Synaptic Package Manager

Why are you using synaptic? Software centre is in a defaul install.

What is the output of:

dpkg -l | grep ^rc ; lsb_release -a

Thanks

The items shown (in Synaptic) with a green marks are the only items installed. If you try to remove them completely from your system it will warn you. So, when you try to remove them please read the details regarding them.

As an explanation of #1

If you search your 'Software Center' (You will find it in APPLICATIONS) you will find the application there and you will be able to remove them (if it is installed) with out any problem.

If you press the 3 keys --- CTRL+ALT+T simultaneously, you will be able to open the Terminal. Copy & Paste the following line in that Terminal

dpkg -l | grep ^rc ; lsb_release -a

Hit the ENTER Key. You will get an output. Copy & Paste the output in the Message box below.

No practical way & seems a bit senseless. Package managers are designed to list all available packages.
( whether you want them or not is not a function of the pm. If desired filter as need be..

rc dell-eula 0.15 Dell End
User License Agreement
rc dell-recovery-bootloader
1.24.2~precise11 Bootloader images for
Dell's factory process
rc dmraid 1.0.0.rc16-4.1ubuntu8
Device-Mapper Software RAID support tool
rc firstboot-video2 1.0
Plays a video at firstboot.
rc fonts-droid 20101110+git-2
handheld device font with extensive style and language support
rc gwibber 3.4.2-0ubuntu2.3 Open source
social networking client for GNOME
rc kpartx-boot 0.4.9-3ubuntu5.1
Provides kpartx during boot
rc libasn1-8-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
ASN.1 library
rc libasound2:i386 1.0.25-1ubuntu10.2
shared library for ALSA applications
rc libavahi-client3:i386
0.6.30-5ubuntu2.1 Avahi client library
rc libavahi-common3:i386
0.6.30-5ubuntu2.1 Avahi common library
rc libbrasero-media3-1 3.4.1-0ubuntu1.1
CD/DVD burning library for GNOME - runtime
rc libcapi20-3 1:3.12.20071127-0ubuntu11
libraries for CAPI support
rc libcapi20-3:i386 1:3.12.20071127-0ubuntu11
libraries for CAPI support
rc libcroco3:i386 0.6.5-1ubuntu0.1
Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) parsing and manipulation toolkit
rc libcups2:i386 1.5.3-0ubuntu8
Common UNIX Printing System(tm) - Core library
rc libdebconfclient0 0.158ubuntu1
Debian Configuration Management System (C-implementation library)
rc libdebian-installer4
0.79ubuntu2.1 Library of common
debian-installer functions
rc libdmraid1.0.0.rc16 1.0.0.rc16-4.1ubuntu8
Device-Mapper Software RAID support tool - shared library
rc libexif12:i386 0.6.20-2ubuntu0.1
library to parse EXIF files
rc libfontconfig1:i386 2.8.0-3ubuntu9.1
generic font configuration library - runtime
rc libfreetype6:i386 2.4.8-1ubuntu2.1
FreeType 2 font engine, shared library files
rc libgcrypt11:i386 1.5.0-3ubuntu0.2
LGPL Crypto library - runtime library
rc libgd2-xpm:i386 2.0.36~rc1~dfsg-6ubuntu2 GD
Graphics Library version 2
rc libgif4:i386 4.1.6-9ubuntu1
library for GIF images (library)
rc libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.3
free implementation of the OpenGL API -- GLX runtime
rc libglapi-mesa 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.3 free
implementation of the GL API -- shared library
rc libglu1-mesa:i386 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.7
Mesa OpenGL utility library (GLU)
rc libgnutls26:i386 2.12.14-5ubuntu3.5
GNU TLS library - runtime library
rc libgomp1:i386 4.6.3-1ubuntu5 GCC
OpenMP (GOMP) support library
rc libgpg-error0:i386 1.10-2ubuntu1
library for common error values and messages in GnuPG components
rc libgphoto2-2:i386 2.4.13-1ubuntu1.2
gphoto2 digital camera library
rc libgphoto2-port0:i386
2.4.13-1ubuntu1.2 gphoto2 digital camera
port library
rc libgssapi-krb5-2:i386
1.10+dfsg~beta1-2ubuntu0.3 MIT Kerberos runtime
libraries - krb5 GSS-API Mechanism
rc libgssapi3-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
GSSAPI support library
rc libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0:i386
0.10.36-1ubuntu0.1 GStreamer libraries
from the "base" set
rc libgstreamer0.10-0:i386
0.10.36-1ubuntu1 Core GStreamer
libraries and elements
rc libhcrypto4-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
crypto library
rc libheimbase1-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos - Base
library
rc libheimntlm0-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos - NTLM
support library
rc libhx509-5-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos - X509
support library
rc libice6:i386 2:1.0.7-2build1 X11
Inter-Client Exchange library
rc libieee1284-3:i386 0.2.11-10build1
cross-platform library for parallel port access
rc libjpeg-turbo8:i386 1.1.90+svn733-0ubuntu4.3
IJG JPEG compliant runtime library.
rc libk5crypto3:i386 1.10+dfsg~beta1-2ubuntu0.3
MIT Kerberos runtime libraries - Crypto Library
rc libkeyutils1:i386 1.5.2-2
Linux Key Management Utilities (library)
rc libkrb5-26-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
libraries
rc libkrb5-3:i386 1.10+dfsg~beta1-2ubuntu0.3 MIT
Kerberos runtime libraries
rc libkrb5support0:i386
1.10+dfsg~beta1-2ubuntu0.3 MIT Kerberos runtime
libraries - Support library
rc liblcms1:i386 1.19.dfsg-1ubuntu3
Little CMS color management library
rc libldap-2.4-2:i386 2.4.28-1.1ubuntu4.4
OpenLDAP libraries
rc libltdl7:i386 2.4.2-1ubuntu1 A
system independent dlopen wrapper for GNU libtool
rc libmpg123-0 1.12.1-3.2ubuntu1 MPEG
layer 1/2/3 audio decoder -- runtime library
rc libmpg123-0:i386 1.12.1-3.2ubuntu1
MPEG layer 1/2/3 audio decoder -- runtime library
rc libodbc1 2.2.14p2-5ubuntu3 ODBC
library for Unix
rc liboil0.3 0.3.17-2ubuntu3 Library
of Optimized Inner Loops
rc libopenal1:i386 1:1.13-4ubuntu3
Software implementation of the OpenAL API (shared library)
rc libopts25 1:5.12-0.1ubuntu1 automated
option processing library based on autogen
rc liborc-0.4-0:i386 1:0.4.16-1ubuntu2
Library of Optimized Inner Loops Runtime Compiler
rc libp11-kit0:i386 0.12-2ubuntu1
Library for loading and coordinating access to PKCS#11 modules - runtime
rc libroken18-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
roken support library
rc libsane:i386 1.0.22-7ubuntu1 API
library for scanners
rc libsasl2-2:i386 2.1.25.dfsg1-3ubuntu0.1
Cyrus SASL - authentication abstraction library
rc libsm6:i386 2:1.2.0-2build1 X11
Session Management library
rc libsqlite3-0:i386 3.7.9-2ubuntu1.1
SQLite 3 shared library
rc libtasn1-3:i386 2.10-1ubuntu1.1
Manage ASN.1 structures (runtime)
rc libtiff4:i386 3.9.5-2ubuntu1.5 Tag
Image File Format (TIFF) library
rc libunistring0 0.9.3-5
Unicode string library for C
rc libunistring0:i386 0.9.3-5
Unicode string library for C
rc libusb-0.1-4:i386 2:0.1.12-20
userspace USB programming library
rc libv4l-0:i386 0.8.6-1ubuntu2
Collection of video4linux support libraries
rc libv4lconvert0:i386 0.8.6-1ubuntu2
Video4linux frame format conversion library
rc libwind0-heimdal:i386
1.6~git20120311.dfsg.1-2ubuntu0.1 Heimdal Kerberos -
stringprep implementation
rc libxatracker1 8.0.4-0ubuntu0.3 X
acceleration library -- runtime
rc libxcomposite1:i386 1:0.4.3-2build1
X11 Composite extension library
rc libxcursor1:i386 1:1.1.12-1ubuntu0.1 X
cursor management library
rc libxi6:i386 2:1.7.1.901-1ubuntu1~precise1 X11
Input extension library
rc libxinerama1:i386 2:1.1.1-3ubuntu0.1
X11 Xinerama extension library
rc libxml2:i386 2.7.8.dfsg-5.1ubuntu4.6 GNOME
XML library
rc libxpm4:i386 1:3.5.9-4 X11
pixmap library
rc libxrandr2:i386 2:1.3.2-2ubuntu0.2 X11
RandR extension library
rc libxrender1:i386 1:0.9.6-2ubuntu0.1 X
Rendering Extension client library
rc libxslt1.1:i386 1.1.26-8ubuntu1.3
XSLT 1.0 processing library - runtime library
rc libxt6:i386 1:1.1.1-2ubuntu0.1 X11
toolkit intrinsics library
rc linux-image-3.5.0-22-generic
3.5.0-22.34~precise1 Linux kernel image for
version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc odbcinst 2.2.14p2-5ubuntu3 Helper
program for accessing odbc ini files
rc odbcinst1debian2 2.2.14p2-5ubuntu3
Support library for accessing odbc ini files
rc oem-config 2.10.24watauga1somerville1 Perform
end-user configuration after initial OEM installation
rc oem-config-gtk 2.10.24watauga1somerville1 GTK+
frontend for end-user post-OEM-install configuration
rc oobe-dim-disable 1.0
Disables screen dimming.
rc quilt 0.50-2 Tool to work
with series of patches
rc user-setup 1.42ubuntu3 Set up
initial user and password
rc winbind 2:3.6.3-2ubuntu2.9 Samba
nameservice integration server
rc wine1.4-amd64 1.4-0ubuntu4.1
Microsoft Windows Compatibility Layer (64-bit support)
rc wine1.4-i386:i386 1.4-0ubuntu4.1
Microsoft Windows Compatibility Layer (32-bit support)
rc xserver-xorg 1:7.6+12ubuntu2 X.Org
X server
rc xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.8
Xorg X server - core server
rc xserver-xorg-video-intel
2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4.2 X.Org X server -- Intel
i8xx, i9xx display driver
rc xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
1:0.2.904+svn1050-1 X.Org X server -- VIA
display driver
rc xserver-xorg-video-vmware
1:12.0.1-1ubuntu1.1 X.Org X server --
VMware display driver
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise

On 01/30/2014 04:01 PM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Why are you using synaptic? Software centre is in a defaul install.
>
> What is the output of:
>
> dpkg -l | grep ^rc ; lsb_release -a
>
> Thanks
>

Thanks for your response. The packages I’m talking about are already
deleted so why are they considered to be available packages?
On 01/30/2014 10:21 PM, Doug McMahon wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> Doug McMahon proposed the following answer:
> No practical way & seems a bit senseless. Package managers are designed to list all available packages.
> ( whether you want them or not is not a function of the pm. If desired filter as need be..
>

Because the package residual config is still present. Are the packages you listed the ones you are still seeing? If so I can give a command to purge the configs and tidy up.

You have to understand the different status values that a package can have (among others):

1. not installed (and has never been installed)
2. installed (and configuration files created for your needs)
3. deinstalled, but the configuration files are still there
4. deinstalled, and also the configuration files removed

The reason why the configuration files are not automatically removed is that you might want to deinstall a package, and reinstall it afterwards, and the configuration should be as it was before.
There are commands how to also delete ("purge") the remaining configuration files.

The output of the dpkg... command shows, that there are at least 100 packages on your system, where the configuration files are left over, although the package has been removed.

You can use synaptic package manager to remove those configuration files:
open synaptic
in the left hand lower part click on "Status"
in the left hand upper window click on "Not installed (residual config)"
in the main window select all shown packages (should be those listed in post #4 of this question document)
in the menu use the entry Package - Mark for Complete Removal
and execute these changes.

No. There are more packages than that and they are deleted but they
continue to show up in the synaptic package manager. Do you think that
the purge command would resolve this problem?
On 01/31/2014 04:46 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Because the package residual config is still present. Are the packages
> you listed the ones you are still seeing? If so I can give a command to
> purge the configs and tidy up.
>

Thank you for these instructions however all of these packages have
previously been completely removed so it no longer gives me that option.
On 01/31/2014 06:26 AM, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> Status: Needs information => Answered
>
> Manfred Hampl proposed the following answer:
> You have to understand the different status values that a package can
> have (among others):
>
> 1. not installed (and has never been installed)
> 2. installed (and configuration files created for your needs)
> 3. deinstalled, but the configuration files are still there
> 4. deinstalled, and also the configuration files removed
>
> The reason why the configuration files are not automatically removed is that you might want to deinstall a package, and reinstall it afterwards, and the configuration should be as it was before.
> There are commands how to also delete ("purge") the remaining configuration files.
>
> The output of the dpkg... command shows, that there are at least 100
> packages on your system, where the configuration files are left over,
> although the package has been removed.
>
> You can use synaptic package manager to remove those configuration files:
> open synaptic
> in the left hand lower part click on "Status"
> in the left hand upper window click on "Not installed (residual config)"
> in the main window select all shown packages (should be those listed in post #4 of this question document)
> in the menu use the entry Package - Mark for Complete Removal
> and execute these changes.
>

I was incorrect. I believe those are indeed all of the packages.
On 01/31/2014 04:46 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Because the package residual config is still present. Are the packages
> you listed the ones you are still seeing? If so I can give a command to
> purge the configs and tidy up.
>

All the packages listed in message #4 wit "rc" definitely are (were) in the status "package removed, but config file still present".

Another option would be installing Ubuntu-tweak. There is an option on the "janitor" page of that package to remove all residual config files.

Run:

sudo dpkg -P `dpkg -l | grep ^rc | awk {'print $2'}`

Should now be ok.

Thank you for that command. I ran it and it seems to have gotten rid of
a lot of junk however my issue with the synaptic package manager
persists because the packages that are showing up have already been deleted.
On 02/01/2014 04:01 AM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #243043 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/243043
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> Run:
>
> sudo dpkg -P `dpkg -l | grep ^rc | awk {'print $2'}`
>
> Should now be ok.
>

Actionparsnip, your command messed up my os and and now it won't boot! :( What do I do now!

What happens when you try to boot?

It shows the underscore in the top left corner then it flashes a purple screen and then it shows the underscore again and goes blank.

When in recovery mode it shows the Ubuntu loading screen then it goes to a screen that says, Busybox v1.18.5 (Ubuntu 1:1.18.5-1ubuntu4.1) built-in shell (ash) Enter 'help' for a list of built in commands. (initramfs) Unable to find a medium containing a live file system.

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/09/live-usb-sticking-grub-2-video

Chroot from the liveCD to the installed OS and run:

sudo apt-get --reinstall install ubuntu-desktop

I assume you use Gnome desktop with Unity shell.

Will this simply restore my computer or will it allow me to keep all of my files?

The command given by actionparsnip is designed to just reinstall the missing programs and leave everything else untouched.

Thats strange. It must be because this is an OEM system. Sadly my system is lost beyond recovery and i have repetedly tried deleting the hard drive and starting from scratch however when i freshly reinstall ubuntu it says error 3 times when it starts up and if i install graphics drivers or update my os version it will make it so that my system will not boot and i will have to freshly install ubuntu once again. In addition when i attempt to play one of my steam games they will not run.