0

I'm using aptitude as package manager in Debian. How to mark the package never to be installed by it? Because from time to time, when I install some gnome utilities etc., systemd package gets installed by dependency and then my log-in manager (slim) does not work and I cannot login to graphical environment.

I know I should always check the list of things that are to be installed, but I sometimes forget. Can I prevent systemd from being installed?

*This won't work, because it only prevents package from upgrading:

sudo echo hold systemd | sudo dpkg --set-selections

Improve this question
1
  • You're trying to fix it from the wrong side. If thing X breaks thing Y, look in slim's logs to determine why it fails to start, send a bug report to Debian, and so on. It'll be more helpful to other Debian users who have the same problem than just pretending that the conflict doesn't exist anymore.
    – grawity_u1686
    Commented Mar 9, 2014 at 14:44

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0

You can achieve the desired result by configuring apt-pinning. Edit /etc/apt/preferences (if it is not there, create it) and add the following lines:

Package: <package>
Pin: origin ""
Pin-Priority: -999

This will prevent apt (and thus aptitude) from installing . Please note that apt might refuse to install packages that depend on the blocked package, too. Read more in the man_page man apt-preferences.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .