[Resolved] apt-get autoremove removes lot of packages: why .

[kenwong]

Without going into the package list, I just used apt-get autoremove and it removed a lot of packages. Now, it seems that many of those packages are actually useful to me.

Here is what /var/log/apt/history.log tells me:

Code: Select all

Start-Date: 2016-06-11  23:01:48
Commandline: apt-get autoremove
Remove: telepathy-idle:amd64 (0.2.0-2), libspice-client-gtk-3.0-4:amd64 (0.25-1+b1), libsgutils2-2:amd64 (1.39-1), gnustep-common:amd64 (2.6.6-3), fonts-cantarell:amd64 (0.0.16-1), libsofia-sip-ua-glib3:amd64 (1.12.11+20110422.1-2), rhythmbox-plugins:amd64 (3.1-1), empathy-common:amd64 (3.12.7-1), empathy:amd64 (3.12.7-1), python-wnck:amd64 (2.32.0+dfsg-3), argyll:amd64 (1.6.3-4), python3-markupsafe:amd64 (0.23-1+b1), caribou:amd64 (0.4.15-1), libidl0:amd64 (0.8.14-0.4+b1), gir1.2-zpj-0.0:amd64 (0.0.3-1+b1), dleyna-renderer:amd64 (0.4.0-1), gnustep-base-common:amd64 (1.24.7-1), libgfbgraph-0.2-0:amd64 (0.2.2-1), libexiv2-13:amd64 (0.24-4.1), gnome-online-miners:amd64 (3.14.0-2), libusbredirparser1:amd64 (0.7-1), telepathy-salut:amd64 (0.8.1-4), libjansson4:amd64 (2.7-1+deb8u1), libgtk-vnc-2.0-0:amd64 (0.5.3-1.3), gnome-logs:amd64 (3.14.2-1), telepathy-gabble:amd64 (0.18.3-1+b1), simple-scan:amd64 (3.14.0-1), gnome-shell-extensions:amd64 (3.14.2-1), gnome-system-monitor:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libkrb5-26-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), gir1.2-grilo-0.2:amd64 (0.2.11-2), libroken18-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), hyphen-en-us:amd64 (2.8.8-1), gnome-disk-utility:amd64 (3.12.1-1+b1), gir1.2-secret-1:amd64 (0.18-1+b1), gir1.2-gtop-2.0:amd64 (2.28.5-2+b1), gedit-common:amd64 (3.14.0-3), iputils-tracepath:amd64 (20121221-5+b2), python3-gi-cairo:amd64 (3.14.0-1), gnome-getting-started-docs:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libwind0-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), gstreamer1.0-nice:amd64 (0.1.7-1), p7zip-full:amd64 (9.20.1~dfsg.1-4.1+deb8u2), alacarte:amd64 (3.11.91-2), gnome-calculator:amd64 (3.14.1-1), gedit-plugins:amd64 (3.14.0-2), gir1.2-tracker-1.0:amd64 (1.2.4-2), libhcrypto4-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), libgdict-1.0-6:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libheimntlm0-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), libgnome-menu-3-0:amd64 (3.13.3-6), telepathy-logger:amd64 (0.8.1-1), gir1.2-vte-2.91:amd64 (0.38.1-2), hamster-applet:amd64 (2.91.3+git20120514.b9fec3e1-1), python-pyorbit:amd64 (2.24.0-7), liblinear1:amd64 (1.8+dfsg-4), minissdpd:amd64 (1.2.20130907-3), libcmis-0.4-4:amd64 (0.4.1-7), libwps-0.3-3:amd64 (0.3.0-2), unoconv:amd64 (0.6-6), libavahi-ui-gtk3-0:amd64 (0.6.31-5), unar:amd64 (1.8.1-3+b1), gnome-photos:amd64 (3.14.2-1), gir1.2-git2-glib-1.0:amd64 (0.0.22-1), gnome-sound-recorder:amd64 (3.14.0.1-1), nmap:amd64 (6.47-3+deb8u2), polari:amd64 (3.14.1-1), gucharmap:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libfarstream-0.2-2:amd64 (0.2.4-1), libobjc4:amd64 (4.9.2-10), gir1.2-gucharmap-2.90:amd64 (3.14.1-1), rhythmbox-data:amd64 (3.1-1), gir1.2-goa-1.0:amd64 (3.14.2-1), rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder:amd64 (3.1-1), libcaribou-gtk3-module:amd64 (0.4.15-1), libgpod4:amd64 (0.8.3-1.1+b1), libboost-program-options1.55.0:amd64 (1.55.0+dfsg-3), gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio:amd64 (0.10.31-3+nmu4+b1), python-gnome2:amd64 (2.28.1+dfsg-1.1), gtk2-engines:amd64 (2.20.2-3), libwnck-common:amd64 (2.30.7-2), baobab:amd64 (3.14.1-1), gnome-video-effects:amd64 (0.4.1-2), libjemalloc1:amd64 (3.6.0-3), gvfs-fuse:amd64 (1.22.2-1), vino:amd64 (3.14.0-2+b1), cheese:amd64 (3.14.1-2), gnome-media:amd64 (3.4.0-2), python-pyatspi:amd64 (2.14.0+dfsg-1), gnome-tweak-tool:amd64 (3.14.2-2), gnome-dictionary:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libgit2-glib-1.0-0:amd64 (0.0.22-1), libasn1-8-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), libgtkmm-3.0-1:amd64 (3.14.0-1), libreoffice-help-en-us:amd64 (4.3.3-2+deb8u4), gnome-clocks:amd64 (3.14.1-1), gir1.2-gtkchamplain-0.12:amd64 (0.12.9-1), rhythmbox:amd64 (3.1-1), caribou-antler:amd64 (0.4.15-1), gir1.2-gdata-0.0:amd64 (0.16.1-1), libzapojit-0.0-0:amd64 (0.0.3-1+b1), libgvnc-1.0-0:amd64 (0.5.3-1.3), gnome-nettool:amd64 (3.8.1-1), libnatpmp1:amd64 (20110808-3), bijiben:amd64 (3.14.2-1+b1), goobox:amd64 (3.3.1-6), gnome-music:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libgltf-0.0-0:amd64 (0.0.2-2), gnome-documents:amd64 (3.14.2-1), finger:amd64 (0.17-15), vinagre:amd64 (3.14.1-1), libheimbase1-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), python-gconf:amd64 (2.28.1+dfsg-1.1), libsofia-sip-ua0:amd64 (1.12.11+20110422.1-2), gnome-screenshot:amd64 (3.14.0-1), libtelepathy-farstream3:amd64 (0.6.2-1), gnome-font-viewer:amd64 (3.14.0-2), libwnck22:amd64 (2.30.7-2), libdiscid0:amd64 (0.6.1-3), libreoffice-gtk:amd64 (5.1.3-1~bpo8+1), gnome-color-manager:amd64 (3.14.1-1), gir1.2-rest-0.7:amd64 (0.7.92-3), gedit:amd64 (3.14.0-3), libgpod-common:amd64 (0.8.3-1.1+b1), libcaribou-gtk-module:amd64 (0.4.15-1), libgnustep-base1.24:amd64 (1.24.7-1), gnome-menus:amd64 (3.13.3-6), transmission-gtk:amd64 (2.84-0.2), libgucharmap-2-90-7:amd64 (3.14.1-1), xdg-user-dirs-gtk:amd64 (0.10-1), argyll-ref:amd64 (1.6.3-4), libgssapi3-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), libgit2-21:amd64 (0.21.1-3), python3-mako:amd64 (1.0.0+dfsg-0.1), libusbredirhost1:amd64 (0.7-1), gir1.2-geocodeglib-1.0:amd64 (3.14.0-1), gnome-shell-extension-weather:amd64 (0~20151125.gitccaa1eb-1~deb8u1), gnome-system-log:amd64 (3.9.90-2), gir1.2-mediaart-1.0:amd64 (0.7.0-2), liborcus-0.8-0:amd64 (0.7.0+dfsg-9), media-player-info:amd64 (22-2), transmission-common:amd64 (2.84-0.2), gir1.2-rb-3.0:amd64 (3.1-1), libspice-client-glib-2.0-8:amd64 (0.25-1+b1), libhx509-5-heimdal:amd64 (1.6~rc2+dfsg-9), libgdict-common:amd64 (3.14.1-1), librhythmbox-core8:amd64 (3.1-1), file-roller:amd64 (3.14.1-1), seahorse:amd64 (3.14.0-2), gir1.2-champlain-0.12:amd64 (0.12.9-1), spice-client-glib-usb-acl-helper:amd64 (0.25-1+b1), telepathy-rakia:amd64 (0.8.0-3), gnustep-base-runtime:amd64 (1.24.7-1), sound-theme-freedesktop:amd64 (0.8-1), gir1.2-zeitgeist-2.0:amd64 (0.9.14-2.2), python3-dbus:amd64 (1.2.0-2+b3), liborbit2:amd64 (2.14.19-0.3), nautilus-sendto:amd64 (3.8.2-1), libcoverart0:amd64 (1.0.0+git20140109-2), libminiupnpc10:amd64 (1.9.20140610-2+deb8u1), gir1.2-gmenu-3.0:amd64 (3.13.3-6), gnome-maps:amd64 (3.14.1.2-1), ndiff:amd64 (6.47-3+deb8u2)
End-Date: 2016-06-11  23:04:26

My questions:
Why did the system advise that I could remove these packages, while, I have no idea, for example, that I ever upgraded gnome-disk-utility?
How can I now get those packages back easily?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Please read http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=104157

aptitude(8) is your friend, see https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apti ... ex.en.html

[cronoik]

/var/log/apt/history.log

Check the entries which were logged before. You have removed a metapackage (maybe task-gnome-desktop or gnome) before apt suggested you to remove them. Install it and you will get all of these packages back.

[kenwong]

Thanks Head_on_a_Stick and cronoik.

I have gone through the log. The only suspects may be xserver-xorg-video-intel (which I upgraded to the Jessie-backports version) and linux-image (which I upgraded for several versions from Jessie-backports), but I'm not sure.

Any suggestions?

Also, I can see that gnome is not installed.

And, to resolve the issue, is it right that I can use "apitude install -s"?

[stevepusser]

You have just about all the components of the GNOME desktop installed. What desktop are you using?

[kenwong]

What desktop are you using?

Hi, I'm using the Gnome desktop environment. Thanks.

[stevepusser]

You should be able to get them back by reinstalling the full GNOME desktop metapackage, "gnome".

[kenwong]

Thanks all of you for the help!

As Head_on_a_Stick suggested, aptitude is our friend. I took some time in reading the Debian documentation on aptitude and used it to get the packages back! Have learnt a good lesson.