Panel customization and a can of worms & no clean uninstalls?

[Goatmilk]

Okay, here are a few more things I simply cannot seem to grasp.

I wanted to have a customized panel and started to remove/add icons to my own liking - and of course broke a couple of things in the process. First of all the Wifi network connection icon disappeared and could not be found again.

Then, the MX updater icon went belly up - it didn't work anymore and just said "Re-enable MX Updater icon even if no updates available" . Looked around in the webs and found quite a few folks with the same problem, but no solution. Except, of course, the advice to forget the thing altogether and use sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade and then sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt autoclean instead. Which I did for a while. By the way, couldn't I put those two together like this perhaps; sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade && sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt autoclean ? Or maybe write a little batch file where you just click on once? Oh, and why doesn't Linux have ctrl c and ctrl v to copy and paste??? At least mine doesn't.

As for the panel problems, I finally resorted to restoring the default panel and make a second panel for me. Resized both so they can sit both on the vertical left and look (almost) as intended. The wifi icon came back, the updater still didn't work, until this morning - through no fault of my own - it worked again. Yay! How the hell did that happen?

The only change: the clipboard icon appeared on panel 1. I didn't want it there, have no use for it, but don't dare deleting it again.

Beneath it the wifi icon that went awol before; I am glad I got that back. Where would I find it in case it vanishes again?

Then the updater, working again. For now. I saved the command lines, just in case.

The unmount whatchamacallit, no idea what on earth I should use this one for.

My own panel 2 sits above in the upper half of the screen, so I leave panel 1 alone for now until I'm halfway understanding what's going on with it.

By the way, how would I go about if I wanted all my own icons? Okay, scratch that, that's probably best saved for later. Much later...




During all the hassle with the panel, I figured out that obviously Linux does not delete very well. Or so it seems to poor little me. For example, I once again changed my mind about my default browser, threw out Brave and got Librewolf instead. It's so much nicer, if you ask me. Linux, however, can't seem to forget Brave - this comes up during update:

Err:4 https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease
The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
Hit:7 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates InRelease
Hit:9 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm InRelease
Reading package lists... Done
W: An error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
W: Failed to fetch https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/dists/stable/InRelease The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

According to the Synaptic Package Manager, Brave is gone, absent, vanished, departed, and I cannot find where and what triggers those errors. How can I tell Linux that it doesn't need to fetch stuff for stuff that isn't there anymore?

Pondering this, I decided to delete some things I won't need anyway just to figure out how Linux goes about it. And lo and behold, the darn thing refuses to delete at all.

$ sudo apt-get purge swell-foop
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process 9690 (synaptic)
N: Be aware that removing the lock file is not a solution and may break your system.
E: Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), is another process using it?

Okay, second attempt:

$ sudo apt-get remove swell-foop
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process 9690 (synaptic)
N: Be aware that removing the lock file is not a solution and may break your system.
E: Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), is another process using it?

What am I missing here?

 

[CaffeineAddict]

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade and then sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt autoclean instead. Which I did for a while.

Even better is to:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt dist-upgrade
sudo apt autopurge
sudo apt autoremove

By the way, couldn't I put those two together like this perhaps; sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade && sudo apt autoremove && sudo apt autoclean ? Or maybe write a little batch file where you just click on once?

No, just type each command separately and make sure you watch the output to make sure everything goes nice and clean for each command.

Then if it doesn't you can stop there and fix the problem before proceeding and screwing it with interests.

As for the panel problems, I finally resorted to restoring the default panel and make a second panel for me. Resized both so they can sit both on the vertical left and look (almost) as intended. The wifi icon came back, the updater still didn't work, until this morning - through no fault of my own - it worked again. Yay! How the hell did that happen?

The only change: the clipboard icon appeared on panel 1. I didn't want it there, have no use for it, but don't dare deleting it again.

Beneath it the wifi icon that went awol before; I am glad I got that back. Where would I find it in case it vanishes again?

Then the updater, working again. For now. I saved the command lines, just in case.

The unmount whatchamacallit, no idea what on earth I should use this one for.

My own panel 2 sits above in the upper half of the screen, so I leave panel 1 alone for now until I'm halfway understanding what's going on with it.

You've most likely screwed your system, which is normal for first time OS, what I would do is reinstall and no longer repeat same mistakes that led to the problem.

W: An error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257

You should not use non distro repositories unless you really have no other choice, that's one way how to screw your system.

If you have to make sure to do it properly, this includes setting public key, sources.list and pinning only those packages you need.

More info here:

AptConfiguration - Debian Wiki

wiki.debian.org

apt_preferences(5) — apt — Debian bookworm — Debian Manpages

Yes it's a lot to read but if you want to use 3rd party repos you better study this to understand, I have even more links if you want.

According to the Synaptic Package Manager, Brave is gone, absent, vanished, departed, and I cannot find where and what triggers those errors. How can I tell Linux that it doesn't need to fetch stuff for stuff that isn't there anymore?

fix your sources.list and remove 3rd party repos, if you need help share output of:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

and also:

ls /etc/apt/preferences.d
ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d

 

[ron.alan]

It would also help, for your panel questions, to know what desktop environment you're using.

 

[Goatmilk]

You should not use non distro repositories unless you really have no other choice, that's one way how to screw your system.

If you have to make sure to do it properly, this includes setting public key, sources.list and pinning only those packages you need.

Thanks, but I don't get what you're saying here. Both Brave and Librewolf where found and installed through MX Package Installer, were both sat under 'Popular Applications' > 'Browsers'.

So neither one came from a non distro repository. Or did they? MX Installer has different tabs for 'Popular Applications', 'Enabled Repos', 'MX Test Repos', 'Debian Backports' and 'Flatpaks'.

It didn't say anything about public keys. Or sources list.

Either way, I thought I'd be quite safe with the popular applications. If not, where do I look? Or am I not supposed to install a new browser or whatever other program I fancy?

As for running only packages i.e. programs I actually need, I would love to do that - especially on an old laptop with very limited power.

But I cannot even delete a stupid game I will never use.

 

[Goatmilk]

It would also help, for your panel questions, to know what desktop environment you're using.

Oh, it xfce. I'll put that in my signature.

 

[Goatmilk]

Owl@Lappy:~
$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
#this file is empty by default. Sources are under /etc/apt/sources.list.d
Owl@Lappy:~
$ /etc/apt/sources.list.d
bash: /etc/apt/sources.list.d: Is a directory
Owl@Lappy:~
$

???


Owl@Lappy:~
$ ls /etc/apt/preferences.d
Owl@Lappy:~
$ ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d
brave-browser-release.list debian-stable-updates.list mx.list
debian.list librewolf.list vivaldi.list
Owl@Lappy:~
$

 

[atanere]

Oh, and why doesn't Linux have ctrl c and ctrl v to copy and paste??? At least mine doesn't.

Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V work in Linux much the same as in Windows... except in the terminal.

Use Ctrl-Shift-C and Ctrl-Shift-V in the terminal. Or look in the terminal's Edit menu.

Another way many people prefer (and better than Windows):
1. Simply highlight any text you want to copy from wherever (no need for Ctrl-C)
2. Middle-click to paste the copied text where desired (terminal, text editor, anywhere).

Hang in there. It takes time... there is a lot to learn with Linux, but it's worth the effort.

 

[f33dm3bits]

About your signature. It's not very smart/safe to be using an end of life os(Win 7) online, better to pull out the network cable and disconnect the wifi.

 

[Goatmilk]

Hang in there. It takes time... there is a lot to learn with Linux, but it's worth the effort.

Thanks, but I'm quite stubborn. I'll hang in there.

Any way I could make my Linux understand that it can forget about the brave-browser-release.list?

About your signature. It's not very smart/safe to be using an end of life os(Win 7) online, better to pull out the network cable and disconnect the wifi.

Don't tell anyone, but the bird that is the symbol of wisdom is actually quite dumb....

Apart from that, there is a reason I want to change to Linux now.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Any way I could make my Linux understand that it can forget about the brave-browser-release.list?

Do you mean Brave is still showing up in your sources when you update your sources?

 

[Goatmilk]

Do you mean Brave is still showing up in your sources when you update your sources?

Yes

Err:4 https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease
The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
Hit:7 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates InRelease
Hit:9 http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm InRelease
Reading package lists... Done
W: An error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com stable InRelease: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
W: Failed to fetch https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/dists/stable/InRelease The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 0686B78420038257
W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Yes

Do you just want to remove the Brave source or do you want it to work so you can install Brave?

 

[Goatmilk]

Do you just want to remove the Brave source or do you want it to work so you can install Brave?

I want to remove it. I'd like to keep Librewolf as the default browser.

There are still Firefox and Vivaldi, so I've got browsers enough.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I want to remove it. I'd like to keep Librewolf as the default browser.

If you enabled the Brave repo according to the Brave instructions for Linux there will be a file in /etc/apt/sources.list.d with the name of brave-browser-release.list. You can delete that so you would have to run this command to delete it.

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

Then when you update your sources it shouldn't be listed anymore.

 

[Goatmilk]

If you enabled the Brave repo according to the Brave instructions for Linux there will be a file in /etc/apt/sources.list.d with the name of brave-browser-release.list. You can delete that so you would have to run this command to delete it.

I've found it in Thuna Commander, but I cannot delete is - the option is greyed out.

Reminds me that I couldn't delete this game, Swell Foop. Did I screw up my system like CaffeineAddict suggested or do I happen to be on some 'save-the-system-from-idiots-mode'?

 

[f33dm3bits]

I've found it in Thuna Commander, but I cannot delete is - the option is greyed out.

It easier to open a terminal and to run run this command.

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list

If you want to use Thunar to delete you can try doing this, open a terminal and then run.

sudo thunar

Thunar will open and then you should be able to browse to the location and delete the file with thunar.

 

[Goatmilk]

Hey, thanks, it worked. The brave line in the sources.list.d is gone, and the update I just ran went fine with no errors.

Edit:
Any idea why I couldn't delete this game?

$ sudo apt-get purge swell-foop
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process 9690 (synaptic)
N: Be aware that removing the lock file is not a solution and may break your system.
E: Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), is another process using it?

It was the same result with apt-get remove

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Thanks, but I don't get what you're saying here. Both Brave and Librewolf where found and installed through MX Package Installer, were both sat under 'Popular Applications' > 'Browsers'.

So neither one came from a non distro repository. Or did they? MX Installer has different tabs for 'Popular Applications', 'Enabled Repos', 'MX Test Repos', 'Debian Backports' and 'Flatpaks'.

I'd need to see your sources.list to confirm this because your output does not agree with what you said.

It didn't say anything about public keys. Or sources list.

It did, in your output there is missing public key which is the reason why you can't install a package, that's why the error you posted means.
This type of error is fixed by editing sources.list and setting proper key, but before that you need to import the key to:
/etc/apt/keyrings from 3rd party repo.

Either way, I thought I'd be quite safe with the popular applications. If not, where do I look? Or am I not supposed to install a new browser or whatever other program I fancy?

You look only into repositories of your MX distro.
Usually the package will be there but it might not be most up to date.

If you want latest and gratest software and ignore XM repo then you should set 3rd party repo but most important is to pin the package you want in order to prevent pulling in dependencies that will break your system and other MX packages.

As for running only packages i.e. programs I actually need, I would love to do that - especially on an old laptop with very limited power.

But I cannot even delete a stupid game I will never use.

It's called pinning a package, I can share my example for WineHQ as an example on how it should be done.

It would help if you provide output of the commands I shared to remove dirty lines out.
Then next step is to purge old configs and start over but as it should be done.

 

[f33dm3bits]

E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend. It is held by process 9690 (synaptic)
N: Be aware that removing the lock file is not a solution and may break your system.
E: Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), is another process using it?

Seems like you have synaptic open which creates a lock file, so when you try to run a command as root/sudo from the command-line it warns you about another process already using the repos.

 

[Goatmilk]

I'd need to see your sources.list to confirm this because your output does not agree with what you said.


It would help if you provide output of the commands I shared to remove dirty lines out.
Then next step is to purge old configs and start over but as it should be done.

I did... I guess. Not sure, though...


$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
#this file is empty by default. Sources are under /etc/apt/sources.list.d
Owl@Lappy:~
$ /etc/apt/sources.list.d
bash: /etc/apt/sources.list.d: Is a directory

$ ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d
brave-browser-release.list debian-stable-updates.list mx.list
debian.list librewolf.list vivaldi.list


The brave line is gone, I've wiped it as f33dm3bits suggested.

Dirty lines are the owl@lappy or what?

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