Re: Bug #32888: The old `base' package.

[servis@purdue.edu]

*- On  9 Mar, Santiago Vila wrote about "Re: Bug #32888: The old `base' package."
> I think the following could be done:
> 
> 
> In base-files.postinst, test for the existence of
> /var/lib/dpkg/info/base.list.  If it does exist, show a message saying:
> 
> "You have the old base package installed. This package is completely
> harmless and since it is essential, it should not be removed, but if
> it bothers you, please read /usr/doc/base-files/old-base-package"
> 

How about:

"You have the old base package installed.  This package is no longer
needed but can not be removed by Debian's package managment tools(yet). 
The base package will not affect your installation in any way if left
installed.  If you would like to remove it please read
/usr/doc/base-files/old-base-package  for a way to remove this package
safely."


> Then, "old-base-package" would be a file describing the "problem" and
> the possible solutions, in full detail.
> 


/usr/doc/base-files/old-base-package:

[a nice description of what went wrong back in the old days]

To remove the obsolete base package:

1) Delete /var/lib/dpkg/base.list
2) Execute 'touch /var/lib/dpkg/base.list'
3) Execute 'dpkg --force-remove-essential --purge base'
   * dpkg will complain loudly about removing an essential package but
     since you have zero'ed out the list of files that the obsolete base
     package controls this will cause no harm.


Just a user's point of view,

-- 
Brian 
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Mechanical Engineering                                bservis@usa.net
Purdue University                   http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~servis
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