Synaptic: [Mark+Unmark] may lead to unwanted installs (noob to noobs).

[uncleV]

Synaptic.

If you have done on some application Mark-->Mark additional required changes-->Unmark then prior to next marking look under Edit and use Unmark all if it's active.
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Imagine you Mark for installation a package, marked proposed additional required changes and after that decide to Unmark it without install.

This way some other packages remain marked - because of automatically marked additional dependencies for that application.

Now if you close Synaptic there's no problem.

But if you mark after that in the same session another package and install it (Apply) those previously picked dependencies still stay marked and will be installed too.
In other words Unmark doesn't cancel the automatically marked additional dependencies.

After a certain time you'll be wondering "WTM? Who did install all this crap here?! There's something cheaty in PCLOS...  Waah wah wah ".
LOL

So if you canceled some installation(s) always do Edit-->Unmark All prior to a subsequent install of another application -  for not to install unwanted crap.

=================================
I was choosing an ISO mounter this way.
Because of the fact they are created for different desktop environments all of them, except the one native for my DE, marked a bunches of additional software. Mark-unmark, Mark-unmark, Mark-unmark,, ohh yes this one is the smaller. I picked it and when I looked at the installs that will proceed... hootchie mama!... I am installing 3 desktop environments!

[Tony]

Thanks for you information there uncleV, I was searching "Synaptic" and came across your post.
I wasn't aware of this situation. I'd say I generally check in some way, which escapes me at the moment, looking through the Menus generally, and options, but best to :

If you have done on some application Mark-->Mark additional required changes-->Unmark then prior to next marking look under Edit and use Unmark all if it's active.

Thankyou, as Unwanted junk installs is what I'm looking for in my search.
It's advised Noob's don't go installing outside programs, so I don't.
However what about when I check Synaptic, after refreshing, and Marking updates, and Applying and I get a heap of Video drivers, for equipment I don't have, etc. A month ago I unInstalled MiniMe because the whole system went "Pear Shaped" after performing the Synaptic Update ritual.

I feel I'm on Topic here, in this thread, have had a search, this seeming appropriate,

Synaptic: [Mark+Unmark] may lead to unwanted installs (noob to noobs).

Actually, noob to expert would be the go, but we are beggars us noobs, destined to stuff up, spending aeons in confusion.    

My question is , when doing a general update through Synaptic, how the do you stop a load of crapware being installed, as I gave an example above, I have a simple graphic chip, I wish I didn't but that's the way it is with my Motherboard. I don't need the bestest greatest NVIDIA drivers,or 5.1 surround sound drivers.
Why does all this stuff become installed by default?
How can I stop it.

My monitor went flickery, I fiddled about and lost the sound, the more I tinkere as you would guess, the more I mucked up.

Great in advance if some aptly informed PCLOS brother could steer me towards harmony, I just want simple. MFI (Made for idiots)

Cheers and happy safe surfing pcloser's 

[uncleV]

Hi, francis!

I see you have two questions/issues.
The more crucial is this

My monitor went flickery, I fiddled about and lost the sound, the more I tinkere as you would guess, the more I mucked up.

and you better start a new thread about it spreading the question and giving more specific info on the problem.
---------------------------

Why does all this stuff become installed by default?
How can I stop it.

Here about why do you have updates on hardware that you don't have on the machine and also on applications that you didn't install.

Me the noob thinks this way:
Everybody downloads from PCLOS and installs one .iso file.
The big PCLOS guys provide a bunch of application in order to successively cover the maximum possible variations of hardware sets of different machines in all of the world - by means of one file only...
So you (and anybody) have installed on the machine some soft totally unneeded. But who's to decide what you don't need and won't need in the future - us or them?? Although the big guys a extremely smart they are too busy and won't configure our own install. It should be more safely if the decision is ours.

You can do it via removing programs from Synaptic. But it could be dangerous because of the so-called dependencies... Here dragons be!

Here's what and how I got rid of some updates to programs/applications that I never need on this 10 years old machine:
Search in Synaptic by the name of application or hardware, e.g. bluetooth, virtual box, viideo, and so on.
Read the applications filtered and thought on the names that read self-explaining. Click on them and read the explanation. If I think they could be uninstalled right-click and choose the action. If a box appears telling that additional software will be removed I read it very carefully.
Sometimes an application with very common name appears there - like task-video or smth. If I want to look what that likely-important app means I go back: uncheck all checkings, find that app and look what will be removed altogether with it.
For example removing thai-data you remove the half of the system itself .

And so on, going in cycles and removing one by one.
That way I freely* got rid of most of the unneeded video drivers but not of those that were important to the system.
Got rid of bluetooth (and again not of all the apps - removing some of them should remove task-printing), got rid of Virtual Box etc.

Now there aren't updates for them.

-----------------------------------
* - He-he! I did it immediately after a fresh installation so if something went miserably bad - 10 minutes of new install and you are back.

Be careful!

[johnmart]

I've always thought it would be very helpful to be able to trim down the updates to reflect your personal system. But in an integrated way. I hosed my install trying to shave a few 100k of "unneeded" drivers. Might be a huge undertaking but could be a worthwhile thread.
btw, referring to the apps/drivers you don't need as "crapware" could be prettty offensive to many. Cuz though it may be unneeded to you, alot of work goes into getting those items into the works! 

[uncleV]

The very opposite way is to start from scratch or install the Mini versions.

But that works for the geeks and not for me...
I've tried it with LXDE Mini but reinstalled to the full LXDE.

[johnmart]

+1 for minime, but it is easier to set up than you might think.
When you install it, you get the same basic system, but then you simply install the programs you want.
I love it, & always install from MiniME.
But you will still see drivers installed that are outside your immediate needs. 
But with that PClinuxOS will meet the hardware needs of so many. Thanks to Tex, the packagers etc. 

[uncleV]

+1 for minime, but it is easier to set up than you might think.
When you install it, you get the same basic system, but then you simply install the programs you want.

And I have to know the name of package(s) that will install the functionality that I'm missing. And it's not that easy to find out when, for example, some basic "man-pages" come with installing "core-utils"...

[Tony]

I love MiniMe, it's much more purpose built for my needs, as there are options straight off to install a minimal OS, and after years of using PCLOS in one form or another suits me, and really that's the aim which I feel Linux Distros are built upon, moreso these days as idiots like myself can use a Linux Distro.

With Hardware going forward in leaps and bounds I do feel catering for lower end machines is smart / necessary / in the spirit of a good OS. There are alternate Distros available. I like PCLinuxOS, but whatever, point being it's not my life's passion to marry the thing 

It's very simple to Install / Uninstall so seems that's what I'll do.
I do worry that things go ahead too fast; Hardware must be sold to keep the industry running in these financially hard times, but unlike many I don't want, or see as a option to upgrade, unless the machine breaks down.
Kinda like I drive a Car, an old one that works. Anyhoo, seems the "Rainy Day" cleanout unwanted "stuff" dependancy upon depandancy through Synaptic is an option.
As I'm time dependant putting together a script that profiles my hardware, and tells Synaptic what to install sounds easy, I just don't have the time. Maybe one day (jots onto 'To Do' list)
Being a professional person, who uses Comp for work I Dual boot, with WinXP, to get the job done.
MiniMe's a great hobby at this point, and I'm sure I'll continue loving it for a long time to come.

As far as uncleV :

Hi, francis!

I see you have two questions/issues.
The more crucial is this

My monitor went flickery, I fiddled about and lost the sound, the more I tinkere as you would guess, the more I mucked up.

and you better start a new thread about it spreading the question and giving more specific info on the problem.
---------------------------

Uhm, no, fresh install sounds good to me, but thanks. I have to learn this stuff myself, flickering monitors which weren't flickery until drivers were changed aren't going to get a response here, or one that helps anyone in a hurry.

[smurfslover]

Synaptic.

If you have done on some application Mark-->Mark additional required changes-->Unmark then prior to next marking look under Edit and use Unmark all if it's active.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Imagine you Mark for installation a package, marked proposed additional required changes and after that decide to Unmark it without install.

This way some other packages remain marked - because of automatically marked additional dependencies for that application.

Now if you close Synaptic there's no problem.

But if you mark after that in the same session another package and install it (Apply) those previously picked dependencies still stay marked and will be installed too.
In other words Unmark doesn't cancel the automatically marked additional dependencies.

After a certain time you'll be wondering "WTM? Who did install all this crap here?! There's something cheaty in PCLOS...   Waah wah wah ".
LOL

So if you canceled some installation(s) always do Edit-->Unmark All prior to a subsequent install of another application -  for not to install unwanted crap.

=================================
I was choosing an ISO mounter this way.
Because of the fact they are created for different desktop environments all of them, except the one native for my DE, marked a bunches of additional software. Mark-unmark, Mark-unmark, Mark-unmark,, ohh yes this one is the smaller. I picked it and when I looked at the installs that will proceed... hootchie mama!... I am installing 3 desktop environments!

What if you have selected a couple of apps with their dependencies, then want to unmark one? With 'unmark all' I have to start over selecting the other programs.
If you marked a package and want to unmark it with dependencies click edit/undo or press Ctrl + Z.
Much easier and the previous selected packages keep their 'marked' status.