On Mi, 23 apr 14, 11:25:50, Ken Heard wrote: > > > > 0. Make sure your packages are ok > > > > dpkg --audit > > Command returned nothing. Good.
> > 1. Confirm which packages need to be downgraded
> >
> > aptitude search '?narrow(?installed,?origin(backports))'
>
> This command also returned nothing.
Oups, forgot they are not in backports *anymore*. Try this instead
aptitude search '?narrow(?installed?version(bpo))'
> > 2. Make sure you have all needed debs downloaded locally, *in
> > advance*.
>
> Do you mean creating a local repository for the two debs I need,
> adding that repository to /etc/apt/sources.list and running apt-get
> update? The two packages I want to install are already in the squeeze
> repository.
No, I mean download the .deb files.
> > For safety you should probably also have the debs of packages
> > currently installed so you can revert if something goes wrong.
> >
> > If you didn't clean apt's cache these will be in
> > /var/cache/apt/archives,
>
> That directory contains only 123 deb files; obviously many more than
> 125 are currently installed. I have never consciously cleaned the
> cache. Does something in a chron file perhaps clean it periodically?
>
> > otherwise download them from snapshot.debian.org.
>
> I looked at the website, it would be quite an effort to find a date
> which would cover the current state of all packages installed in the
> box. I would doubtless miss many.
Not all packages, just the debs for python and python-minimal
corresponding to your installed versions.
> > 3a. use dpkg --force-depends to remove python and python-minimal
> >
> > dpkg --force-depends --purge python python-minimal
>
> If I understand it correctly, --force-depends will warn me of broken
> dependencies only; it will not remove package chains which will not
> work when those two packages are removed.
dpkg is a low level tool, if you ask it to remove (just) python and
python-minimal it will not try to be smart and remove more. However,
without the --force switch it will refuse to do it, because it would
result in broken dependencies.
> > 3b. use dpkg to install the stable versions
> >
> > dpkg --install <stable deb files>
>
> As the two files I want are already in old stable (squeeze), and that
> is where /etc/apt/sources.list points to, surely all I would need to
> do is merely list them.
sources.list is for apt, dpkg needs .deb files.
> > Alternatively you can also use
> >
> > dpkg --force-downgrade --install <stable deb files>
> >
> > but my feeling is that purging and installing is safer.
>
> Probably, but setting up a reverting backup as you described does not
> inspire confidence. Perhaps it would be better to do without printing
> -- I do not have another printer -- until I can upgrade to Wheezy in a
> month or two. I could live with that option but with bad grace.
That is your choice to make.
Kind regards,
Andrei
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