Need more disk space

Asked by Ian Langman

Hello,

Partitioned the HD0 into 3GB for root, 3 GB for /Home and 300MB for Swap.

Installed 6.10 onto hda and everything was fine. After this there was only 700 MB left in hda. This means my 700MB iso derived disk expanded into 2.3GB of operating system. Not expecting quite so much expansion however it's still OK.

Go online for the first time and update manager informs me of initial updates which I agree to. This additional 250 MB download now installs leaving me only 150 MB of space.

How do I minimise this installation? I am not currently using many apps, although there are a number installed by default, eg Firefox, OpenOffice e-mail etc.

Is there an easy way to list installed applications, which I can then select for uninstalling? Is there any way to minimise the installation of the OS itself [I have a laptop with DSL on it which uses only 150MB including basic applications and desktop.]?

When doing updates, do the original files get replaced with the new versions, or are they all kept, hence the ever increasing size of the OS. If so how can I clean up after updates?

I thought I would try using XUbuntu Desktop, installed from the Synaptic package manager, expecting that Gnome would be uninstalled and be replaced, reducing the disk spaced required. This did not happen and at login I had to choose. Is there any way that I can uninstall Gnome at the same time as installing XUbuntu Desktop? Have just rebuilt the box again as I had tried to resize root...botched it so went for the clean install as before.

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Ian Langman
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c1ru (pacogimenez) said :
#1

Yes, but not at synaptic.
I recomended you clear your hdd and install only xubuntu.
Is bery recomended for low level computers. You can use xubuntu with gnome too.

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c1ru (pacogimenez) said :
#2

http://www.xubuntu.org/get
You can download it from here.
Apologyze about my english.

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Ian Langman (langmans) said :
#3

I have decided to stay with Ubuntu, however I still have the problem of upgrades adding more and more data. After installing the standard upgrades I am now left with only a few 100 MB on my 3GB HD. How can I get rid of all the old files etc and why does the install base keep getting bigger? I presume the difference between one release and another is not so big and is there any minimum install, ie with all drivers, desktop and system tools and apps etc, but no apps apart from a browser and a terminal to get started.

I have run sudo apt-get clean, which normally recovers 20 - 50 MB after the upgrade and have my Synaptic setting set to remove files after upgrade.

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williamts99 (williamts99) said :
#4

Yes, you can open up the Synaptic Package Manager, and towards the bottom you want to click on the 'Status' button, then choose installed. This will list every package that is installed on your computer. Of course what you choose to remove is your choice.

Then you might want to check out the following forum post:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=140920

Best Regards,
Williamts99

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tokj (tokj-deactivatedaccount) said :
#5

The commands "sudo apt-get clean" and "sudo apt-get autoclean" clean the apt cache, the first completely and the second erases only the obsolete packages.

(Side note -- The apt cache is located in /var/cache/apt/archives.)

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Best Ian Langman (langmans) said :
#6

Thanks to all.

I think my main problem is that I under estimated the HD requirements for the OS. I also think that I could lessen the problem if when I use Synaptic to install an application I could specify the install directory. [I will close this and open a new query]

Thanks again