Update problem, updated 'upgradable apps' in synaptic-eek!

[paulstone]

I was looking in synaptic and found a lot of upgrade-able apps, so I upgraded them. It ruined the installation.

It went very slow and some apps wouldnt start.

That's not meant as a criticism really because the Mint update manager wasn't recommending that I update them.

But why would updating them cause such problems?

I have now wiped Mint but before I install it again, I would like to know why what I did caused problems.

[Husse]

So you "looked in Synaptic" and updated/graded even programs mintUpdate classifies as a 4 or 5?
There is a reason for this, don't you think? You just found out why....
Among the updates mintUpdate does not recommend are updates to the kernel that may cause problems...

[paulstone]

They weren't classified as anything in synaptic, but I take your point.

I am new to ALL Linux, I saw stuff in synaptic that was update-able, so I updated.

Seems like this could happen to anyone new. No need to patronise me.

[Integrity]

Among the updates mintUpdate does not recommend are updates to the kernel that may cause problems...

Husse is correct, when updating just use Mint Updater from the desktop and ignore Synaptic. Mint relies on/adds code to the kernel which is different than Ubuntu's Kernel and upgrading will render your system useless.

Sometimes new isn't always improved.

In the future you can roll back the kernel rather than reinstall. Also if you haven't already done so during install create 3 partitions /, swap and home. When you reinstall you will still have all of your documents, e-mails and stuff.

[paulstone]

Ignoring synaptic is something people really should be aware of, in retrospect it is obvious that I should have, but at the time...I was just used to using synaptic in Ubuntu. Used to, as in 3 weeks of any Linux experience at all.

So, what about installing new apps? Could that cause problems too?

Thanks for the tip on the 3 partitions, I havent been doing that.

[Husse]

Installing new apps would not cause problems normally, but as you know (now ) just about anything can happen with a computer...

[mumbo719]

Ignoring synaptic is something people really should be aware of, in retrospect it is obvious that I should have, but at the time...I was just used to using synaptic in Ubuntu. Used to, as in 3 weeks of any Linux experience at all.

So, what about installing new apps? Could that cause problems too?

Thanks for the tip on the 3 partitions, I havent been doing that.

When i was a new Linux user I trashed my system many times. It is all part of the learning curve. Sometimes learning what not to do is more important than learning what to do.

Using Synaptic to install new programs will not trash your system.

Enjoy!

[paulstone]

Yep, I have re-installed various distros a few times, lol.

I now have a partition for trying out distros and I am going to try Mint out again soon. For the moment I feel comfortable with Ubuntu, prolly because that is the one I began with.

I DO like Mint tho. I would recommend it to a Linux newb...with the warning to use Mintupdate update only for updates and NOT synaptic.

[Husse]

And warn not to do a dist-upgrade - you get a mess far worse than you had...

[desertViking]

Using Synaptic to install new programs will not trash your system.

Once installed with Synaptic, will mintUpdate recognize updates to the new software?
Kind rgds,
dViking

[McLovin]

In the future you can roll back the kernel rather than reinstall. Also if you haven't already done so during install create 3 partitions /, swap and home. When you reinstall you will still have all of your documents, e-mails and stuff.

I would like to point out that as you are "new to all Linux" when you make these partitions, keep in mind that the way they should look in the partition editor is as follows
swap (logical)
/ (Primary(the root partition))
/home (Primary(the home partition))
the reason I posted this is because when I first started with Linux, I did not realize that you had to have the "/" before "home" to make it work, so I hosed many an install, and hosed just as many just doing newbie things like what you did, it happens and we have all done it, so don't feel like anyone is patronizing you, we are just pointing out that those warning levels are there for a reason, (I understand that they are not in Synaptic, and that you did not know to only use the Mint Update, but now you know, and knowing is half the battle. "G.I. JOE") they tell you how dangerous some files can be, and tell you not to install them unless you really know what you are doing.

[iamclueless]

In the future you can roll back the kernel rather than reinstall. Also if you haven't already done so during install create 3 partitions /, swap and home. When you reinstall you will still have all of your documents, e-mails and stuff.

I would like to point out that as you are "new to all Linux" when you make these partitions, keep in mind that the way they should look in the partition editor is as follows
swap (logical)
/ (Primary(the root partition))
/home (Primary(the home partition))
the reason I posted this is because when I first started with Linux, I did not realize that you had to have the "/" before "home" to make it work, so I hosed many an install, and hosed just as many just doing newbie things like what you did, it happens and we have all done it, so don't feel like anyone is patronizing you, we are just pointing out that those warning levels are there for a reason, (I understand that they are not in Synaptic, and that you did not know to only use the Mint Update, but now you know, and knowing is half the battle. "G.I. JOE") they tell you how dangerous some files can be, and tell you not to install them unless you really know what you are doing.

just a quick question

why does ubuntu/mint/xubuntu... i imagine lots of distro create an extended partition and then put the swap partition in it??? so that you end up with 3 partitions after doing an install that uses the whole hard drive.

and out of curiousity... if i create a /home partition how well does it transfer to a different distribution? say going to mint from xubuntu etc.

thanks

[McLovin]

that is the reason for making a seperate home partition, so you can keep all your files and basic settings. there are some folders in there that you would have to move/backup if you were to change distros, or upgrade to a newer version, but don't worry about that until it happens, when it does just post and people will help through that as well.