[Synaptic-devel] How to remove package *without* it trying to upgrade dependent packages

[Andy Elvey]

Hi all - 

  I've been using Synaptic for a while, and it's a *great* package! "Well 
done" to the developers :-) 
  I do, however, have a problem.  ( I'm running Mepis Linux, kernel 2.6.4,  
Synaptic version 0.50 ) .  

 My problem is that I have gcc 3.4.1 installed, and I want to remove the other 
(old) versions of gcc that are on the system ( I don't know why the old 
versions are there - they came with the distro.  Anyway ... )   
  When I marh gcc 3.3 for removal, and then click on "apply",  Synaptic says 
that it will remove gcc 3.3, *but* it *also* says that it will *upgrade* a 
number of packages at the same time!  Arrrrrgh ... :-)) 

 All I want to do is *remove* gcc 3.3, ( and if necessary, *all* packages that 
depend on it - there are only six or so ).  I do *not* want Synaptic to try 
to upgrade packages that depend on the package I'm removing!  ( That 
behaviour strikes me as bizarre .... :-)  

 So, is there any way of *forcing* Synaptic to remove gcc 3.3 and all of its 
dependencies, so that it will not try to do any upgrades of the dependent 
packages?  

 Very many thanks in advance - bye for now

 - Andy