I’ve installed debian on an old laptop and am wondering if the 10 gig base system size can be slimmed down by deleting unneeded files.

I ran the commands to look for any runaway logs or other obviously large files and nothing popped out.

Is there a group of folders full of stuff I don’t need or is this just the size of modern distros?

EDIT: I ended up doing a netinstall and got a 6ish gig system so I’m pretty happy with that. The netinstall image was able to detect my wifi card even though the debian live installer was not.

  • schizo@forum.uncomfortable.businessEnglish
    321·
    1 month ago

    Why not save time and do it the other way?

    Install the minimal/netinstall image, and then add what you need.

    You’ll probably spend less time adding than trying to figure out what’s installed that you do or don’t need and trying to remove random packages without breaking anything.

    • WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.worldOP
      43·
      1 month ago

      i have broken the install a few times just deleting stuff. The live disk won’t find my wifi card so i can’t net install unless I buy an ethernet adapter.

      • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
        61·
        1 month ago

        the live disk won’t find my Wifi

        Oof.

        In case it helps: I have solved that problem for myself using a $9.00 USB Wifi dongle.

        For whatever reason (other contributors facing the same issue?), I have found that every cheapo USB Wifi dongle I have tried has worked perfectly with the minimal Linux images.

        I realize I might have just gotten really lucky a bunch of times, but it could be worth a try.

      • Shertson@lemmy.world
        4·
        1 month ago

        If you have another USB drive, I think you should be able to load the wifi drivers from that when using the netinstall. I am pretty sure I remember doing that 15 years ago.