dist-upgrade reinstalls previously removed packages

[rickmans]

I removed open office (word processor spreadsheet etc etc) in 8.04. Today I upgraded to 8.10 and suddenly these packages were reinstalled. This is inco,rrect behaviour, an upgrade should only upgrade existing / related packages. If there are packages that are deliberately uninstalled these should not be reinstalled. If there are new applications available that could improve the user experience for the user the user should be asked during the upgrade if he would like to install them.

[Ian Weisser (ian-weisser)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Could you please attach the files in /var/log/dist-upgrade to this bug report?

This will greatly aid us in tracking down your problem.

[Ian Weisser (ian-weisser)]

What method did you use to upgrade? Update Manager? Synaptic? Command line (if so, which command, exactly)?

Thanks

[rickmans (rickmans)]

I used the update manager.. I simply pressed the button that 8.10 was available and than followed the regular upgrade process.

[Ian Weisser (ian-weisser)]

One feature of Upgrade Manager is that it deliberately reinstalls the ubuntu-desktop package (or, as applicable, another metapackage). During a new release, some old packages are discontinued and other new packages are introduced. The reinstall of ubuntu-desktop is a step that helps to sort out a lot of the more puzzling changes.

But it also pulls in all the dependencies including OpenOffice and Pidgin and others that you had removed. And I can see your point - that can certainly be annoying.

Assigning this bug to the update-manager package.

[Michele Mangili (mangilimic)]

Thank you for taking the time to make Ubuntu better. Since what you submitted is not really a bug, or a problem, but rather an idea to improve Ubuntu, you are invited to post your idea in Ubuntu Brainstorm at https://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/ where it can be discussed, voted by the community and reviewed by developers. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion!