[Bug 387633] Re: Uninstalling a program via synaptic/add-remove does not completely remove configuration files etc.

[Adolfo Jayme Barrientos]

** Also affects: apt (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided => Wishlist

** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Triaged

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to apt in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/387633

Title:
  Uninstalling a program via synaptic/add-remove does not completely
  remove configuration files etc.

Status in APT:
  New
Status in One Hundred Paper Cuts:
  Invalid
Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  If a messed up installation (messed up config of replication on mysql
  for example) needs to be reinstalled from scratch, the user might as
  well reinstall the entire OS since Ubuntu has the annoying habit of
  retaining configuration files and other data. In such a situation one
  usually has to drop at the command prompt and do all sorts of 'force'
  commands and hope that the application uninstalls completely.

  Proposed solution: when prompted to uninstall an application, all
  traces of the application must be removed (or the user should be
  prompted if they want to retain config files) such that the
  application must be downloaded in it's entirety once again if the user
  wants to reinstall.

  I'd also like to add that using the completely remove option in
  synaptic does not remove the installation completely either.

  To reproduce the issue:

  1. Install any application (I have tried it with mysql and other non-synaptic third party applications)
  2. Change configuration files.
  3. Remove completely and reinstall.

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/apt/+bug/387633/+subscriptions