13

I want make my installed Ubuntu as light as possible to launch only on 256MB RAM machine (VirtualBox)?

So I'm thinking about removing GNOME and related components completely. How can I do that?

This link does not help me: http://complete-concrete-concise.com/ubuntu-2/ubuntu-12-04/ubuntu-12-04-how-to-completely-uninstall-remove-gnome

1
  • By default, Gnome is not included in Ubuntu 12.04. Unity can be removed according to these instructions. If you want no WM, X can be removed recursively (removing everything that depends on it) by purging xserver-xorg. GNOME, if you have installed it via the gnome3 PPA, can be removed like this.
    – astex
    Oct 30, 2012 at 19:12

2 Answers 2

8
+50

After installing Ubuntu 12.10 desktop edition, here's how you remove Unity, X11 and any graphical applications that come installed by default:

  • Log out, and press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to enter the first virtual terminal, leaving X's graphical environment. If you're using VirtualBox and are in a virtual machine, press Right Ctrl-F1 instead.

  • Enter your username and password.

  • Run this command to remove Unity:

    sudo apt-get remove unity \
    unity-asset-pool \
    unity-services \
    'unity-lens-.*' \
    'unity-scope-.*' \
    'liboverlay-scrollbar.*' \
    appmenu-gtk  \
    appmenu-gtk3  \
    appmenu-qt \
    firefox-globalmenu \
    thunderbird-globalmenu \
    unity-common \
    'libunity.*' \
    unity-greeter \
    'unity-webapps-.*' \
    'indicator-.*' \
    xul-ext-unity
    
  • Run this command to remove X, graphical programs and anything else that you wouldn't expect on a server. This list was generated by comparing the list of installed packages on a freshly installed Ubuntu 12.10 desktop system, and a freshly installed Ubuntu 12.10 server system.

    sudo apt-get remove \
    account-plugin-aim \
    account-plugin-facebook \
    account-plugin-flickr \
    account-plugin-google \
    account-plugin-icons \
    account-plugin-identica \
    account-plugin-jabber \
    account-plugin-salut \
    account-plugin-twitter \
    account-plugin-windows-live \
    account-plugin-yahoo \
    acl \
    acpi-support \
    activity-log-manager-common \
    activity-log-manager-control-center \
    adium-theme-ubuntu \
    aisleriot \
    alsa-base \
    alsa-utils \
    anacron \
    apg \
    app-install-data \
    app-install-data-partner \
    apport-gtk \
    aptdaemon-data \
    aptdaemon \
    apturl-common \
    apturl \
    aspell-en \
    aspell \
    at-spi2-core \
    avahi-autoipd \
    avahi-daemon \
    avahi-utils \
    bamfdaemon \
    baobab \
    bluez-alsa \
    bluez-cups \
    bluez-gstreamer \
    bluez \
    branding-ubuntu \
    brasero-cdrkit \
    brasero-common \
    brasero \
    brltty \
    checkbox \
    checkbox-qt \
    colord \
    compiz-core \
    compiz-gnome \
    compiz \
    compiz-plugins-default \
    cracklib-runtime \
    cryptsetup-bin \
    cups-bsd \
    cups-client \
    cups-common \
    cups-filters \
    cups \
    cups-ppdc \
    dbus-x11 \
    dc \
    dconf-gsettings-backend \
    dconf-service \
    dconf-tools \
    deja-dup \
    desktop-file-utils \
    dictionaries-common \
    diffstat \
    dmz-cursor-theme \
    dnsmasq-base \
    doc-base \
    duplicity \
    dvd+rw-tools \
    empathy-common \
    empathy \
    enchant \
    eog \
    espeak-data \
    evince-common \
    evince \
    evolution-data-server-common \
    evolution-data-server \
    example-content \
    file-roller \
    firefox-gnome-support \
    firefox \
    firefox-locale-en \
    folks-common \
    fontconfig-config \
    fontconfig \
    fonts-freefont-ttf \
    fonts-kacst \
    fonts-kacst-one \
    fonts-khmeros-core \
    fonts-lao \
    fonts-liberation \
    fonts-lklug-sinhala \
    fonts-nanum \
    fonts-opensymbol \
    fonts-sil-abyssinica \
    fonts-sil-padauk \
    fonts-takao-pgothic \
    fonts-thai-tlwg \
    fonts-tibetan-machine \
    fonts-tlwg-garuda \
    fonts-tlwg-kinnari \
    fonts-tlwg-loma \
    fonts-tlwg-mono \
    fonts-tlwg-norasi \
    fonts-tlwg-purisa \
    fonts-tlwg-sawasdee \
    fonts-tlwg-typewriter \
    fonts-tlwg-typist \
    fonts-tlwg-typo \
    fonts-tlwg-umpush \
    fonts-tlwg-waree \
    foomatic-db-compressed-ppds \
    foomatic-db-engine \
    foomatic-filters \
    freerdp-x11 \
    gcalctool \
    gconf2-common \
    gconf2 \
    gconf-service-backend \
    gconf-service \
    gcr \
    gdb \
    gedit-common \
    gedit \
    genisoimage \
    geoclue \
    geoclue-ubuntu-geoip \
    gettext \
    ghostscript-cups \
    ghostscript \
    ghostscript-x \
    gir1.2-accounts-1.0 gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1 gir1.2-atk-1.0 gir1.2-atspi-2.0 gir1.2-dbusmenu-glib-0.4 gir1.2-dee-1.0 gir1.2-freedesktop gir1.2-gdata-0.0 gir1.2-gdkpixbuf-2.0 gir1.2-gmenu-3.0 gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0 gir1.2-gnomekeyring-1.0 gir1.2-goa-1.0 gir1.2-gst-plugins-base-0.10 gir1.2-gstreamer-0.10 gir1.2-gtk-3.0 gir1.2-gtksource-3.0 gir1.2-gudev-1.0 gir1.2-indicate-0.7 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-3.0 gir1.2-messagingmenu-1.0 gir1.2-notify-0.7 gir1.2-pango-1.0 gir1.2-peas-1.0 gir1.2-rb-3.0 gir1.2-signon-1.0 gir1.2-soup-2.4 gir1.2-syncmenu-0.1 gir1.2-totem-1.0 gir1.2-totem-plparser-1.0 gir1.2-ubuntuoneui-3.0 gir1.2-unity-5.0 gir1.2-vte-2.90 gir1.2-webkit-3.0 gir1.2-wnck-3.0 \
    gksu \
    glib-networking-common \
    glib-networking \
    glib-networking-services \
    gnome-accessibility-themes gnome-bluetooth gnome-contacts gnome-control-center-data gnome-control-center gnome-control-center-signon gnome-desktop3-data gnome-disk-utility gnome-font-viewer gnome-games-data gnome-icon-theme gnome-icon-theme-symbolic gnome-keyring gnome-mahjongg gnome-media gnome-menus gnome-online-accounts gnome-orca gnome-power-manager gnome-screensaver gnome-screenshot gnome-session-bin gnome-session-canberra gnome-session-common gnome-session gnome-settings-daemon gnome-sudoku gnome-system-log gnome-system-monitor gnome-terminal-data gnome-terminal gnome-user-guide gnome-user-share \
    gnomine \
    growisofs \
    gsettings-desktop-schemas \
    gsfonts \
    gstreamer0.10-alsa \
    gstreamer0.10-gconf \
    gstreamer0.10-nice \
    gstreamer0.10-plugins-base-apps \
    gstreamer0.10-plugins-base \
    gstreamer0.10-plugins-good \
    gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio \
    gstreamer0.10-tools \
    gstreamer0.10-x \
    gtk2-engines \
    gtk2-engines-murrine \
    gtk3-engines-unico \
    gucharmap \
    guile-1.8-libs \
    gvfs-backends \
    gvfs-bin \
    gvfs-common \
    gvfs-daemons \
    gvfs-fuse \
    gvfs \
    gvfs-libs \
    gwibber \
    gwibber-service-facebook \
    gwibber-service-identica \
    gwibber-service \
    gwibber-service-twitter \
    hardening-includes \
    hicolor-icon-theme \
    hpijs \
    hplip-data \
    hplip \
    humanity-icon-theme \
    hunspell-en-us \
    hwdata \
    ibus-gtk3 \
    ibus-gtk \
    ibus \
    ibus-pinyin-db-android \
    ibus-pinyin \
    ibus-table \
    im-switch \
    indicator-appmenu \
    indicator-datetime \
    indicator-printers \
    inputattach \
    intel-gpu-tools \
    intltool-debian \
    iputils-arping \
    iw \
    kerneloops-daemon \
    landscape-client-ui-install \
    language-pack-en-base \
    language-pack-en \
    language-pack-gnome-en-base \
    language-pack-gnome-en \
    language-selector-gnome \
    libaa1 libaccount-plugin-1.0-0 libaccounts-glib0 libaccounts-qt1 libappindicator1 libappindicator3-1 libapt-pkg-perl libarchive12 libarchive-zip-perl libart-2.0-2 libasound2 libasound2-plugins libaspell15 libasyncns0 libatasmart4 libatk1.0-0 libatk1.0-data libatk-adaptor-data libatk-adaptor libatk-bridge2.0-0 libatkmm-1.6-1 libatspi2.0-0 libaudio2 libavahi-client3 libavahi-common3 libavahi-common-data libavahi-core7 libavahi-glib1 libavahi-gobject0 libavc1394-0 libbamf3-0 libbluetooth3 libboost-date-time1.49.0 libbrasero-media3-1 libbrlapi0.5 libburn4 libcaca0 libcairo2 libcairo-gobject2 libcairomm-1.0-1 libcairo-perl libcamel-1.2-40 libcanberra0 libcanberra-gtk0 libcanberra-gtk3-0 libcanberra-gtk3-module libcanberra-gtk-module libcanberra-pulse libcap2-bin libcap2 libcdio13 libcdio-cdda1 libcdio-paranoia1 libcdparanoia0 libclone-perl libclutter-1.0-0 libclutter-1.0-common libclutter-gst-1.0-0 libclutter-gtk-1.0-0 libcmis-0.2-2 libcogl9 libcogl-common libcogl-pango0 libcolord1 libcompizconfig0 libcrack2 libcroco3 libcrypt-passwdmd5-perl libcryptsetup4 libcups2 libcupscgi1 libcupsfilters1 libcupsimage2 libcupsmime1 libcupsppdc1 libcurl3-nss libdaemon0 libdatrie1 libdbusmenu-glib4 libdbusmenu-gtk3-4 libdbusmenu-gtk4 libdbusmenu-qt2 libdconf1 libdecoration0 libdee-1.0-4 libdevmapper-event1.02.1 libdigest-hmac-perl libdiscid0 libdjvulibre21 libdjvulibre-text libdmapsharing-3.0-2 libdotconf1.0 libdrm-nouveau2 libdv4 libebackend-1.2-5 libebook-1.2-14 libecal-1.2-15 libedata-book-1.2-15 libedata-cal-1.2-18 libedataserver-1.2-17 libemail-valid-perl libenchant1c2a libespeak1 libevdocument3-4 libevview3-3 libexempi3 libexif12 libexiv2-12 libexttextcat-1.0-0 libexttextcat-data libfarstream-0.1-0 libfile-basedir-perl libfile-copy-recursive-perl libfile-desktopentry-perl libfile-mimeinfo-perl libflac8 libfolks25 libfolks-eds25 libfolks-telepathy25 libfontconfig1 libfontembed1 libfontenc1 libframe6 libfreerdp1 libfreerdp-plugins-standard libfs6 libgail18 libgail-3-0 libgail-common libgck-1-0 libgconf-2-4 libgcr-3-1 libgcr-3-common libgd2-xpm libgdata13 libgdata-common libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 libgdk-pixbuf2.0-common libgee2 libgeis1 libgeoclue0 libgettextpo0 libgexiv2-1 libgksu2-0 libgl1-mesa-dri libgl1-mesa-glx libglapi-mesa libglew1.8 libglewmx1.8 libglib2.0-bin libglib2.0-data libglibmm-2.4-1c2a libglib-perl libglu1-mesa libgmime-2.6-0 libgnome-bluetooth11 libgnome-control-center1 libgnome-desktop-3-4 libgnomekbd8 libgnomekbd-common libgnome-keyring0 libgnome-keyring-common libgnome-media-profiles-3.0-0 libgnome-menu2 libgnome-menu-3-0 libgoa-1.0-0 libgoa-1.0-common libgpgme11 libgphoto2-2 libgphoto2-l10n libgphoto2-port0 libgpod4 libgpod-common libgrail5 libgrip0 libgs9-common libgs9 libgssdp-1.0-3 libgstreamer0.10-0 libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0 libgtk2.0-0 libgtk2.0-bin libgtk2.0-common libgtk2-perl libgtk-3-0 libgtk-3-bin libgtk-3-common libgtkmm-2.4-1c2a libgtkmm-3.0-1 libgtksourceview-3.0-0 libgtksourceview-3.0-common libgtkspell-3-0 libgtop2-7 libgtop2-common libgucharmap-2-90-7 libgudev-1.0-0 libgupnp-1.0-4 libgupnp-igd-1.0-4 libgusb2 libgutenprint2 libgweather-3-1 libgweather-common libgwibber3 libgwibber-gtk3 libgxps2 libhpmud0 libhunspell-1.3-0 libhyphen0 libibus-1.0-0 libical0 libice6 libicu48 libido3-0.1-0 libiec61883-0 libieee1284-3 libijs-0.35 libimobiledevice3 libindicate5 libindicator3-7 libindicator7 libio-pty-perl libio-socket-inet6-perl libipc-run-perl libisofs6 libjack-jackd2-0 libjasper1 libjavascriptcoregtk-3.0-0 libjbig0 libjbig2dec0 libjpeg8 libjpeg-turbo8 libjs-jquery libjson0 libjson-glib-1.0-0 libjte1 libkpathsea6 liblcms1 liblcms2-2 liblightdm-gobject-1-0 liblircclient0 libllvm3.1 liblouis2 liblouis-data libltdl7 liblua5.1-0 liblvm2app2.2 libmailtools-perl libmeanwhile1 libmessaging-menu0 libmetacity-private0a libmhash2 libminiupnpc8 libmission-control-plugins0 libmng1 libmtdev1 libmtp9 libmtp-common libmtp-runtime libmusicbrainz5-0 libmx-1.0-2 libmx-bin libmx-common libmythes-1.2-0 libnatpmp1 libnautilus-extension1a libneon27-gnutls libnet-dns-perl libnet-domain-tld-perl libnetfilter-conntrack3 libnet-ip-perl libnettle4 libnice10 libnl-route-3-200 libnm-glib4 libnm-glib-vpn1 libnm-gtk0 libnm-gtk-common libnm-util2 libnotify4 libnotify-bin libnspr4 libnss3-1d libnss3 libnss-mdns libnux-3.0-0 libnux-3.0-common liboauth0 libogg0 libopencc1 libopenobex1 liborc-0.4-0 libpackagekit-glib2-14 libpam-cap libpam-freerdp libpam-gnome-keyring libpam-xdg-support libpango1.0-0 libpangomm-1.4-1 libpango-perl libpaper1 libpaper-utils libpeas-1.0-0 libpeas-common libperl5.14 libpixman-1-0 libplist1 libpoppler28 libpoppler-glib8 libportaudio2 libprotobuf7 libprotoc7 libproxy1 libproxy1-plugin-gsettings libproxy1-plugin-networkmanager libpth20 libpulse0 libpulsedsp libpulse-mainloop-glib0 libpurple0 libpurple-bin libpwquality1 libpython3.2 libqjson0 libqpdf8 libqt4-dbus libqt4-declarative libqt4-designer libqt4-help libqt4-network libqt4-script libqt4-scripttools libqt4-sql libqt4-sql-sqlite libqt4-svg libqt4-test libqt4-xml libqt4-xmlpatterns libqtassistantclient4 libqtcore4 libqtgui4 libqtwebkit4 libquvi7 libquvi-scripts libraptor2-0 librasqal3 libraw1394-11 libraw5 librdf0 libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-calc libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-emailmerge libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk libreoffice-help-en-us libreoffice-impress libreoffice-math libreoffice-ogltrans libreoffice-pdfimport libreoffice-presentation-minimizer libreoffice-presenter-console libreoffice-style-human libreoffice-style-tango libreoffice-writer librest-0.7-0 librhythmbox-core6 librsvg2-2 librsvg2-common librsync1 libsamplerate0 libsane-common libsane-hpaio libsane libsecret-1-0 libsecret-common libsensors4 libsgutils2-2 libshout3 libsignon-extension1 libsignon-glib1 libsignon-plugins-common1 libsignon-qt1 libsm6 libsmbclient libsndfile1 libsnmp15 libsnmp-base libsocket6-perl libsonic0 libsoup2.4-1 libsoup-gnome2.4-1 libspectre1 libspeechd2 libspeex1 libspeexdsp1 libssh-4 libstartup-notification0 libstlport4.6ldbl libsyncdaemon-1.0-1 libsync-menu1 libsysfs2 libt1-5 libtag1c2a libtag1-vanilla libtalloc2 libtdb1 libtelepathy-farstream2 libtelepathy-glib0 libtelepathy-logger2 libthai0 libthai-data libtheora0 libtiff5 libtimezonemap1 libtotem0 libtotem-plparser17 libtxc-dxtn-s2tc0 libubuntuoneui-3.0-1 libudisks2-0 libufe-xidgetter0 libunistring0 libupower-glib1 liburi-perl libusbmuxd2 libutempter0 libuuid-perl libv4l-0 libv4lconvert0 libvisual-0.4-0 libvisual-0.4-plugins libvncserver0 libvorbis0a libvorbisenc2 libvorbisfile3 libvte-2.90-9 libvte-2.90-common libwacom2 libwacom-common libwavpack1 libwbclient0 libwebkitgtk-3.0-0 libwebkitgtk-3.0-common libwmf0.2-7-gtk libwmf0.2-7 libwnck22 libwnck-3-0 libwnck-3-common libwnck-common libwpd-0.9-9 libwpg-0.2-2 libwps-0.2-2 libx11-xcb1 libx86-1 libxatracker1 libxaw7 libxcb-dri2-0 libxcb-glx0 libxcb-render0 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-util0 libxcomposite1 libxcursor1 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxfont1 libxft2 libxi6 libxinerama1 libxkbfile1 libxklavier16 libxmu6 libxp6 libxpm4 libxrandr2 libxrender1 libxres1 libxslt1.1 libxt6 libxtst6 libxv1 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libxxf86vm1 libyajl2 libyaml-tiny-perl libyelp0 libzeitgeist-1.0-1 libzephyr4 \
    lightdm \
    lightdm-remote-session-freerdp \
    light-themes \
    lintian \
    linux-headers-generic-pae \
    linux-sound-base \
    lvm2 \
    mcp-account-manager-uoa \
    media-player-info \
    metacity-common \
    mobile-broadband-provider-info \
    modemmanager \
    mousetweaks \
    mscompress \
    mtools \
    nautilus-data \
    nautilus \
    nautilus-sendto-empathy \
    nautilus-sendto \
    nautilus-share \
    network-manager-gnome \
    network-manager \
    network-manager-pptp-gnome \
    network-manager-pptp \
    notify-osd-icons \
    notify-osd \
    nux-tools \
    obex-data-server \
    obexd-client \
    onboard \
    oneconf \
    openprinting-ppds \
    overlay-scrollbar-gtk2 \
    overlay-scrollbar-gtk3 \
    overlay-scrollbar \
    patchutils \
    pcmciautils \
    pkg-config \
    plymouth-label \
    plymouth-theme-ubuntu-logo \
    pm-utils \
    policykit-1-gnome \
    policykit-desktop-privileges \
    poppler-data \
    poppler-utils \
    pptp-linux \
    printer-driver-c2esp \
    printer-driver-foo2zjs \
    printer-driver-gutenprint \
    printer-driver-hpcups \
    printer-driver-hpijs \
    printer-driver-min12xxw \
    printer-driver-pnm2ppa \
    printer-driver-postscript-hp \
    printer-driver-ptouch \
    printer-driver-pxljr \
    printer-driver-sag-gdi \
    printer-driver-splix \
    protobuf-compiler \
    pulseaudio \
    pulseaudio-module-bluetooth \
    pulseaudio-module-gconf \
    pulseaudio-module-x11 \
    pulseaudio-utils \
    python3-aptdaemon.gtk3widgets \
    python3-aptdaemon \
    python3-aptdaemon.pkcompat \
    python3-brlapi \
    python3-cairo \
    python3-crypto \
    python3-defer \
    python3-gi-cairo \
    python3-httplib2 \
    python3-louis \
    python3-lxml \
    python3-oauthlib \
    python3-pkg-resources \
    python3-pyatspi2 \
    python3-pycurl \
    python3-software-properties \
    python3-speechd \
    python3-virtkey \
    python3-xkit \
    python-appindicator \
    python-apport \
    python-aptdaemon.gtk3widgets \
    python-aptdaemon \
    python-cairo \
    python-configglue \
    python-cupshelpers \
    python-cups \
    python-dbus-dev \
    python-dbus \
    python-debtagshw \
    python-defer \
    python-dirspec \
    python-gconf \
    python-gi-cairo \
    python-gi \
    python-gnomekeyring \
    python-gobject-2 \
    python-gobject \
    python-gst0.10 \
    python-gtk2 \
    python-httplib2 \
    python-ibus \
    python-imaging \
    python-libxml2 \
    python-lxml \
    python-mako \
    python-markupsafe \
    python-notify \
    python-oauth \
    python-pexpect \
    python-piston-mini-client \
    python-problem-report \
    python-protobuf \
    python-pycurl \
    python-pyinotify \
    python-qt4-dbus \
    python-qt4 \
    python-renderpm \
    python-reportlab-accel \
    python-reportlab \
    python-simplejson \
    python-sip \
    python-smbc \
    python-twisted-names \
    python-twisted-web \
    python-ubuntuone-client \
    python-ubuntuone-control-panel \
    python-ubuntuone-storageprotocol \
    python-ubuntu-sso-client \
    python-uno \
    python-xdg \
    python-zeitgeist \
    qdbus \
    qpdf \
    qt-at-spi \
    radeontool \
    remmina-common \
    remmina \
    remmina-plugin-rdp \
    remmina-plugin-vnc \
    remote-login-service \
    rfkill \
    rhythmbox-data \
    rhythmbox \
    rhythmbox-mozilla \
    rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder \
    rhythmbox-plugin-magnatune \
    rhythmbox-plugins \
    rhythmbox-plugin-zeitgeist \
    rhythmbox-ubuntuone \
    rtkit \
    samba-common-bin \
    samba-common \
    sane-utils \
    seahorse \
    sessioninstaller \
    session-migration \
    shared-mime-info \
    shotwell \
    signond \
    signon-keyring-extension \
    signon-plugin-oauth2 \
    signon-plugin-password \
    signon-ui \
    simple-scan \
    smbclient \
    sni-qt \
    software-center-aptdaemon-plugins \
    software-center \
    software-properties-common \
    software-properties-gtk \
    sound-theme-freedesktop \
    speech-dispatcher \
    ssh-askpass-gnome \
    ssl-cert \
    syslinux-common \
    syslinux \
    syslinux-legacy \
    system-config-printer-common \
    system-config-printer-gnome \
    system-config-printer-udev \
    telepathy-gabble \
    telepathy-haze \
    telepathy-idle \
    telepathy-indicator \
    telepathy-logger \
    telepathy-mission-control-5 \
    telepathy-salut \
    thin-client-config-agent \
    thunderbird-gnome-support \
    thunderbird \
    toshset \
    totem-common \
    totem \
    totem-mozilla \
    totem-plugins \
    transmission-common \
    transmission-gtk \
    ttf-dejavu-core \
    ttf-indic-fonts-core \
    ttf-punjabi-fonts \
    ttf-ubuntu-font-family \
    ttf-wqy-microhei \
    ubuntu-artwork \
    ubuntu-docs \
    ubuntu-drivers-common \
    ubuntu-extras-keyring \
    ubuntu-mono \
    ubuntuone-client-gnome \
    ubuntuone-client \
    ubuntuone-control-panel \
    ubuntuone-control-panel-qt \
    ubuntuone-couch \
    ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk \
    ubuntu-settings \
    ubuntu-sounds \
    ubuntu-sso-client \
    ubuntu-sso-client-qt \
    ubuntu-system-service \
    ubuntu-wallpapers \
    ubuntu-wallpapers-quantal \
    udisks2 \
    udisks \
    unattended-upgrades \
    uno-libs3 \
    unzip \
    update-inetd \
    update-manager \
    update-notifier \
    upower \
    ure \
    usb-creator-common \
    usb-creator-gtk \
    usb-modeswitch-data \
    usb-modeswitch \
    usbmuxd \
    vbetool \
    vino \
    wamerican \
    watershed \
    wodim \
    x11-apps \
    x11-common \
    x11-session-utils \
    x11-utils \
    x11-xfs-utils \
    x11-xkb-utils \
    x11-xserver-utils \
    xbitmaps \
    xcursor-themes \
    xdg-user-dirs-gtk \
    xdg-user-dirs \
    xdg-utils \
    xdiagnose \
    xfonts-base \
    xfonts-encodings \
    xfonts-mathml \
    xfonts-scalable \
    xfonts-utils \
    xinit \
    xinput \
    xorg-docs-core \
    xorg \
    xserver-common \
    xserver-xorg-core \
    xserver-xorg-input-all \
    xserver-xorg-input-evdev \
    xserver-xorg-input-mouse \
    xserver-xorg-input-synaptics \
    xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse \
    xserver-xorg-input-wacom \
    xserver-xorg \
    xserver-xorg-video-all \
    xserver-xorg-video-ati \
    xserver-xorg-video-cirrus \
    xserver-xorg-video-fbdev \
    xserver-xorg-video-intel \
    xserver-xorg-video-mach64 \
    xserver-xorg-video-mga \
    xserver-xorg-video-modesetting \
    xserver-xorg-video-neomagic \
    xserver-xorg-video-nouveau \
    xserver-xorg-video-openchrome \
    xserver-xorg-video-qxl \
    xserver-xorg-video-r128 \
    xserver-xorg-video-radeon \
    xserver-xorg-video-s3 \
    xserver-xorg-video-savage \
    xserver-xorg-video-siliconmotion \
    xserver-xorg-video-sis \
    xserver-xorg-video-sisusb \
    xserver-xorg-video-tdfx \
    xserver-xorg-video-trident \
    xserver-xorg-video-vesa \
    xserver-xorg-video-vmware \
    xterm \
    xul-ext-ubufox \
    xul-ext-websites-integration \
    yelp \
    yelp-xsl \
    zeitgeist-core \
    zeitgeist-datahub \
    zeitgeist \
    zenity-common \
    zenity \
    zip
    

You might want to consider install Ubuntu server edition instead. It's a minimal installation, so you can install the packages you need, rather than remove the ones you don't.

5
  • We have a question for how to remove Unity already, what we're missing is one on how to remove GNOME. See: askubuntu.com/questions/6302/how-can-you-remove-unity Nov 12, 2012 at 17:53
  • That's quite a vague question. Assuming that you're starting from a Ubuntu 12.10 desktop install, what do you consider GNOME? Surely, the second list of packages in my answer would include GNOME?
    – Flimm
    Nov 12, 2012 at 18:00
  • Unity relies on GNOME so @Flimm is right.
    – user92200
    Nov 14, 2012 at 19:25
  • Please mention to put it into a shell script. (100 years later, "Just up to zenity")
    – user92200
    Nov 14, 2012 at 20:12
  • 1
    samba depends on update-inetd, so don't remove it if you want to access windows networks.
    – rsenna
    Jul 14, 2013 at 5:42
3

Also consider using a different Ubuntu flavour if you want a minimal installation. Both server edition and Lubuntu would be suitable. Obviously Lubuntu would be best if you want some sort of X capability and it will have no trouble running on that amount of RAM.

3

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