Q. I'd like to save some disk space so I'd like to remove unwanted software from my HP laptop. How do I uninstall software under Ubuntu / Debian Linux?
A. Both Ubuntu and Debian Linux provide command line as well as GUI tools to delete / remove binary packages.
GUI Package Management Tool
synaptic is graphical management tool of software packages. It allows you to perform all actions of the command line tool apt-get in a graphical environment. This includes installing, upgrading, downgrading and removing of single packages or even upgrading your whole system.
Just click on System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
Now you can select any package and click on Mark for Removal popup meni. You can also start GUI tool from command line, enter:
$ synaptic &
Command Line Package Management Tool
apt-get is the command-line tool for handling packages. It is used for adding / removing / updating packages.
Uninstall / Delete / Remove Package
Just use the following syntax:
sudo apt-get remove {package-name}
For example remove package called mplayer, enter:
$ sudo apt-get remove mplayer
Remove package called lighttpd along with all configuration files, enter:
$ sudo apt-get --purge remove lighttpd
To list all installed package, enter:\
dpkg --list
dpkg --list | less
dpkg --list | grep -i 'http'
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{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi!
I prefer to use a Terminal instead of GUI (Synaptic Package Manager).
So long!
when using HP-UX, if we want to find all the softwares installed in the machine, what command do we use to display all the softwares installed.
Like in windows… if we go to Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs, we get all the softwares installed. In the same manner.
nice explanation thanks
Rengifo
I accidentally installed granparadiso web browser, as I understood it was firefox 3, but now I want to uninstall it. It is not listed under the synaptic package manager and I tried to delete it using:
sudo apt-get remove granparadiso
but that did not work. What do I need to type there to make it remove? Or is there another way to remove it?
I bought a used computer with no operating system and I installed ubuntu I guess I just don’t have enough savey to use it. Would like to uninstall it and find away to install windows. Thanks for your help. Dave
Like Dave, I just picked up a used computer. It already has gOS (ubuntu) on it, but I’m not at all familiar with how to use it and I don’t have the time to figure it all out. How can I uninstall it and get it ready to install XP?
I tried just booting from my XP install disc, but nothing happens – I “press any key” to boot from cd and then the screen stays blank…
Help? Please? Thanks.
When starting the computer, press DEL to run the system setup at the moment the computer shows something like “Press Del to enter setup”. In that setup specify to try to boot from CD before booting fron hard disk, then save and let the system reboot (with the XP install disk inside).
what is the main resion of why not need to install any antivirus to linux
in linux there are no need of antivirus because it does not support exe files
wrooooong , linux/unix is an opensource software , witch means that you can copy /change in the source code , otherwords hackers can program millions of application running on linux/unix , and get easily to your computer…………;however trojans and other executable virusus can’t work on linux/unix ………
wine packages are install then try to install in exe files
because the linux is designed that way viruses cant work or do anything
hi i am having problems with flashplayer it was working 2 days ago and then just stopped working
praatek and Realme, while it is true that many Linux software do not work on Linux, it is unfortunately only a rumour that there are no Linux viruses and you don’t need an A/V. There are and you do.
Is it really impossible to uninstall Ubuntu? No one seems to know about this. Why? Everybody else gives you the option to get off.
I do not like ubuntu I would like to go back to windows
what else do you need me to say
To remove ubuntu partition and file system or any other linux OS, use fdisk from MS-DOS mode. You should type at the MS-DOS command prompt :
fdisk /mbr
this will remove/clean master boot record from your harddrive. After that you can use format to make the next execution as usual and then install windows XP like usual
Assuming you can get MS-DOS mode. I can only get Ubuntu, because that is the only thing there on the computer. The XP disk is not accepted because “it may harm the computer.” That what it says.
Somebody has to know somewhere how to get out of this. I know that have other things that will completely shred everything, but I hesitate.
Hi,
I have Ubuntu installed on my laptop and so far I have found no big problem. However, having used XP for a long time, I would like to install Kubuntu to my laptop. However, when I try to do so, I get the following message in the terminal:
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help resolve the situation:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
kubuntu-desktop: Depends: kde-window-manager but it is not going to be installed
Depends: kdebase-workspace-bin but it is not going to be installed
Depends: ksysguard but it is not going to be installed
Depends: language-selector-qt but it is not going to be installed
Depends: software-properties-kde but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: install-package but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: jockey-kde but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kate but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kde-printer-applet but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kdebase-plasma but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kdebluetooth but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kdeplasma-addons but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: kpackagekit but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: plasma-widget-network-manager but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: plasma-widget-quickaccess but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: system-config-printer-kde but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: update-notifier-kde but it is not going to be installed
E: Broken packages
I think this is caused by my installing untested packages. I do not know how to remove them; help would highly be appreciated. Furthermore, some files in my computer seem to be of restricted access, which does not let me install manually some plugins/skins for certain programs. I tried logging in as root and then installing the plugins but surprisingly it didn’t work.
Thank you.
Still trying to get Ubuntu to get from full install to half way install and be able to ge XP installed. Then I could delete Ubuntu if I wanted to. Thanks
There are an awful lot of answers but not to my question.
I wan to install XP where Ubuntu exists at the moment. The XP install disk is not accepted because it may harm my computer. I just want to install XP in this computer which has Ubuntu installed. Nothing else is wanted.
Joseph
Just configure from bios to boot from CD and following the windows installation wizard until you get to install. Find the partition you have Ubuntu installed on, and delete it. Create new partition and install Windows XP on it. That simple.
Or alternatively http://support.microsoft.com/kb/247804
Oke Thanks
Ubuntu simply does not work properly on un-partitioned old notebook – too little memory… need to go back to Widows 98. I can’t get to install, though. How can I reformat the HDD? I keep on getting GRUB…
hey guys. I need help. I cannot seem to remove bandwidthd
here are the errors:
justin@Malema:~$ sudo apt-get remove bandwidthd
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
bandwidthd
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 281 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 201kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
dpkg: error processing bandwidthd (–remove):
Package is in a very bad inconsistent state – you should
reinstall it before attempting a removal.
Errors were encountered while processing:
bandwidthd
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
any advice ? thanks
I have been trying to un- install ubuntu on my FUJITSU SIEMENS Computer as I wanted to install Window- XP but I failed.
Can you please help me what should I do.
The way I would install Windows XP, as a non-professional, would be to stick in the install CD and to set the computer to boot from from the CD.
To completely remove UBUNTU, and make hard drive like brand new, you must download and burn something called “GPARTED LIVE CD.” You must learn to burn to CD an “iso” image. Set PC Bios to boot from your newly created CD. Accept defaults when CD loads. GPARTED LIVE CD runs a linux environment on your PC. On the main screen you have to find the icon that starts the G-Parted program. I believe it is the first icon on lower right of screen. When G-Parted is running, you can delete partitions one by one. Start at the bottom of the list and delete each one. You select “DELETE,” and then “APPLY.” Once all partitions are delete, you create a new one “PRIMARY” and “NTFS,” or if old PC choose “FAT32.”. Use FLAGs option to set “BOOT,” and “MBR.” The MBR is required for any WINDOWS system. Good luck.
i Got error E: Unable to write to /var/cache/apt/
because i just delete /var/cache/*.
how can i fix that? plz help me
ive got a problem with this kan any one help me?
‘E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/mx.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty-updates_universe_binary-i386_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.’
can any help me to uninstall ubuntu in my laptop i have two os 1, windows 7. 2, ubuntu
i want to uninstall it
praveen
Please get off of it with me. Very few have seen what the problem is. It is Ubuntu, and how to get it off of your computer when you have nothing else in there. Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Only the Ubuntu system. I have been told that the best thing to do is junk the computer.
So please no more “solutions.”
there is one way, you could wipe the hard drive with something like DBAN and start over from scratch. worse case scenario is you could load ubuntu again. I had to wipe my drive more than once, it works good.
DBAN is Darik’s Boot and Nuke
I really do not understand your problem, really. There is no such thing that ubuntu will prevent you from installing windows ( a strange desire you have there ). I have many times installed,reinstalled removed, deleted reflashed redoing blah blah nada svada, both windows and linux os’es without ANY problems. That is, on a HP mini PC without CD/DVD installing windows was a pain in the ass (spent a week, then gave up) but three diferent Linux distributions went like a charm in 45 minutes including dowloading the os itself…
Case is, if you want to install windows, do as you have already been adviced MANY times herein. BOOT from CD/DVD (eiter press F8 at boot to enter boot menu or change BIOS. Thats a minimum of knowledge you must have to know how to do that). If it complains, then it complains and try another windows cd.
How old is your pc anyway??
For me, everyone got it wrong. Sorry. I have Ubuntu installed on a computer. Nothing else. No data no other info, nothing,
How to get it off. Yes, you have twenty eighth different reasone why I shouldn’t but you are not about to take my wishes into consideration.
I want out, and for my own good, you will not let me out. Gawd!
Is there anyway that Ubuntu will permit someone who does not want Ubuntu in their computer to get out?. Yes, I know, Don’t let them, they don’t deserve the courtesy. Makes for good friends, Ha! Dumb Dodos!
Yes, I discovered the solution. Get rid of the computer and get the XP that I need. Your reasons are something else and I realize that my reasons don’t mean crap.
Incidently I am working my Ubuntu on my other computer just fine.
But that crap of not being able to get it off is for the birds.
Joseph,
If you know how to boot from your cd and you have a windows xp installer then you could remove the ubuntu from your computer. or you have a floppy disk with DOS then you could boot from floppy; format your hard disk with “format c:” command.
Joseph,
If you truly want to remove Ubuntu from your system, this is how to do it.
READ THE ENTIRE POST FIRST AND UNDERSTAND IT HOWEVER!!!!
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU HOSING YOUR COMPUTER!
From either the Ubuntu desktop or from the Live CD Ubuntu Desktop,
Click on the Applications Menu Option, Accessories then Click on Terminal.
Inside the terminal windows, type the following
df [enter]
you will be presented with output similar to the following:
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1 9652434 305234 438976 11% /
udev 1029036 224 1028812 1% /dev
.
.
.
etc…
the line your interested in is the one mounted at ‘/’ in my case it is ‘/dev/sda1′ your might be the same, or it could be ‘/dev/hda1′ or ‘/dev/hda9′ or /dev/sdb5′ etc…
that is the address of the partition where ubuntu is installed, the device address is ‘/dev/sda’ (without the number at the end, and obviously without the quotes ‘ ‘ )
now type this command at the prompt like you did the ‘df’ command
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=1 [enter]
this will make the system unbootable, and the bios will be forced to following the alternate boot options, of which cd-rom tends to be one.
If you dont have a windows install CD, then you are SOL. On the bright side, Ubuntu 10.04 is a free download, and with a little effort, both my 8 year old daughter and my 67 year old mother both use Ubuntu with quite a bit and skill after having applied some effort to it over the last year.
PLEASE NOTE!!!! executing the dd command is irrevocable, once you do it, you will not be able to undo the operation, the only option left at that point is to install windows, linux (ubuntu, redhat etc…) or some other OS, but after that command, anything left is permanently lost.
Lastly, as a word of knowledge, despite what you might think, according to Microsoft’s own Security Intelligence Report from July-09 to Dec-09, 50% of the machines running windows are infected with viruses (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2c4938a0-4d64-4c65-b951-754f4d1af0b5&displaylang=en)
According to CBS Corporation, 48% of 22 million computers found infected and cleaned with the latest antivirus remained infected. (http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/report-48-of-22-million-scanned-computers-infected-with-malware/5365)
and the baddies on these system include bots which allow people to control your system for attacking other computer systems, watching and listening to you, and access your bank account. And to top it off, you get the blame cause it came from your machine.
Linux, in general ( this includes Ubuntu ) has no such problems.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE USE THIS PROCEDURE. THIS WILL MAKE A MACHINE UNBOOTABLE AND REQUIRE A COMPLETE INSTALLATION OF A NEW OS TO FUNCTION AGAIN.
Good luck Joseph.
Last note, my advice is that you go to Borders Bookstore, and with up an “Ubuntu Linux for Dummies” book, and stick with it. Everyone had to start someplace, and that usually means starting with nothing. But its well worth it.
Good Luck,
~james
I am through with this problem. I don’t have a problem anymore. I gave the laptop away and bought an XP computer. Meanwhile, I am working on my desktop Ubuntu computer very nicely and waiting for the 10.04 OS.
So please, no more “solutions.”
hi,
I have installed Google chrome from google website and i want to remove from my laptop I am using Ubuntu 10.04. how i can remove its not coming up in software centre and package manager.
So please If somebody have idea let me know thanks
That has never been a problem. I have never mentioned installed software. Some made a mistake down the line. It is not the software. There does not seem to be a problem there at all that I can see.
It is unintalling Ubuntu, in order to install XP. Yes I know you die hard Ubuntu fans, but I am talking about what I want. And it cannot be done. Impossible. Ubuntu has never made it possible to uninstall the Ubuntu OS. Than simply cannot be done and in one year no one has been able to discover it. Now, cut it all out and forget about it. I do not want to hear about it from anyone. It cannot be done. Impossible. That is all. Forget about it.
Neither Microsoft nor OSX will allow you to uninstall an OS. in some cases you can revert to a previous version if you upgraded, but with windows 7 it is no longer an option and with MAC OSX there are too many dependencies.
I have used about 20 different versions of linux on all my computers from Servers to Laptops and Netbooks, the easiest way to wipe “ANY” OS is to simply reformat the hard drive in its entirety using a free program called “Dereks Nuke and Boot” that you download as an iso image and create a boot CD.
After you create the CD put this into your LapTop CD drive and make sure the Bios is set to boot from CD-when it starts up just select “Auto”, hit enter and it will reformat the drive, wait till its done and now you can install Whatever OS you Desire.
thank u…
its work out..
No one on these pages knows what the problem is. It iis not the software. I repeat it is not the removal of the software. I have been from the very beginning talking about the Operating System. I mean the Ubuntu operating system.
The operating system is not the software. And not one single person contributing “solutions” is aware of this.
The Ubuntu Operating System cannot be removed. period. Leave it at that.
No one seems to read this correctly. I do not have a problem anymore. It cannot be solved and I must move on. No can do. No one has read these comments because they are still giving me the wrong answers. No need for answers if you have not understood the question.
Over and out, please to not send me anymore.
Now if someone knows how to install a program into Wine. would be nice.
Thanks
how to remove installed software in ubuntu if give me any ubuntu menu for remove software
@Joseph, I understand your frustration and I’m sorry it caused you to give away a perfectly good laptop.
In future if you need to remove ANY OS from a harddrive:
Boot the Ubuntu LiveCD, on the top panel go to System, Administration, gparted.
when gparted opens right click and delete all partitions, when you reboot the harddrive will be unformatted (blank) and ready for windows and or Linux.
Tip: if your going to duel boot, install windows FIRST and manually partition the HD during setup, leaving empty space for Linux. After you get windows installed correctly, you can boot from a Linux LiveCD and install in the free space.
Good luck with all your computing!
Good Luck Josepf….
Thanks for the instruction, I was removed some files with synaptic but it make me reinstalled my ubuntu because there are some files that deleted in the package.
So i prefer to choose command line instruction and it works
Boy, that Joseph guy needs to get chill out and learn some respect. I was reading through this and kept facepalming myself and going “Oh, Joseph, no, stop posting…”
Wow. I came for the article and stayed for the comments. That Joseph guy is a wack-job alright. How many months did it take him to not realize he could just reformat his hard drive? Even after he was told to do it numerous times? Sorry for the unrelated comment, but it had me laughing.
lol i had a good laugh…
Btw, for others that have a problem deleting ubuntu. Try live cd if that fails download and install a older version and then live cd it again. That worx for me, but now i got gparted live cd seems to work a charm.
But what i came here for is too, find a solution to delete qt-recordmydesktop
its in my sounds and videos section in my main menu
what i have tried is.
searching in synaptic
terminal
#sudo apt-get remove qt-recordmydesktop
#sudo apt-get remove qt-recordMyDesktop
and nothing was found
#dpkg –list
#dpkg –list | less
nothing was found
even tried ubuntu software center to see if its there,but no luck. (btw whats the difference between synaptic and ubuntu software center?)
running out of options
Hello,
I had quite a laugh at Joseph’s comments — its like a comment diary or something….
Anyways, if you’re still having trouble, I found something very helpful here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=953772
Good luck!
Terminal is a thousand times better! :)
Im really need someone help… imtrying to uninstall windows but keep ubuntu
you want to uninstall windows? and keep ubuntu? try installing ubuntu while at the partioning menu, use the fulldisk partition, it completely erases any data on your hardisk, then only ubuntu will be left, i prefer you not delet your windows though..
For all the insults and questions on “uninstalling” ubuntu, it’s extremely easy. My niece has done it, and she’s in 3rd grade. Simply boot your choice of operating system, hopefully paid for, partition, format, and install. It’s not that hard. So before you insult, or pitch a computer that has any operating system you don’t want consider the most simple thing to do, that is.. Install an operating system. If by chance you can’t figure it out pay someone else to do the thinking for you. Next!
I have some sympathy for Joseph (but not his prose style) as I am experiencing the same problem with a Compaq Presario CQ40 notebook. It would seem that no-one grasped that his (and my) problem is that every time you try to boot from the windows CD, Windows blue screens as soon as it has finished loading files and attempts to start. I assumed (as perhaps did Joseph) that this was because windows somehow objected to the Ubuntu installation or configuration. I have tried most of the solutions above but like him, none worked. The dban disk I made failed to boot. Gparted would not do as suggested. Elsewhere I found a suggestion to use Bootit. This disk did boot and I deleted Ubuntu.
So, starting with a clean disk, windows yet again blue screened as soon as it tried to start. I understand Joseph’s increasing frustration that no proferred solution will work. Disposing of the computer was probably the best option for him as I got a clue from one solution (loading from Ubuntu LiveCD) that there is something wrong with the hard disk controller or other firmware. This is also mentioned on the windows blue screen.
I think it is time for me to take the laptop to my local repair shop.
I offer this post to anyone who having decided that Ubuntu is not for them, then finds the ‘blue screen of death’ when you try to boot from the windows CD.
Holy Crap, Joseph is a retard. An operating system is still software… I didn’t know whether or not to laugh at this chain of posts or cry. this is absolutely ridiculous. Those of you that submitted the suggestions to configure the BIOS to boot from CD, congratulations you are correct. for everyone else, this is what you need to do.
Step 1: Buy a gun
Step 2: Buy some ammo for that gun
Step 3: Put ammo in gun
Step 4: Put gun in mouth
Step 5: Pull the fucking trigger.
hey guys!
may i ask you on how to install mkahawa in Ubuntu?
thanks.
Hi, Who can help me? I installed skype on my ubunto and after the first restart it appears the error 5: input/output error, I cant more run synaptic!!! the hard disc begins to make sounds and a red forbidden sign appears on top close to internet connection sign. When I tried to uninstall skype directly from terminal I got this error:
mojdeh@mojdeh-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get –purge remove skype
[sudo] password for mojdeh:
Reading package lists… Error!
E: Read error – read (5: Input/output error)
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Would you please help me to solve this problem?
Thanks
@Joseph Martel
you are the ultimate troll
@ Joseph Martel you good dude i had a really frustrating day just programming
but you posts made laugh all through thanks dude .
You r a comedian hahhahahhahhaha.xanks
Thanks
Hi guys i cannot boot into my windows 7. So i installed Ubuntu with the hope of salvaging some files with the intention of uninstalling Ubuntu after i had done this. However i am using an Acer laptop that has no recovery cd, before i installed Ubuntu i was able to access the windows recovery screen (system repair, command promt and all those options) also acer erecovery which allows me to reinstall windows, now though when i try to load up windows it does not navigate me to this screen and so i am unable to do a fresh install. Please could anyone explain how i can safely delete Ubuntu with the hope that i will b able to access the windows recovery screen as i could previously.