[Mageia-dev] Orphans - those poor orphans . . .

Fri Jan 6 15:53:13 CET 2012

> 2012/1/6 Robert Fox <list at foxconsult.net>:
+>> After latest Cauldron updates, I got a real long list of suggested
+>> "orphans" - but I believe some of these packages are needed (like hal or
+>> basesystem-minimal) -
+>>
+>> How do I clear out the orphans - like reset the logic behind it so the
+>> correct packages will be orphaned? Â Or is a fresh install in order??
+>>
+>>
+>> The following packages:
+>> Â aisleriot-3.3.1-1.mga2.x86_64
+>> Â alacarte-0.13.2-3.mga1.noarch
+>> Â alsa-plugins-doc-1.0.24-5.mga2.noarch
+>> ....
+>
+> This is a well known issue.
+> To clear out the list you need a deep knowledge of the system to
+> determine which packages are really not needed anymore.
+>
+> Lately  this --auto-orphans line shreddered my whole system on a fresh
+> install after the first update, several system services could not
+> start at next reboot, applications did not run, etc. One of the very
+> few times I had to re-install because of a bug. Call me newbie or
+> pussy but until this is not a secure function I will never touch it
+> again.
+>
+
+Btw, this problem is not unique to Mageia. After I hosed a Debian
+installation by running apt with auto-orphans, I vowed never to mess with
+orphans again.
+
+The system has to be intelligent enough to know what is or is not an orphan.
+
+--
+Finid.
+
+