Streamlining Bodhi for N270 Atom: Removing packages/applications & updating

R_Van · 10-16-2018, 08:45 AM

My Asus 1000H tells me I am working with v3.2.1. I suspect this to be incorrect because, the start menu navigation, Bodhi|About, did not always update after I performed updates. Presumably, there is a command I could execute that would answer this specifically yet, I do not know what this is.

My current needs are to remove some of the packages I no longer need yet, I should find a means to identify these to ensure I do not accidentally remove something I might need. The GUI is a big help here but, I should be thorough. Additionally, I could not find the command to remove the packages I decide to remove either. I have searched but, not found. I will continue to do so. I think I have a local document that tells me this but, was unable to locate this in a short period of time.

Note I attempted to install 5.0 on a second 1000H recently and this effort did not go well. I then reached for v4.5 and this did go well. Is it possible that Bodhi has developed to a point that my 1.6 GHz Atom needs a smaller distribution?

the_waiter · 10-16-2018, 12:32 PM

I am not sure I fully understand, but in case you want to remove packages you do not need, just use terminal and purge them: sudo apt purge package_name. Be carefull about this. Some packages are dependencies which have to be there for supporting other apps. This could lead to unpredictable state in no skilled hands. Sorry I am not able to consider your Linux knowledge.
Secondly, what was wrong with your 1000H installation? Start a new thread and I guarantee we will try help you. The truth is I also did not managed installing BL5 on some NTBs, but instead of closer look, I just installed older BL versions. I think some troubles could be related to newer kernel under the hood which fulfil the HW needs for new computers. I was really fine with BL 3 on my Lenovo S12 with 1.6 GHz CPU VIA and very exotic HW.

cordx · 10-16-2018, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_waiter

Be carefull about this. Some packages are dependencies which have to be there for supporting other apps. This could lead to unpredictable state in no skilled hands.

would the synaptic package manager help with a situation like this? especially since right click will show a properties tab that helps see what connections and dependencies might be involved?

R_Van · 10-16-2018, 07:11 PM

I installed several applications from the Bodhi app center a long time ago and never really used these. I am referring to removing these and suspect removing them is of no concern for dependencies. I may have used the wrong term to describe these when I stated "packages." Sorry if this created confusion but, I think use of "package" is okay for this usage.

I think this NTB (i.e., 1000H #1) is actually running Bodhi 4.0, I just cannot prove this. It seems slower now that I added the additional software load of the applications I mention above. Ultimately, I need a good user experience when using any computer/OS so, any version is okay for me as long as it does not introduce security issues. The 1000H #2 had the recent installation problem. I have left this project alone.

I just found this:

cat /etc/os-release
NAME="Ubuntu"
Version="14.04.5 LTS, Trusty Tahr"

This post
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1782...alled-packages

offered some useful information but, I did not get the list text file on my desktop. Why not?

I thought synaptic package manager was only for installation of packages.

cordx · 10-16-2018, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_Van

I thought synaptic package manager was only for installation of packages.

i have never used it to uninstall packages, but saw earlier when i was looking at it that removal was one of the options:

https://imgur.com/a/OS3wfJS

cordx · 10-16-2018, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_Van

This post
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1782...alled-packages

offered some useful information but, I did not get the list text file on my desktop. Why not?

it just occurred to me after posting that last one that synaptic package manager will also show you a list of installed packages. after opening, i clicked "status" at the bottom left and then "installed" close to the top on the left.

https://imgur.com/a/67YHvuG

R_Van · 10-16-2018, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordx

i have never used it to uninstall packages, but saw earlier when i was looking at it that removal was one of the options:

https://imgur.com/a/OS3wfJS

cordx - Good catch! News to me. I will certainly look into this option. I am not in a rush and noticed this is the sole remaining Bodhi forum so, thought I'd better get acquainted with the members here.

cordx · 10-17-2018, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R_Van

I am not in a rush and noticed this is the sole remaining Bodhi forum so, thought I'd better get acquainted with the members here.

"not in a rush" is definitely my preferred mode when at all possible

i hope you get your machine running smoothly. i am running the legacy version of bodhi 5 on an old thinkpad T60 of mine and it just threw a funky checksum error so i think i understand trying to get things into a nice working order. there is a bodhi subreddit that i subscribe to as well, but not a whole lot happens over there. so far this forum seems to be the most active that i have found as well.

Stella456 · 10-19-2018, 04:37 AM

Yes you can uninstall via the synaptic package manager :-) Find the software you want to uninstall by using the search box then right click on the name of the one you want to uninstall and select "remove completely" (I think that's what it says) then click "apply" on the top bar and a window will open - it may tell you which other packages also need to be removed and you just agree and go ahead and it removes them. Same way as you install them but in reverse. If you say which software it is someone can tell you the command line instruction for them I would think, also.

Another thought - if you have a lot to remove it might be easier to just reinstall and add what you now want - then no worries. I have Bodhi 4 on a few Eee PC's and find it runs better than Bodhi 3 :-) (Haven't tried it on an Eee 1000 but have on an Atom N450) So another option may to try installing Bodhi 4 - if there are some issues with it, reinstall Bodhi 3 and then add what you want.

Actually found Bodhi plays better with the Celeron Eee PC's than the Atom ones. It works fine on the atom ones but there is the odd icon not displaying correctly - a minor thing in the bigger picture. Suspect it may be graphics on the machine.

Stella456 · 10-19-2018, 04:41 AM

Just to add - I find earlier atom processors fine - but the later N2600 Cedarview atom processor won't run Linux - in fact it won't run anything except Windows 7 - it was designed to run Windows 7 only - a known issue - no graphics drivers. Which is a total pain as I have a very nice machine that is stuck with Windows 7.

Stella456 · 10-19-2018, 04:42 AM

Personally I would try installing Bodhi 4 on it - it's been out for a while and is long term support till 2021 (I believe) and find it installs lovely - and easily and is great. Not had any issues.

rbtylee · 10-22-2018, 06:21 AM

@serendipity7000, Bodhi 4.5 is a lovely distribution. But it should be noted that Bodhi specific development on 4.5 has essential stopped. Bodhi only has a small number of people that develop and package things and with each new release we do very little upgrading of past releases. The long term support part is referring to the ubuntu packages mostly. It should also be noted the Bodhi linux 5.0 has a number of bugs fixed in the moksha package which are still present in the Bodhi 4.5 package. Perhaps you have never encountered these bugs but as I was the one that fixed them I know how to trigger them. For example make bodhi 4.5 seg fault when Bodhi 5.0 doesn't. Admittedly most of these bugs are 'edge' cases and you are unlikely to trigger them but they do exists. In time I am going to fix some more bugs I know about in moksha, many backported from e22, but again these patches are only going to be available in BL 5.0. If at all possible I advise people to use or update to Bodhi 5.0.

Stella456 · 10-22-2018, 09:28 AM

Ok - thanks for explaining that :-) I agree Bodhi 5 is great. I just love Bodhi 4 because it installs on very old hardware and tiny drives!

R_Van · 05-27-2020, 11:42 AM

@serendipity7000 - Yes, your suggestion worked for removing packages. I had been using the command "dpkg" and could recall how to use it properly.
This is really what I need to be reminded of but Synaptic is efficient and user friendly. I might add it might help if I logged on to this forum more frequently...