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I don't need cups and sane. How can I inform package manager that it should not try to install this software?

Asked by Artur Szymanski

I've been using jaunty (Ubuntu 9.04) since Alpha release.
Because I have not any printer and scanner connected to my computer I removed all packages such as cups and sane. I used "Mark for complete removal" option in my Synaptic. All packages have been removed (together with printer drivers).
Unfortunately, with the next jaunty alpha (or beta) upgrade, update manager marked cups and sane packages for installation. After upgrade, I removed these packages again. But next release install them again.
I noticed also that even if packages are marked for complete remove, in my /etc/init.d references to sane and cups are still exist. So, I did update-rc.d and manualy removed such files. Next jaunty upgrade and these files appear in the /etc/init.d again.

How can I tell my package manager that I don't need some software anymore?

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Erik van Luxzenburg
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Best Erik van Luxzenburg (evanluxzenburg) said : 		#1

This is difficult I guess to tell the package manager while installing Ubuntu. However, what I always perform after installation is de-installing CUPS and Sane. And after every dist-upgrade you have to perform the same action again.

I have the same problem with Gnome Games, which I also de-install after an dist-upgrade or Ekiga. I guess this should be some new service in a next release. For now Ubuntu will by default upgrade your distro with all default packages, even the ones already de-installed.

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Artur Szymanski (arteek) said : 		#2

Thanks Erik for answer. I hope that such service/feature will be implemented to Ubuntu soon. I think that it would be very useful for users to have option looks like "don't try to install previously deinstalled software on my box, because I know better what I want";-)
For the time being I have to write small bash script with apt-get remove instructions and start it after each dist-upgrade.

Thanks again.

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Artur Szymanski (arteek) said : 		#3

Thanks Erik van Luxzenburg, that solved my question.

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Erik van Luxzenburg (evanluxzenburg) said : 		#4

Well Arthur, if you have created such a script, you might be willing to share. As I have the same problem :-) I will try to implement this feature request in Ubuntu Brainstrom; http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/19009/