Ubuntu crash recovery

[Skyguy]

Several times I've had had Ubuntu undergo a major crash because of a broken dependency. When I ran "apt-get install -f" to remove the offending file, not only was it removed, but it took perhaps 3/4 of everything else on my system along with it. The only way to recover was to re-install Ubuntu and start from scratch.

I like Linux, but sometimes it doesn't seem anywhere near as 'robust' as XP (knock on wood...) I store backups of all my important Linux documents & files on XP because I fear the next small 'deb' file I install could trash everything. God knows, like just about everyone else on this planet, I've had my battles with Windows, but I'm not nearly as afraid to crash in XP as I am in Linux.

Advice anyone?

[Superman3332001]

Several times I've had had Ubuntu undergo a major crash because of a broken dependency. When I ran "apt-get install -f" to remove the offending file, not only was it removed, but it took perhaps 3/4 of everything else on my system along with it. The only way to recover was to re-install Ubuntu and start from scratch.

I like Linux, but sometimes it doesn't seem anywhere near as 'robust' as XP (knock on wood...) I store backups of all my important Linux documents & files on XP because I fear the next small 'deb' file I install could trash everything. God knows, like just about everyone else on this planet, I've had my battles with Windows, but I'm not nearly as afraid to crash in XP as I am in Linux.

Advice anyone?

Here is one site that might help you. http://www.linux.com/articles/48910

Hope this can help you in some way.

Sincerely superman3332001

[linuxguru]

Not a big fan of Ubuntu but they do have good forums that might offer assistance.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

are you installing stable packages?
I like synaptic package manager as it works real well at finding only
stable packages. it also will warn you if a package being installed will
break the system. to date I have never had a package break the system.

I can do that nicely myself ;)

[ssadams]

when I install Linux, i make a seperate /home partition so i never have to worry about my install. Packages can be frustrating at times, and I have used them all over the nearly 20 years I have used Linux. The Linux file system is more robust then NTFS, so i don't think your doing yourself any favour storing your files that way.

[cdnLilWolf]

Are these packages Kernel mods? If so, I would guarantee a crash on an uninstall. There are a half dozen file systems superior to NTFS. EXT2/3 are rock solid and worry free.

What exactly are you trying to install/uninstall? As was eluded to, a lot of software is beta or alpha at best (there's a recent article on version numbering). Some just don't play nice, even in the Linux world. Bleeding edge packages have no business residing on a partition you value, ssadams offered good advice about that.
(for that matter, everybody did).