I have to correct myself: Removing the multiarch packages helped, but the default solver still wants to drop half of KDE while the aspcud solver looks good: root@slpn-nb-mss:~# apt-get install -V --no-remove xserver-xorg-lts-quantal --solver aspcud Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done ^Cecute external solver... 25% root@slpn-nb-mss:~# apt-get install -V --no-remove xserver-xorg-lts-quantal ^C root@slpn-nb-mss:~# root@slpn-nb-mss:~# apt-get install -V --no-remove xserver-xorg-lts-quantal Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: x11-apps (7.6+5ubuntu1) libfreehep-graphicsio-svg-java (2.1.1-3) libsdl-ttf2.0-0 (2.0.9-1.1ubuntu1) libnumber-compare-perl (0.03-1) units (1.87-2) libfile-spec-perl (3.3300-1build2) krita-data (2.6.1-0ubuntu5~ubuntu12.04.2~ppa2) libfile-remove-perl (1.51-1) libfile-homedir-perl (0.98-1) libdevel-refactor-perl (0.05-1) liborlite-perl (1.51-1) fonts-takao-pgothic (003.02.01-5ubuntu1) libfile-next-perl (1.06-2) libfile-sharedir-perl (1.00-0.1) libfreehep-graphicsio-java (2.1.1-2) libfile-pushd-perl (1.001-1) libfile-find-rule-perl (0.33-1) libplplot11 (5.9.9-2ubuntu2) libqtexengine1 (0.3-2) libfile-which-perl (1.08-1) libclass-unload-perl (0.07-1) libfreehep-export-java (2.1.1-2) libmodule-manifest-perl (0.07-1) libqwt5-qt4 (5.2.2-1ubuntu2) qt-assistant-compat (4.6.3-3ubuntu2) libgl2ps0 (1.3.6-1) ack-grep (1.92-1) libsunflow-java (0.07.2.svn396+dfsg-9) libthreads-shared-perl (1.40-1build1) libfreehep-io-java (2.0.2-4) xsettings-kde (0.12.3-0ubuntu2.1) libdbd-sqlite3-perl (1.35-1) libprobe-perl-perl (0.01-1) libtext-findindent-perl (0.10-1) libparse-errorstring-perl-perl (0.15-1) libkdcraw-data (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa2) x11-session-utils (7.6+2) libvecmath-java (1.5.2-3) libclass-inspector-perl (1.25-1) libmath-basecnv-perl (1.8.B59BrZX-1) libppix-regexp-perl (0.023-1) libtemplate-tiny-perl (1.12-1) libpod2-base-perl (0.043-1) libmikmod2 (3.1.12-2) libpod-abstract-perl (0.20-1) libjas-plotter-java (2.2.6+dfsg1-2) libclass-adapter-perl (1.07-1) libdevel-dumpvar-perl (1.06-1) libmuparser0debian1 (1.34-2) libfreehep-graphicsio-tests-java (2.1.1+dfsg1-3) libtext-diff-perl (1.41-1) libtask-weaken-perl (1.03-1) libxml-tidy-perl (1.12.B55J2qn-1) libcsiro0 (5.9.9-2ubuntu2) libtext-glob-perl (0.09-1) libtablelayout-java (20090826-2) filezilla-common (3.5.3-1ubuntu2) libsdl-net1.2 (1.2.7-5) libalglib-2.6.0 (2.6.0-3) libqsastime0 (5.9.9-2ubuntu2) wx-common (2.8.12.1-6ubuntu2.2) libwxbase2.8-dev (2.8.12.1-6ubuntu2.2) qtiplot-doc (0.9.8.8-3) libfreehep-util-java (2.0.2-5) libfreehep-graphics2d-java (2.1.1-3) libkdcraw22 (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa2) libppix-editortools-perl (0.13-1) libfreehep-xml-java (2.1.2+dfsg1-3) libipc-run3-perl (0.045-1) wx2.8-headers (2.8.12.1-6ubuntu2.2) liborlite-migrate-perl (1.09-1) libclass-xsaccessor-perl (1.13-1) libppi-perl (1.215-1) libopenjpeg2 (1.3+dfsg-4+squeeze1build0.12.04.1) libxp6 (1.0.1-2) libpadwalker-perl (1.92-1build2) libparse-exuberantctags-perl (1.01-1build2) libcg (3.0.0016-0ubuntu1) libsdl-sound1.2 (1.0.3-4) libfreehep-swing-java (2.0.3-3) libdebug-client-perl (0.15-1) libpod-pom-perl (0.27-1) libtamuanova-0.2 (0.2-1) libsmpeg0 (0.4.5+cvs20030824-4) Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them. The following extra packages will be installed: libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libglapi-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libllvm3.1 (3.1-2ubuntu1~12.04) libtxc-dxtn-s2tc0 (0~git20110809-2.1) libxatracker1-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libxrandr-ltsq2 (1.4.0-1~precise1) linux-generic-lts-quantal (3.5.0.28.35) x11-xserver-utils-lts-quantal (7.7~3ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-common-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-core-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-evdev-lts-quantal (2.7.3-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-mouse-lts-quantal (1.7.2-2build1~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-synaptics-lts-quantal (1.6.2-1ubuntu5~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse-lts-quantal (12.9.0-0ubuntu3~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-wacom-lts-quantal (0.17.0-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-ati-lts-quantal (6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-cirrus-lts-quantal (1.5.1-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-fbdev-lts-quantal (0.4.3-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-intel-lts-quantal (2.20.9-0ubuntu2~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-mach64-lts-quantal (6.9.3-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-mga-lts-quantal (1.6.2-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-modesetting-lts-quantal (0.5.0-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-neomagic-lts-quantal (1.2.7-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-nouveau-lts-quantal (1.0.2-0ubuntu3~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-openchrome-lts-quantal (0.3.1-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-r128-lts-quantal (6.9.1-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-radeon-lts-quantal (6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-s3-lts-quantal (0.6.5-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-savage-lts-quantal (2.3.6-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-siliconmotion-lts-quantal (1.7.7-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-sis-lts-quantal (0.10.7-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-sisusb-lts-quantal (0.9.6-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-tdfx-lts-quantal (1.4.5-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-trident-lts-quantal (1.3.6-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-vesa-lts-quantal (2.3.2-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-vmware-lts-quantal (12.0.2+git.e5ac80d8-0ubuntu1~precise2) Suggested packages: libglide3 (2002.04.10ds1-7) nickle (2.71-1) cairo-5c (1.4) xfonts-100dpi (1.0.3) xfonts-75dpi (1.0.3) gpointing-device-settings (1.5.1-6ubuntu0.1) touchfreeze () firmware-linux () The following packages will be REMOVED: asymptote (2.15-1) braid (1.0.0-0ubuntu2) cantor-backend-kalgebra (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa2) cantor-backend-octave (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa2) dosbox (0.74-2) filezilla (3.5.3-1ubuntu2) freeglut3 (2.6.0-1ubuntu3) gvfs (1.12.1-0ubuntu1.2) gvfs-backends (1.12.1-0ubuntu1.2) gvfs-daemons (1.12.1-0ubuntu1.2) icedtea-7-plugin (1.2-2ubuntu1.3) java3ds-fileloader (1.2+dfsg-1) kalgebra (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa2) kde-window-manager (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) kde-window-manager-common (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) kde-workspace (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) kde-workspace-bin (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) kinfocenter (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) krita (2.6.1-0ubuntu5~ubuntu12.04.2~ppa2) kubuntu-desktop (1.254) kubuntu-netbook (1.254) libalien-wxwidgets-perl (0.54+dfsg-1) libanalitzagui4abi2 (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa1) libanalitzaplot4 (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa1) libegl1-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libegl1-mesa-drivers (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libfltk1.1 (1.1.10-10) libgbm1 (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libgl1-mesa-dri (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libgl1-mesa-glx (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libglapi-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libglew1.6 (1.6.0-4) libglu1-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libglu1-mesa-dev (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libjava3d-java (1.5.2+dfsg-5) libjava3d-jni (1.5.2+dfsg-5) libkwinglutils1abi1 (4.10.2-0ubuntu1~ubuntu12.04~ppa3) libopenvg1-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libpadre-plugin-xml-perl (0.10-3) libqt4-opengl-dev (4.8.2+dfsg-2ubuntu1~precise1~ppa2) libqwtplot3d-qt4-0 (0.2.7+svn191-5ubuntu2) libswt-glx-gtk-3-jni (3.7.2-2) libvisual-0.4-plugins (0.4.0.dfsg.1-7) libwx-perl (0.9903-1) libwx-perl-processstream-perl (0.29-1) libwxgtk2.8-dev (2.8.12.1-6ubuntu2.2) libxatracker1 (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) nvidia-cg-toolkit (3.0.0016-0ubuntu1) octave-control (1.0.11-2) octave-data-smoothing (1.2.3-1) octave-image (1.0.14-2) octave-io (1.0.14-2) octave-miscellaneous (1.0.11-1) octave-optim (1.0.17-1) octave-plot (1.0.8-1) octave-plplot (5.9.9-2ubuntu2) octave-strings (1.0.7-3) octave-struct (1.0.9-1) octave3.2 (3.2.4-12) openjdk-7-jdk (7u15-2.3.7-0ubuntu1~12.04.1) openjdk-7-jre (7u15-2.3.7-0ubuntu1~12.04.1) padre (0.90.ds1-1) phonon-backend-gstreamer (4.7.0really4.6.3-0ubuntu0.12.04.1) qtiplot (0.9.8.8-3) remmina-plugin-xdmcp (1.0.0-1ubuntu6.2) scidavis (0.2.4-3.2ubuntu1) sweethome3d (3.4+dfsg-1) virtualbox-4.2 (4.2.10-84104~Ubuntu~precise) vlc (2.0.5-0ubuntu0.12.04.1) x11-utils (7.6+4ubuntu0.1) xorg (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xephyr (1.11.4-0ubuntu10.12) xserver-xorg (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-core (1.11.4-0ubuntu10.12) xserver-xorg-input-all (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-input-evdev (2.7.0-0ubuntu1.2) xserver-xorg-input-mouse (1.7.1-1build3) xserver-xorg-input-synaptics (1.6.2-1ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse (12.9.0-0ubuntu0.1) xserver-xorg-input-wacom (0.14.0-0ubuntu2.1) xserver-xorg-lts-precise (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-all (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-ati (6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-cirrus (1.3.2-4build1) xserver-xorg-video-fbdev (0.4.2-4ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-intel (2.17.0-1ubuntu4.4) xserver-xorg-video-mach64 (6.9.0-1build2) xserver-xorg-video-mga (1.4.13.dfsg-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-neomagic (1.2.5-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build3) xserver-xorg-video-openchrome (0.2.904+svn1050-1) xserver-xorg-video-qxl (0.0.16-2ubuntu0.1) xserver-xorg-video-r128 (6.8.1-5build2) xserver-xorg-video-radeon (6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-s3 (0.6.3-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-savage (2.3.3-1ubuntu1) xserver-xorg-video-siliconmotion (1.7.5-1build2) xserver-xorg-video-sis (0.10.3-3build2) xserver-xorg-video-sisusb (0.9.4-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-tdfx (1.4.3-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-trident (1.3.4-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-vesa (2.3.0-7build2) xserver-xorg-video-vmware (12.0.1-1ubuntu1.1) The following NEW packages will be installed: libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libglapi-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libllvm3.1 (3.1-2ubuntu1~12.04) libtxc-dxtn-s2tc0 (0~git20110809-2.1) libxatracker1-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libxrandr-ltsq2 (1.4.0-1~precise1) linux-generic-lts-quantal (3.5.0.28.35) x11-xserver-utils-lts-quantal (7.7~3ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-common-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-core-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-evdev-lts-quantal (2.7.3-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-mouse-lts-quantal (1.7.2-2build1~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-synaptics-lts-quantal (1.6.2-1ubuntu5~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse-lts-quantal (12.9.0-0ubuntu3~precise1) xserver-xorg-input-wacom-lts-quantal (0.17.0-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-ati-lts-quantal (6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-cirrus-lts-quantal (1.5.1-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-fbdev-lts-quantal (0.4.3-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-intel-lts-quantal (2.20.9-0ubuntu2~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-mach64-lts-quantal (6.9.3-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-mga-lts-quantal (1.6.2-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-modesetting-lts-quantal (0.5.0-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-neomagic-lts-quantal (1.2.7-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-nouveau-lts-quantal (1.0.2-0ubuntu3~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-openchrome-lts-quantal (0.3.1-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-r128-lts-quantal (6.9.1-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-radeon-lts-quantal (6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-s3-lts-quantal (0.6.5-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-savage-lts-quantal (2.3.6-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-siliconmotion-lts-quantal (1.7.7-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-sis-lts-quantal (0.10.7-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-sisusb-lts-quantal (0.9.6-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-tdfx-lts-quantal (1.4.5-0ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-video-trident-lts-quantal (1.3.6-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-vesa-lts-quantal (2.3.2-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-vmware-lts-quantal (12.0.2+git.e5ac80d8-0ubuntu1~precise2) 0 upgraded, 40 newly installed, 103 to remove and 0 not upgraded. E: Packages need to be removed but remove is disabled. root@slpn-nb-mss:~# apt-get install -V --no-remove xserver-xorg-lts-quantal --solver aspcud Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done Execute external solver... Done The following extra packages will be installed: libegl1-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgbm1-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libglapi-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libllvm3.1 (3.1-2ubuntu1~12.04) libwayland-ltsq0 (0.95.0-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-common-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-core-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-evdev-lts-quantal (2.7.3-0ubuntu2~precise1) Suggested packages: libglide3 (2002.04.10ds1-7) xfonts-100dpi (1.0.3) xfonts-75dpi (1.0.3) Recommended packages: libegl1-mesa-drivers-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libtxc-dxtn-s2tc0 (0~git20110809-2.1) linux-generic-lts-quantal (3.5.0.28.35) xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) x11-xserver-utils-lts-quantal (7.7~3ubuntu1~precise1) The following packages will be REMOVED: libegl1-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libegl1-mesa-drivers (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libgbm1 (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libgl1-mesa-dri (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libgl1-mesa-glx (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libglapi-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libopenvg1-mesa (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) libxatracker1 (8.0.4-0ubuntu0.4) xserver-xorg (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-core (1.11.4-0ubuntu10.12) xserver-xorg-input-all (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-input-evdev (2.7.0-0ubuntu1.2) xserver-xorg-input-mouse (1.7.1-1build3) xserver-xorg-input-synaptics (1.6.2-1ubuntu1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse (12.9.0-0ubuntu0.1) xserver-xorg-input-wacom (0.14.0-0ubuntu2.1) xserver-xorg-lts-precise (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-all (7.6+12ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-ati (6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-cirrus (1.3.2-4build1) xserver-xorg-video-fbdev (0.4.2-4ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-intel (2.17.0-1ubuntu4.4) xserver-xorg-video-mach64 (6.9.0-1build2) xserver-xorg-video-mga (1.4.13.dfsg-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-neomagic (1.2.5-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build3) xserver-xorg-video-openchrome (0.2.904+svn1050-1) xserver-xorg-video-qxl (0.0.16-2ubuntu0.1) xserver-xorg-video-r128 (6.8.1-5build2) xserver-xorg-video-radeon (6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2) xserver-xorg-video-s3 (0.6.3-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-savage (2.3.3-1ubuntu1) xserver-xorg-video-siliconmotion (1.7.5-1build2) xserver-xorg-video-sis (0.10.3-3build2) xserver-xorg-video-sisusb (0.9.4-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-tdfx (1.4.3-4build2) xserver-xorg-video-trident (1.3.4-2build2) xserver-xorg-video-vesa (2.3.0-7build2) xserver-xorg-video-vmware (12.0.1-1ubuntu1.1) The following NEW packages will be installed: libegl1-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgbm1-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libglapi-mesa-lts-quantal (9.0.3-0ubuntu0.1~precise1) libllvm3.1 (3.1-2ubuntu1~12.04) libwayland-ltsq0 (0.95.0-0ubuntu1~precise1) xserver-common-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-core-lts-quantal (1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2) xserver-xorg-input-evdev-lts-quantal (2.7.3-0ubuntu2~precise1) xserver-xorg-lts-quantal (7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1) 0 upgraded, 11 newly installed, 39 to remove and 0 not upgraded. E: Packages need to be removed but remove is disabled.