Today
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
gave
The following packages will be REMOVED:No worries there, so I continued.
gnome gnome-desktop-environmentThe following NEW packages will be installed:
gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 iputils-tracepath
The following packages have been kept back:
libboost-date-time-dev libboost-dev libboost-regex-dev libboost-signals-dev libgl1-nvidia-glx libmono-winforms2.0-cil nvidia-alternative nvidia-glx nvidia-kernel-dkms nvidia-vdpau-driver python-pyatspi2 xserver-xorg-video-nvidia
The following packages will be upgraded:
gnome-core gnome-nettool gsettings-desktop-schemas gsettings-desktop-schemas-dev
However, having seen the removal of gnome, gnome-core etc. cause issues before (http://verahill.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/fixed-no-internet-on-old-dell-after.html) I did
apt-get -s autoremove
afterwards.
The following packages will be REMOVED:Yeah, that doesn't sound good - I use seahorse, ekiga etc.
abiword abiword-common abiword-plugin-grammar abiword-plugin-mathview aisleriot cheese ekiga file-roller gdebi gedit gedit-common gedit-plugins gir1.2-gdata-0.0 gir1.2-goa-1.0 gir1.2-gucharmap-2.90 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-3.0 gir1.2-rb-3.0 gir1.2-tracker-0.14 gir1.2-webkit-3.0 glchess glines gnect gnibbles gnobots2 gnome-cards-data gnome-documents gnome-games gnome-games-data gnome-games-extra-data gnome-nettool gnome-sudoku gnome-video-effects gnomine gnotravex gnotski gnuchess gnuchess-book gnumeric gnumeric-common grilo-plugins-0.1 gtali hamster-applet iagno iputils-tracepath libabiword-2.9 libatk-adaptor-schemas libboost-date-time1.49.0 libboost-serialization1.49.0 libboost-signals1.49.0 libcec1 libdmapsharing-3.0-2 libgdome2-0 libgdome2-cpp-smart0c2a libgexiv2-0 libgpod-common libgpod4 libgrilo-0.1-0 libgtkmathview0c2a libgupnp-av-1.0-2 libhal-storage1 liblink-grammar4 libmagick++4 libmagickcore4 libmagickcore4-extra libmagickwand4 libminiupnpc5 libnatpmp1 libnet1 libnfs1 libopal3.10.4 libots0 libpt2.10.4 librhythmbox-core5 libwv-1.2-4 liferea liferea-data link-grammar-dictionaries-en mahjongg media-player-info minissdpd python-evolution python-wnck quadrapassel rhythmbox rhythmbox-data rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder rhythmbox-plugins seahorse shotwell simple-scan sound-juicer tcptraceroute telepathy-idle transmission-common transmission-gtk unoconv xdg-user-dirs-gtk
... 97 to remove and 12 not upgraded.
If the package version is given (libboost-date-time1.49.0) it's often ok to remove. But removing un-versioned packages is a better indication of something major being underway.
Anyway, taking a quick gander at gnome-desktop-enviroment which got removed:
Package: gnome-desktop-environment
State: not installed
Version: 1:3.0+8
Priority: optional
Section: gnome
Maintainer: Debian GNOME Maintainers <pkg-gnome-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>
Architecture: all
Uncompressed Size: 43.0 k
Depends: gnome (>= 1:3.0+8)
Description: The GNOME Desktop Environment - transitional package
This is the GNOME Desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop.
This meta-package is obsolete and has been replaced by “gnome”.
Then checking gnome (which also got removed):
Package: gnome
State: not installed
Version: 1:3.0+8
Priority: optional
Section: gnome
Seems like gnome got marked for removal although it shouldn't have been.
sudo apt-get install gnome
followed by
sudo apt-get -s autoremove
The following packages will be REMOVED:Which makes a lot more sense.
dasher dasher-data gnome-accessibility-themes libboost-date-time1.49.0 libboost-serialization1.49.0 libboost-signals1.49.0 libcec1 libgail-gnome-module libhal-storage1 libmagick++4 libmagickcore4 libmagickcore4-extra libmagickwand4
libnet1 libnfs1 tcptraceroute
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 16 to remove and 12 not upgraded.
Ergo, be careful when you use autoremove -- sometimes it will kill your desktop. Keep an eye at what dist-upgrade does.
