install.

Here's the problem: tasksel returns an "aptitude failed (100)" error. I have search various forums and all of the help related to this error (which I can't actually find *explained* anywhere) is related to installing packages. I tried them anyway, without success. man pages and the stack of manuals I have don't seem to be of much help either.

Can someone point me to a resource for any of these:
- describe what the error message means?
- a way to remove the packages or the config files by hand?

Thanks!

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I am running Ubuntu Server 10.10 on an compaq nc6400.

Maybe this thread will help:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...how-to-723181/

If you are doing this strictly for testing or learning purposes, I'd suggest you take a look at XAMPP.

It installs to its own self-contained directory under /opt. If you mess it up or want to start over for any reason, you can simply delete that directory and reinstall from the compressed file.

It is not designed to face the public, at least not without setting the security; details at the website.

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Thanks, I will look at it as an option... my first priority is learning how this stuff works, my second to get a public-facing server up and running.

And of course, fifteen minutes after posting my issue I cracked the code. I ran aptitude without any arguments to bring the neo-graphical interface and started searching through the various lists of packages. In "Tasks" list I found the LAMP-server and was able to remove the collection of packages associated with it, along with understanding what other installed software would stop working (like Wordpress).

But I'd still like to know what the "aptitude failed (100)" error means. It has to be documented somewhere but I haven't found it!

My curiosity is tweaked also and I haven't found a thing cataloging aptitude error messages.