Getting Back to a Pure XFCE on Ubuntu

Note, this applies only to Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid). If you're using 8.04, go here. If you're using 7.10, go here. If you're using 6.06, go here.

These removal commands were created based on what Ubuntu or Kubuntu packages were added to a default Xubuntu installation. It's possible that the commands might remove some other packages you have since added to the default and want to keep. If that's the case, keep track of which packages those are and reinstall them. Your settings should still be there.

Remove Ubuntu
Paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove alacarte binfmt-support brltty brltty-x11 capplets-data cdrdao cli-common compiz compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-gnome compiz-plugins compiz-wrapper compizconfig-backend-gconf contact-lookup-applet dcraw deskbar-applet ekiga eog evolution evolution-common evolution-data-server evolution-data-server-common evolution-exchange evolution-plugins evolution-webcal example-content f-spot fast-user-switch-applet firefox-3.0-gnome-support firefox-gnome-support gconf-editor gdm-guest-session gedit gedit-common gnome-about gnome-applets gnome-applets-data gnome-control-center gnome-desktop-data gnome-menus gnome-netstatus-applet gnome-nettool gnome-panel gnome-panel-data gnome-pilot gnome-pilot-conduits gnome-session gnome-settings-daemon gnome-spell gnome-terminal gnome-terminal-data gnome-themes gnome-user-guide gnome-utils gstreamer0.10-plugins-base-apps gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio gstreamer0.10-schroedinger gstreamer0.10-tools gvfs-bin gvfs-fuse human-icon-theme human-theme hwtest hwtest-gtk libao2 libart2.0-cil libasound2-plugins libcanberra-gnome libcanberra-gtk-module libcanberra-gtk0 libcanberra0 libcompizconfig0 libdecoration0 libdeskbar-tracker libdirectfb-1.0-0 libebackend1.2-0 libedata-book1.2-2 libedata-cal1.2-6 libedataserverui1.2-8 libeel2-2 libeel2-data libegroupwise1.2-13 libexchange-storage1.2-3 libexempi3 libflickrnet2.1.5-cil libgconf2.0-cil libgdata-google1.2-1 libgdata1.2-1 libgdiplus libgif4 libglade2.0-cil libglib2.0-cil libglitz-glx1 libglitz1 libgmime-2.0-2a libgmime2.2-cil libgnome-keyring1.0-cil libgnome-pilot2 libgnome-vfs2.0-cil libgnome-window-settings1 libgnome2.0-cil libgnomevfs2-bin libgpod-common libgpod3 libgtk2.0-cil libgtkhtml-editor-common libgtkhtml-editor0 libgtkhtml3.14-19 libhyphen0 libicu38 liblpint-bonobo0 libmono-addins-gui0.2-cil libmono-addins0.2-cil libmono-cairo1.0-cil libmono-cairo2.0-cil libmono-corlib1.0-cil libmono-corlib2.0-cil libmono-data-tds1.0-cil libmono-data-tds2.0-cil libmono-i18n1.0-cil libmono-i18n2.0-cil libmono-security1.0-cil libmono-security2.0-cil libmono-sharpzip0.84-cil libmono-sharpzip2.84-cil libmono-sqlite2.0-cil libmono-system-data1.0-cil libmono-system-data2.0-cil libmono-system-web1.0-cil libmono-system-web2.0-cil libmono-system1.0-cil libmono-system2.0-cil libmono0 libmono1.0-cil libmono2.0-cil libmtp8 libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil libndesk-dbus1.0-cil libneon27 libopal-2.2 libpisock9 libpisync1 libpt-1.10.10 libpt-1.10.10-plugins-alsa libpt-1.10.10-plugins-v4l libpt-1.10.10-plugins-v4l2 libpulsecore5 libsamplerate0 libschroedinger-1.0-0 libsdl1.2debian libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsgutils1 libspeexdsp1 libsqlite0 libtracker-gtk0 libts-0.0-0 libwps-0.1-1 libx11-xcb1 mesa-utils metacity mono-common mono-gac mono-jit mono-runtime mousetweaks mtools nautilus nautilus-cd-burner nautilus-data nautilus-sendto nautilus-share openoffice.org-base-core openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core openoffice.org-draw openoffice.org-emailmerge openoffice.org-gnome openoffice.org-gtk openoffice.org-impress openoffice.org-math openoffice.org-style-human openoffice.org-writer pkg-config pulseaudio pulseaudio-esound-compat pulseaudio-module-gconf pulseaudio-module-hal pulseaudio-module-x11 python-beagle python-gmenu python-gtksourceview2 python-uno rarian-compat rdesktop rhythmbox screen-resolution-extra sg3-utils sqlite sqlite3 syslinux tangerine-icon-theme tomboy tracker tracker-search-tool tracker-utils tsclient ubuntu-artwork ubuntu-desktop ubuntu-docs ubuntu-gdm-themes ubuntu-system-service ubuntu-wallpapers untex usb-creator usplash-theme-ubuntu vino whois wv xdg-user-dirs xdg-user-dirs-gtk xulrunner-1.9-gnome-support && sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

Remove Kubuntu
Paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove adept akregator amarok amarok-common amarok-engine-xine apport-qt ark brltty cdrdao compiz-wrapper dolphin dragonplayer exiv2 foomatic-db-gutenprint gdebi-kde gnupg-agent gtk-qt-engine guidance-power-manager gwenview hpijs-ppds hplip-gui ijsgutenprint install-package jockey-kde k3b k3b-data kaddressbook kamera kate kde-icons-oxygen kde-printer-applet kde-window-manager kde-zeroconf kdebase-bin kdebase-data kdebase-plasma kdebase-runtime kdebase-runtime-bin-kde4 kdebase-runtime-data kdebase-runtime-data-common kdebase-workspace-bin kdebase-workspace-data kdebase-workspace-libs4+5 kdebluetooth kdegraphics-strigi-plugins kdelibs-bin kdelibs-data kdelibs4c2a kdelibs5 kdelibs5-data kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdepasswd kdepim-kresources kdepim-strigi-plugins kdepim-wizards kdepimlibs-data kdepimlibs5 kdeplasma-addons kdeplasma-addons-data kdeplasma-addons-libs4 kdesudo kdm kfind kgrubeditor khelpcenter4 klipper kmag kmail kmix kmousetool knotes konqueror konqueror-nsplugins konqueror-plugin-searchbar konsole kontact konversation kopete korganizer krdc krfb ksnapshot ksysguard ksysguardd ksystemlog ktimetracker ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kuser kvkbd kwalletmanager language-selector-qt libakonadiprivate1 libao2 libarts1c2a libartsc0 libaudio2 libavahi-qt3-1 libcapseo0 libcaptury0 libclucene0ldbl libdbus-1-qt3 libdbus-qt-1-1c2 libdirectfb-1.0-0 libexiv2-4 libflac++6 libgeoip1 libgif4 libgpod-common libgpod3-nogtk libhyphen0 libicu38 libifp4 libk3b3 libkcddb4 libkdecorations4 libkdepim4 libkholidays4 libkipi-common libkipi5 libkleo4 libkonq5 libkonq5-templates libkpgp4 libksieve4 libkwineffects1 liblua50 liblualib50 libmimelib4 libmodplug0c2 libmtp8 libmysqlclient15off libneon27 libnjb5 libokularcore1 libphonon4 libplasma2 libpoppler-qt4-3 libpq5 libqca2 libqca2-plugin-ossl libqimageblitz4 libqt3-mt libqt4-assistant libqt4-core libqt4-dbus libqt4-designer libqt4-help libqt4-network libqt4-opengl libqt4-qt3support libqt4-script libqt4-sql libqt4-sql-mysql libqt4-svg libqt4-test libqt4-webkit libqt4-xml libqt4-xmlpatterns libqtcore4 libqtgui4 libraptor1 librasqal0 librdf0 libruby1.8 libsamplerate0 libsdl1.2debian libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsearchclient0 libsgutils1 libsoprano4 libstreamanalyzer0 libstreams0 libstrigihtmlgui0 libstrigiqtdbusclient0 libts-0.0-0 libvncserver0 libwps-0.1-1 libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0 libxcb-xv0 libxine1 libxine1-bin libxine1-console libxine1-misc-plugins libxine1-x libxvmc1 libzip1 mediamanager mesa-utils mysql-common network-manager-kde okular okular-extra-backends openoffice.org-base-core openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core openoffice.org-draw openoffice.org-emailmerge openoffice.org-impress openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-math openoffice.org-style-crystal openoffice.org-style-human openoffice.org-writer oxygen-cursor-theme phonon phonon-backend-gstreamer phonon-backend-xine pinentry-gtk2 pinentry-qt4 plasmoid-quickaccess python-kde4 python-qt3 python-qt4 python-qt4-common python-qt4-dbus python-reportlab python-sip4 python-uno qt4-qtconfig raptor-utils rdesktop redland-utils ruby ruby1.8 sg3-utils software-properties-kde soprano-daemon speedcrunch strigi-client strigi-daemon system-config-printer-kde systemsettings ttf-dustin update-manager-kde update-notifier-kde xdg-user-dirs && sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

If you have suggestions or corrections for these tutorials, please post in this Ubuntu Forums thread or leave a comment on my blog.