Ubuntu

Can't install updates and new applications

Asked by Aden Bott

Hi,
I cannot seem to install any new applications or updates. It is since I tried to get my webcam working by installing a driver for sn9c102. This seems to be preventing new installations. Can anyone help please!?
When trying to update using update manager I get the error message below:

"Could not initialise the package information

An unresolvable problem occurred while initialising the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:The package sn9cxxx needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.'"

Does anyone know how to remove the sn9cxxx? The webcam doesn't work anyway so I've given up on it!
Thanks,
Aden

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Solved by:
Albert Damen
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Revision history for this message
Albert Damen (albrt) said : 		#1

You can try to use Synaptic to search for broken packages:
- Start Synaptic (System Menu --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager)
- Select Status (lower left corner)
- Select Broken (upper left, it will only appear if you do have broken packages)
- If Broken shows packages, remove those packages (I expect it will show sn9cxxx)

If you indeed had broken packages and removed them, you should now be able to install updates and applications again.

Revision history for this message
Aden Bott (aden) said : 		#2

Hi Albert,
Many thanks for your reply. I have tried as you suggest but get the
following error message.

E: The package sn9cxxx needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an
archive for it.
E: Internal error opening cache (1). Please report.

I have tried re-installing the sn9cxxx driver but I get a similar error
message.
Can you help further please!?
Thanks,Aden

On Tue, 2007-12-18 at 22:48 +0000, albert wrote:
> Your question #20293 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/20293
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> albert proposed the following answer:
> You can try to use Synaptic to search for broken packages:
> - Start Synaptic (System Menu --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager)
> - Select Status (lower left corner)
> - Select Broken (upper left, it will only appear if you do have broken packages)
> - If Broken shows packages, remove those packages (I expect it will show sn9cxxx)
>
> If you indeed had broken packages and removed them, you should now be
> able to install updates and applications again.
>

Revision history for this message
Albert Damen (albrt) said : 		#3

Did synaptic find any broken packages? If it did, which packages did it find?

Revision history for this message
Aden Bott (aden) said : 		#4

Hi Albert,
I cannot get far enough in synaptic to check for broken packages! The
error appears at startup and the program closes

The error is as follows: E: The package sn9cxxx needs to be reinstalled,
but I can't find an archive for it.
E: Internal error opening cache (1). Please report.

Thanks,
Aden

On Wed, 2007-12-19 at 21:58 +0000, albert wrote:
> Your question #20293 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/20293
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> albert requested for more information:
> Did synaptic find any broken packages? If it did, which packages did it
> find?
>

Revision history for this message
Best Albert Damen (albrt) said : 		#5

Aden,

using Google I found some references to the same problem. Two references are here in the answers section on Launchpad:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/4838
https://answers.launchpad.net/synaptic/+question/8337

The trick is to edit the file /var/lib/dpkg/status, and remove the reference to the problematic package, in your case sn9cxxx. Please see the answers I linked above for the details.

Please be careful editing this file and make backup first. It is really important for your system.

I hope that will work!
Albert

Revision history for this message
Aden Bott (aden) said : 		#6

Hi Albert,
Thanks for your further help. Editing the status file seems to have
worked! I can now install updates and new software.
Many thanks for your help and have a happy Christmas!
Kind Regards,
Aden

On Thu, 2007-12-20 at 20:52 +0000, albert wrote:
> Your question #20293 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/20293
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> albert proposed the following answer:
> Aden,
>
> using Google I found some references to the same problem. Two references are here in the answers section on Launchpad:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/4838
> https://answers.launchpad.net/synaptic/+question/8337
>
> The trick is to edit the file /var/lib/dpkg/status, and remove the
> reference to the problematic package, in your case sn9cxxx. Please see
> the answers I linked above for the details.
>
> Please be careful editing this file and make backup first. It is really
> important for your system.
>
> I hope that will work!
> Albert
>

Revision history for this message
Aden Bott (aden) said : 		#7

Thanks albert, that solved my question.