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I like to experiment with lots of different software in my Ubuntu install. Then, every time Ubuntu reaches a new release cycle, I simply do a clean install (instead of upgrading) to get rid of all the extra software (and their respective config files/folders). The only thing I always backup and carry to the next install (besides personal files) are the config files for gnome, so my desktop is always the way I like it. =)

The problem with that, is that the different packages I test out never get properly uninstalled, so my gnome main menu is full of broken links referring to software I had in previous installations (which got carried over because I kept the gnome config files).

Is there any automated way to go through my gnome main menu and remove any broken links? I know how to manually edit the menu, and I could go through it myself, but I'm looking for some script or package that will clean for me so I wouldn't have to do it manually every release cycle.

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  • I guess that people do not read the question before answering. Not a single answer in the topic ... BTW, did you find a good solution since then ?
    – Raphael Jolivet
    Dec 30, 2012 at 20:19
  • @RaphaelJolivet No, but I stopped using ubuntu shortly after asking this question.
    – Malabarba
    Jan 6, 2013 at 1:31

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
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Well, I found this script

export PACKAGES=$(dpkg -l | awk '{if ($1 == "rc") print $2" "}' | tr -d '\n') [ -n "$PACKAGES" ] && sudo apt-get purge $PACKAGES

on ubuntuforums.org that shall purge the removed installations. So maybe it could work also for purging menu.

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To really-really-really :P reset your Gnome menu enter this command:

rm -rf .local/share/applications/*

I came across this bug in 2008, and I don't know if it's being fixed, BTW it's annoying.

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sudo apt-get autoremove

this one worked perfectly for me

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Open Synaptic and select from the left menu under All/Installed/ect. not installed (residual config)

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  • are you sure this works for such situations?
    – RolandiXor
    Apr 11, 2011 at 0:22

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