Quote Originally Posted by Cuddles
Any words of advice on the new system install?
I plan on using the Knoppix 3.2 Live CD that I used for this system to get on the HD of the new system. The new system will also have a real USB "standard" modem, and not this WinModem, so access and setup of the new system getting to the internet should be without problems.

The new system is going to have the DVD and CD-RW from this system moved to it also. Maybe before I do my first apt-get [anything] - I should have a clue how to clean things up from the HD Install first????? Maybe then, I can clear issues before it gets to this stage.


Cuddles
Well you definetely want to get rid of everything on the system that you will not need or use to save on the upgrade time. In addition to the files I mentioned above you can remove the extra xservers that are there you can get a list by using dpkg -l | grep xserver-* you are most likely only using the xserver-xfree86 xserver-common ones all the others (with 3.3.6 in the name) can be eliminated. And you can get a list of all packages on the system with dpkg --get-selections > selections.txt which will re-direct the output of the command to the .txt file and you can open with an editor and see what programs are installed or will be installed on the next upgrade with the install in the second field. You can then use apt-cache show package_name to see what the package does and decide if you need it if you do not the start making a list of the packages to remove.

Some packages to consider for the list:

abiword abiword-common apache squid - If you do not need a web server the get rid of apache and abiword is a word processor and kde has 2 that will be installed anyway squid is a web cache server.

ethereal ethereal-common ettercap nessus nessusd - network sniffing tools

efax-gtk kfax - Fax if not needed bye.

wine wine-utils winesetuptk bochs bochs-wx bochs-x bochsbios - Windows and dos emulation tools.

partimage partimage-server mindi - Tools to backup and restore images of your partitions

mysql-client mysql-common mysql-server - MYSQL database

wmaker wmakerconf wmakerconf-data - Window maker windowing system.

xawtv xawtv-plugins - TV card tools

jpilot-backup kpilot jpilot jpilot-mail jpilot-plugins gsm-utils pilot-link - Palm pilot tools

libsane - Scanners if you do not have one not needed

isdnactivecards isdnlog isdnlog-data isdnutils isdnutils-base isdnutils-xtools isdnvboxclient isdnvboxserver - ISDN connection tools definetely not needed.

linux-wlan-ng wireless-tools - Wireless tools + search for the pcmcia notebook card tools.

lisa smbclient smbfs - Windows sharing

lvm-common lvm10 mdadm - Logical volume and raid array management most likely you do not need it.

koffice-i18n-de openoffice-de-en mozilla-locale-de-at - German specific packages not needed.

brltty - Braille tool to connect to a terminal for the blind there are probably others as well to search for.


You should try to get the system you have now working it will give you more experience at solving the problems that come up. And one more thing after removing all the programs you want you should run Orphaner for the libraries (deborphan) it is is the menus somewhere to have it remove the libraries that have been left behind by the removal of all the programs and when removing use the --purge option in the line to remove the configuration files as well.