After a while without DUing, I've tried to do it today on my laptop. I saw that:
The following packages will be REMOVED:
kde-config-touchpad kde-plasma-desktop kde-standard linux-headers-4.14.0-3-amd64 plasma-desktop
powerdevil
I thought maybe it was a transition, but I don't see that behavior in two machines running aptosid. I've also checked the "Upgrade Warnings" forum and it seems that there is no transition now.
Running 'apt-get -o Debug::pkgProblemResolver=yes dist-upgrade' I also see some weird things:
Starting pkgProblemResolver with broken count: 13
Starting 2 pkgProblemResolver with broken count: 13
Investigating (0) kactivitymanagerd:amd64 < 5.10.5-2 -> 5.12.1-1 @ii umU Ib >
Broken kactivitymanagerd:amd64 Breaks on plasma-desktop:amd64 < 4:5.10.5-2 @ii mK NPb Ib > (< 4:5.12)
Considering plasma-desktop:amd64 -5 as a solution to kactivitymanagerd:amd64 28
Added plasma-desktop:amd64 to the remove list
Fixing kactivitymanagerd:amd64 via remove of plasma-desktop:amd64
If I understand correctly, it is removing plasma-desktop because kactivitymanagerd needs a newer version of it. But it is available:
# apt policy plasma-desktop
plasma-desktop:
Installed: 4:5.10.5-2
Candidate: 4:5.12.2-1
Version table:
4:5.12.2-1 500
500 http://httpredir.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 Packages
*** 4:5.10.5-2 100
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
So, I don't see why apt isn't just installing the newer version.
Here is the complete output: https://pastebin.com/pP53191M
Some info on the system:
# inxi -v3
System: Host: e7440 Kernel: 4.15.1-towo.1-siduction-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.10.5 (Qt 5.9.2)
Distro: siduction 15.1.0 Paint It Black - kde - (201601162135)
Machine: Device: laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E7440 v: 00 serial: BZSMP12
Mobo: Dell model: 07F3F4 v: A00 serial: /BZSMP12/CN129634C10144/
BIOS: Dell v: A17 date: 12/01/2015
Battery BAT0: charge: 47.7 Wh 168.6% condition: 28.3/47.7 Wh (59%)
model: SMP DELL 909H538 status: Full
CPU: Dual core Intel Core i7-4600U (-MT-MCP-) arch: Haswell rev.1 cache: 4096 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10775
clock speeds: max: 3300 MHz 1: 2868 MHz 2: 2718 MHz 3: 2713 MHz 4: 2707 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 ) driver: intel Resolution: 1920x1080@60.02hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile
version: 4.5 Mesa 17.3.3 Direct Render: Yes
Network: Card-1: Intel Ethernet Connection I218-LM
driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: f080 bus-ID: 00:19.0
IF: eno1 state: down mac: 34:e6:d7:19:d5:4d
Card-2: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 02:00.0
IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: 48:51:b7:67:5b:a1
Drives: HDD Total Size: 256.1GB (74.7% used)
ID-1: model: SAMSUNG_SSD_PM85
Info: Processes: 229 Uptime: 1:28 Memory: 2434.6/7887.0MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0 Client: Shell (bash 4.4.121) inxi: 2.3.56
Any suggestions? Should I try to DU, let the listed packages be remove and try to install them back again?
For one thing, you should update morte often!
Now you could try to apt install kde-plasma-desktop -s and see what that wants to do. Also apt upgrade first and then see what dist-upgade wants to do is a viable road.
Thanks, devil! For some reason, today, trying DU no package to be removed. I don't know what fixed, but I am not complaining.
(And indeed I should DU more often, but this laptop stays with my wife, which makes it harder...)
Thanks for the help!!!