Uninstall Programs

Asked by Jennifer

Is there an Add and Remove programs feature and how can I do a System Restore?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

run:

gksudo synaptic

You will get a gui app to add / remove programs.

Can you define "System Restore" it can mean many things.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#2

thanks

System Restore was in Windows XP so I call it that. It restores your system to an earlier point in time to rectify mistakes. Since I cannot figure out how to remove them, I thought I could do a system restore.

I downloaded update of Ubuntu but cannot execute it. The same with Open Office. I cannot see where the new version is. In Windows OS the updated programs went to the old location and replaced the old version and you simply opened them.

the other problem is that whatever I have done, it takes a long time for the desktop to become visible after i boot up. I see "GRUB" is loading whatever that is, then UBUNTU loads, then a black screen, and finally I see the desktop. What is wrong?

jennifer

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> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Question #83098]: Uninstall Programs
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:40:08 +0000
>
> Your question #83098 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested for more information:
> run:
>
> gksudo synaptic
>
> You will get a gui app to add / remove programs.
>
> Can you define "System Restore" it can mean many things.
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

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Vihar (vmankov) said :
#3

actionparsnip,
that's a question of a totally new to Linux, I suppose.

Jennifer, find under Ubuntu this:
Applications--> Add/Remove. That's only one way to do it in Windows manner.

The second easy way and more powerful is to launch
System-->Administration-->Synaptic Package Manager.

The third and ultimate way to change ANYTHING on your machine is to use the command line. This would do anything you tell the system. ANYTHING. Windows doesn't give you that option because it's dangerous for the Windows way of holding your computer/life. Windows people assume you are stupid (like them) so they don't permit you to act as a subject.

Now - linuxes are not so stupid and they give you the option to solve all the problems - if you learned how. If you don't - you have the chance to screw-up totally your machine...

But that's an option, isn't it?!

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#4

I am not sure there is a system restore option. You could backup your system files regulaly and restore later. This wil get a bit convoluted as you will need to boot to live cd to make the backup as you cannot backup a filesystem which is mounted.

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zvacet (ivicakolic) said :
#5

You have option under system>admin>computer janitor.After using that you should have system like it is fresh installed.If that is what you want.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#6

System>Administration>System Monitor is the only thing there is

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> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: RE: [Question #83098]: Uninstall Programs
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:44:36 +0000
>
> Your question #83098 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> zvacet proposed the following answer:
> You have option under system>admin>computer janitor.After using that you
> should have system like it is fresh installed.If that is what you want.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#7

system>administration>system monitor is all there is

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> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: RE: [Question #83098]: Uninstall Programs
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:44:36 +0000
>
> Your question #83098 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> zvacet proposed the following answer:
> You have option under system>admin>computer janitor.After using that you
> should have system like it is fresh installed.If that is what you want.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098/+confirm?answer_id=4
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

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Mike Dahlgren (dahlgren) said :
#8

Jennifer,

 Just to clarify, although you can add and remove packages from the system as describe previously there is no system that allows you to go to a previous "restore point" like there is in windows.

With that said, could you clarify what problems you are still having? I do not expect that your copy of open office has been uninstalled, but it is more likely that you just do not have the icon. (similar to how items in the windows start menu work) A way to test this is to open up a "Terminal" by going to Applications>Accessories>Terminal and typing "ooffice" without the quotes and pressing enter.

If you would like to upgrade to a newer version of Ubuntu just go to System>Administration>Upgrade Manager. It will guide you to upgrading to the newest version of Ubuntu.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#9

thanks for all the info

the only remaining problem is the length of time to see the desktop after boot up. first something called GRUB loads up, then UBUNTU loads up twice, then a blank screen for a long time, finally the desktop. What is up with that?

jennifer

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> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: RE: [Question #83098]: Uninstall Programs
> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:52:05 +0000
>
> Your question #83098 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Mike Dahlgren proposed the following answer:
> Jennifer,
>
> Just to clarify, although you can add and remove packages from the
> system as describe previously there is no system that allows you to go
> to a previous "restore point" like there is in windows.
>
> With that said, could you clarify what problems you are still having? I
> do not expect that your copy of open office has been uninstalled, but it
> is more likely that you just do not have the icon. (similar to how
> items in the windows start menu work) A way to test this is to open up
> a "Terminal" by going to Applications>Accessories>Terminal and typing
> "ooffice" without the quotes and pressing enter.
>
> If you would like to upgrade to a newer version of Ubuntu just go to
> System>Administration>Upgrade Manager. It will guide you to upgrading
> to the newest version of Ubuntu.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098/+confirm?answer_id=7
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
zvacet (ivicakolic) said :
#10

@ Jennifer

If you don't see icon then go to the systm>preferences>main menu and there look under system>admin because icon is unchecked.Check it and it will show at your system>admin menu.Like Isay to you it is good to work with it if you want to get system as it was in time you installed it.

Revision history for this message
Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#11

thanks for all the info

the only remaining problem is the length of time to see the desktop
after boot up. first something called GRUB loads up, then UBUNTU loads
up twice, then a blank screen for a long time, finally the desktop.
What is up with that?

jennifer

 EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Join me

> To: <email address hidden>
> From: <email address hidden>
> Subject: RE: [Question #83098]: Uninstall Programs
> Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:25:16 +0000
>
> Your question #83098 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> zvacet proposed the following answer:
> @ Jennifer
>
> If you don't see icon then go to the systm>preferences>main menu and
> there look under system>admin because icon is unchecked.Check it and it
> will show at your system>admin menu.Like Isay to you it is good to work
> with it if you want to get system as it was in time you installed it.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098/+confirm?answer_id=9
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/83098
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#12

Grub is the default bootloader to bootup Ubuntu Linux, Ubuntu wil then load behind the load splash. You will then get a logon screen (if you have autologon enabled this will be skipped) you will then see a logging on animation, then the desktop will load. Ubuntu does not load twice

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#13

You are correct about Ubuntu loading only once but the orange bar goes back and forth several times, once it goes fast then it goes in increments.

 I do not have an animation logon. it is a blank screen, then after a minute or so it goes to my desktop. I have automatic logon enabled as I dont care for entering passwords each time.

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j3lc (j3lc) said :
#14

Jennifer

I have automatic logon enabled too. I think this is why it takes one-two minutes to show your desktop. It happens to me too but i don't see where the problem is. Ok it's not very pretty but that's all.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#15

The back and forth then incrementing. The back and forth (from what I remember) is the apps being put into ram, the bar growing is them getting started and being configured. If you edit your grub yuo can disable the splash screen and actually watch what the system is doing.

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Best peter b (b1pete) said :
#16

cpu speed? amount of ram? hdd access and read/write time? all have an effect on the length time the desktop is fully loaded.

how was the boot time at first boot after ubuntu installed? was it faster than what it is now? if not then probably the hardware has a say in the boot time. if yes then the os/software has to be looked at.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said :
#17

ta for your help. the boot was faster when i first got the machine. the only hardware added was a printer. someone gave me this machine and i dont know the ram or other specs. i did not add any software. I tried to download a later version of openoffice and a later version of ubuntu but could not then locate them so could not open them.

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peter b (b1pete) said :
#18

just a follow up on your additional info - first, if you decide to pursue my rec - if you have any data on the current install pls save it to some other media (usb storage, cd/dvd media etc).

it appears that you did an ubuntu upgrade (that is you upgraded the existing installed distro/release of ubuntu to a more recent one). just a hint for the future (a personal pref that never let me down) - pls leave (I always do) the installed distro alone, just update it with the latest packages when prompted/desired. if you desire and/or want to use/experiment with a new distribution I always do a fresh install on new partitions; this gives me the flexibility to uninstall the newer distribution should something not work the way I want it to and, v important, the old working distribution/release is still there that I can fall back on. moreover, this approach is v much recommended especially when experimenting with new releases that are still under development ie the upcoming 910 karmic.

so, given the excessive boot time manifested after the upgrade I would suggest, after saving all existing data present on the current install, to do a new ubuntu install using a stable release say 810 intrepid or 904 jaunty distribution (your choice) and apply the updates suggested. your machine will perform again as it did when given to you ; the added printer does not affect the boot time.