removing a desktop

[Linux for blind general discussion]

The following assumes your running a Debian-derivative and can access
the terminal(if you can't access the terminal, try crtl+alt+F2 to
switch to a terminal from the running Xserver).

If you want to completely remove Gnome, my recommendation would be to:

run
sudo aptitude
at the terminal to launch Aptitude in interactive mode.
Mark the gnome section auto(either control t to the menus and right
arrow twice to the actions menu, or just us the capital M hot key when
the Gnome section header is highlighted).
Mark gnome-orca manually installed(lowercase m is the hotkey for mark
manual). and anything else you want to keep.
Mark automatic anything in the metapackages section starting with gnome.
Press g to preview the packages to be removed, and g again to execute changes.

If you want to use apt-get remove/purge, best I can tell, the two main
gnome metapackages are called gnome and gnome-core, though removing
these won't necessarily remove their dependencies.

Note that there might still be dependencies in other sections even
after marking the entire Gnome section automatic.

If you use Aptitude, you probably want to make sure anything stating
with mate isn't removed in the above process.

Good Luck.

-- 
Sincerely,

Jeffery Wright
President Emeritus, Nu Nu Chapter, Phi Theta Kappa.
Former Secretary, Student Government Association, College of the Albemarle.