Uninstalling software in Linux Mint

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I have Linux Mint 19.1 64-bit Xfce on my computer. I had 18.2, but there were some issues, such as it wouldn’t let me do updates. Also, there was a Libre Office component which was broken; it told me I needed to reinstall it, but it wouldn’t let me, because that same component was needed in order to reinstall it!

Anyway, I decided to do a clean install of the latest Linux Mint, 19.1. I had a spare hard drive, so I wasn’t going to wipe out anything in the process.

To make a long story short, I did the clean install and got everything working, except for a glitch with Opera (I don’t remember what it was). I tried to uninstall it in various ways, but I kept getting the message that it wasn’t installed.

Finally I tried using Synaptics to uninstall it. I was able to find it in Synaptics by searching on http://www.opera.com (as I recall), so I knew I found the right listing (that was where I got the install file from). Synaptics successfully uninstalled it. I then reinstalled it using Synaptics rather than a manual process.

Moral of this story: If you can’t figure out how to uninstall something in Linux Mint, try using Synaptics. If you can find it listed in Synaptics, and if you can positively identify that you are uninstalling the correct item, Synaptics should get the job done for you.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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Elly

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I wouldn’t use any other installer/uninstaller in Linux, Synaptics FTW! seconded by the commandline interface or ‘Terminal’ for newbies.
Synaptics opens up more control of the system over ‘software managers’ and it’s integrated cleaning facility (residual software section) helps keep the OS in trim and even install the original programs associated with the distro (which are updated)

I’ve uninstalled Software Managers ’cause they’re simply not required and just double up with an ugly vanity interface. Then it usually entails using either the command line interface or synaptics to remove remnant installation packages (orphans not installed)

Linux beginners, however, may find them useful for navigating installation/uninstallation of programs for simplicity but, I’d highly recommend using synaptics on a learning curve.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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I thought that the Software Manager allowed you to download, install, and uninstall programs.  I’ve only had Linux 19.1 installed since this passed Christmas so I’m still getting familiar with it.

I used Software Manager to install a Billiards game which I’m not real happy with.  I was thinking I could just use the Software Manager to uninstall it if I wanted to.  Is this not the case?

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Software Manager is an interface built on synaptics for simplicity of use but, yes you can opt to use them should you wish to do so. Yes you can uninstall your billiards game via the software manager.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Charlie

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I am just starting to use Mint, and the version is 19.1.

Is it fair to conclude from this discussion that Software Manager in 19.1 is not entirely up to scratch, and one hast to use the command line instead or as well, and does this happen often enough to matter?

If one has to use the command line (in Terminal), what are the symptoms that this is necessary? Thanks.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

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MrJimPhelps

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OscarCP wrote:

I am just starting to use Mint, and the version is 19.1.
Is it fair to conclude from this discussion that Software Manager in 19.1 is not entirely up to scratch

No, it’s not fair to conclude anything, cue MrJimPhelps..

Personally and in many years of use, since 12.04LTS, synaptics is my favored software controller, where I have not had a single issue, with the command line interface aka ‘terminal’ being my second choice

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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I tried uninstalling Opera using Software Manager, and it told me that Opera wasn’t installed, so it couldn’t uninstall it.

I had originally installed Opera by downloading the install file from the Opera website and then running it.

I then tried Synaptics. Synaptics lets you search for an installed program by searching on “origin”, that is, searching on where you got the program from. I got it from http://www.opera.com, and so when I found a listing of Opera that had originated from http://www.opera.com, I knew that I had found the correct listing of Opera in Synaptics. Synaptics uninstalled Opera once I identified it in the “origin” group.

I then used Synaptics to find and install Opera, so that the Opera install would be managed by Synaptics. Doing it this way has the advantage of Synaptics managing Opera updates.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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OscarCP, Elly

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For me, the command line / terminal is the way to install something when there is no other way to do it. But I prefer to first try Synaptics for the install, because it will be easier to do it that way, and it will be a well-managed process. Also, updates and future uninstalls will be easier if you first install it using Synaptics.

I recently installed VMWare Workstation Player (my virtual machine software) using the command line / terminal. I’m not sure why I didn’t first look in Synaptics to install it. The command line just seemed like the right way to do it. But I had to first make the install file executable before it would run and do the install. If it was installable via Synaptics, I’ll bet it would have been a lot easier to have done it that way.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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