[Mageia-dev] Orphans - those poor orphans . . .

[LinuxBSDos.com]

> 2012/1/6 Robert Fox <list at foxconsult.net>:
>> After latest Cauldron updates, I got a real long list of suggested
>> "orphans" - but I believe some of these packages are needed (like hal or
>> basesystem-minimal) -
>>
>> How do I clear out the orphans - like reset the logic behind it so the
>> correct packages will be orphaned? Â Or is a fresh install in order??
>>
>>
>> The following packages:
>> Â aisleriot-3.3.1-1.mga2.x86_64
>> Â alacarte-0.13.2-3.mga1.noarch
>> Â alsa-plugins-doc-1.0.24-5.mga2.noarch
>> ....
>
> This is a well known issue.
> To clear out the list you need a deep knowledge of the system to
> determine which packages are really not needed anymore.
>
> Lately  this --auto-orphans line shreddered my whole system on a fresh
> install after the first update, several system services could not
> start at next reboot, applications did not run, etc. One of the very
> few times I had to re-install because of a bug. Call me newbie or
> pussy but until this is not a secure function I will never touch it
> again.
>

Btw, this problem is not unique to Mageia. After I hosed a Debian
installation by running apt with auto-orphans, I vowed never to mess with
orphans again.

The system has to be intelligent enough to know what is or is not an orphan.

--
Finid.