installing another desktop - remove kde

[Hallvor]

Some kde apps, like kcalc, kwallet, kmouth, etc. still work even when I uninstalled kde. They are KDE apps or just named k(app name)?

You only uninstalled parts of KDE. What you see is some of the remains.

[torran_serra]

Some kde apps, like kcalc, kwallet, kmouth, etc. still work even when I uninstalled kde. They are KDE apps or just named k(app name)?

You only uninstalled parts of KDE. What you see is some of the remains.

Hmm, that wasn't a full uninstall of KDE desktop? Not that I mind. KDE wallet was needed by another app which doesn't use it now, for another topic. Shouldn't 'purge' get all the leftover parts? What is left?

[larienna]

I am also willing to remove KDE. I installed many DE recently, but KDE seems to leave some crap even in memory while not in use. For example, I am currently using cinnamon, I have 4 Akonadi process taking 50 megs of ram each. Those process should only be there if KDE is installed. But I am not sure if uninstalling KDE will also remove all those process.

So is there a way to completely purge KDE (Go away and never come back) or it's just easier to install from scratch. I am willing to use a good enough solution to avoid reinstalling everything.

[peer]

I would install from scratch!

[Hallvor]

Hmm, that wasn't a full uninstall of KDE desktop? Not that I mind. KDE wallet was needed by another app which doesn't use it now, for another topic. Shouldn't 'purge' get all the leftover parts? What is left?

As I wrote above in this thread:

When you purge task-kde-desktop, it removes the metapackage and its system-wide configs, but it may leave behind many KDE packages.

Just reinstall if you want to take the easy route. I have done it before - learn from my mistakes.

[Hallvor]

I am also willing to remove KDE. I installed many DE recently, but KDE seems to leave some crap even in memory while not in use. For example, I am currently using cinnamon, I have 4 Akonadi process taking 50 megs of ram each. Those process should only be there if KDE is installed. But I am not sure if uninstalling KDE will also remove all those process.

So is there a way to completely purge KDE (Go away and never come back) or it's just easier to install from scratch. I am willing to use a good enough solution to avoid reinstalling everything.

You seem to have a mediocre understanding of KDE: Akonadi is not "crap". It is about personal information management to seamlessly sync data like emails, calendars, contacts, etc. This is a fantastic feature if you use it (much like file indexing). If you don't use it, it can be disabled.

[torran_serra]

Hmmm, larienna. I understand not wanting to reinstall. However, given KDE privacy issues. Gnome works, KDE fails.

Backups are easy with unison or just file copy folders by hand. You have to watch out the leftover junk and copy the folders only. Setup a backup drive. Get a saberent harddrive enclosue and buy a 2gb hard drive. (about $150 + $15). Instant usb 3.00 backup. You can just use a leftover 2.5" drive, I did.

The easy way. nav up to the user folder and copy to the backup. It will take a while. You might have left over KDE junk. Install and manually copy the folders back. To keep it up to date, run unison. You'll need to manually delete all the hidden(.) files from the backup. Unison can have issue with permissions and sometimes manually deleting and copying is needed until it both are matched.

Harder, copy all the folders one at time and update with unison one folder at a time. You can avoid copying the hidden files. Updating the whole user folder is easier.

Two, on a new version of a distro, I usually backup everything. Do a full reinstall and manually copy the folders back. Updating the backup with unison.

I will do a full reinstall after backup. It's hard, but worth it. Also, you have good password ideas from "grc passwords" steve gibson. You can copy and paste, but make a few changes to play it safe.

[arzgi]

However, given KDE privacy issues. Gnome works, KDE fails.

Would some one please tell, which are these KDE privacy issues. I use XFCE and have not such experience.

[Hallvor]

Would some one please tell, which are these KDE privacy issues. I use XFCE and have not such experience.

He is right that KDE doesn't remove all recent documents for all the applications it says it will. It would be a lot easier to manage this if all applications just stored their entries in ~/.local/share/RecentDocuments/.

I think he is scared that someone may see his last used files and calls it a privacy issue: If the system is properly secured (with LUKS and separate unprivileged user accounts for other users) and no one is peeping over his shoulder, the only person seeing this will be himself.

Should he get hacked, a list of recently used files should be the least of his concerns.

[juribel]

You would have much less useless trouble with a complete fresh install. Backup your /home and afterwards restore what you need.

[larienna]

I have separate partitions for OS and data. So I can easily reinstall. What is complicated is configuration. It took me months to configure this computer, and now I don't have the time to do this. And I currently have little motivation to do it.

Just to give you an idea, I have a text file with 1200 lines of things that I need to do after an installation. Config files to modify, check box and values to set in software, packages to install (at least this is easy), etc.

[arzgi]

I don't know about your 'specila configs'. I have installed Debian so many times, always before version update, and many times I have done something stupid.

I always use the expert installer, and install just the base system without any DE. Then configure wifi, install cli-apllications, then XFCE and some GUI-apps I use, Not a bid deal if I don't remember something at this point, as it is Debian, you can at any point install what ever.

Most XFCE and cli programs save their configs to /home/.config. I use separate /home, to they are saved. Of course I take backups allways before planned upgrade. I sync to laptop my PC, and it has a separate disk for automatic backups.

[Trihexagonal]

I'll show you what a Debian box running Fluxbox looks like soon as it's is done being difficult with mirrors.. Soon...

I have one building now.