Removing Packages and Config Files

[Wui Leng]

Hi,

I'm a Debian newbie and I have just set up my remote dedicated server as a LAMP. However, the installation was messy and now I have quite a lot of unrequired packages installed and there are some packages that don't work.

I think the best way to fix this is by reformatting and by reinstalling the OS to get a fresh install - however, this costs 50 euros (which I am not willing to pay).

Is there an easy way of removing all my installed packages and config files through a shell? Or do I have to list all installed packages and remove them individually?

Thanks

[objuan]

Use apt-get to get rid of the programs here is the command
apt-get remove --pruge package-names

[Wui Leng]

I've installed most of the unneeded packages but now I have this error whenever I attempt to remove something...any idea how to correct this?

The following packages will be REMOVED:
courier-imap
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 2507kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y


(Reading database ... 25828 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing courier-imap ...
* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4REV1 LOGIN-REFERRALS AUTH=LOGIN] host200.local IMAP4rev1 2003.339 at Mon, 5 Mar 2007 03:50:25 +0100 (CET)

dpkg: error processing courier-imap (--remove):
subprocess pre-removal script killed by signal (Interrupt)
* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4REV1 LOGIN-REFERRALS AUTH=LOGIN] host200.local IMAP4rev1 2003.339 at Mon, 5 Mar 2007 03:50:29 +0100 (CET)

dpkg: error while cleaning up:
subprocess post-installation script killed by signal (Interrupt)
Errors were encountered while processing:
courier-imap
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
root:/var/www/vhcs2/engine/setup#