Ubuntu 12.10 unstable: Package manager has been broken for two days

Asked by Charles Norrie

If you click on package manager Ubuntu 12.10, it says that it is broken and though it tries to repair itself it doesn't. The catalog is corrupt in some way. Packages cannot be installed. Can it be repaired, please?

Today 17 August 2012 at 14:50 BST it is still BROKEN. Do not ask me to say what programme is broken because all I do is click on the paper bag with bubbles and I am told that the package manager i broken, and the catalogue needs to be repaired. I can't do that and have trie various repairs, none of which have worked.

I think it is serious as I cannot install or uninstall any software from the repositories.

I cannot think that I am uniquely plagued with this problem.

I CANNOT give you any more information because I know of no way of finding out how it can be obtained.

I think Ubuntu programmers should by this time be taking a little responsibility.

I never expected Ubuntu to be as lackadaisical as say Gates Malware.

Sorry to be so annoyed.

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Jeet (gour-jitendrasingh) said :
#1

report a bug

thanks
~jeet

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Mark Rijckenberg (markrijckenberg) said :
#2
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#3

sudo fuser -vvv /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
LANG=C;sudo apt-get clean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get autoclean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --purge autoremove
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
LANG=C;sudo apt-get -f install
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824 && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

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Charles Norrie (norriecb) said :
#4

O

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Charles Norrie (norriecb) said :
#5

On 21/07/2012, this issue had not be fixed. I am using Ubuntu 12:10 updated every morning at about 04:00 GMT.

Annoying, but not fatal.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#6

I suggest you report a bug

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#7

Can you give the output of the commands I gave please

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Warren Hill (warren-hill) said :
#8

1. Ubuntu 12.10 is still experimental so you should not be surprised that there are a number of issues.
     I would suggest that you only install 12.10 if you have the technical experience to deal with such issues and want to help fix the bugs. Otherwise go with the latest stable release. I would also suggest that you don't have ubuntu 12.10 as you only / main machine precisely because it is still experimental

2. If you are going to ask for help and one of us asks for information to diagnose the fault wouldn't it be sensible to provide the answer?

Actionparsnip and Mark both put a lot of effort into this forum and both have a lot of experience here.

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Charles Norrie (norriecb) said :
#9

Yes but.

1) I can live with issues and I really don't need to use the package
manager. I am quite happy working with a system that is a bit broken, but
when I find it so, I think it's worth telling the community. After all,
the problem in the end will have to be solved. There are some solutions
out there but they just don't work for me!

2) If I knew of a solution, I would tell you. But I don't, so I can't.
Sorry! Only today did I get any error information from the package manager
and I tried to copy it, and it would not paste into the Launchpad answer.
I don't know why, but I often get odd faillure to complete copy problems.

3) You received this reply because you took the trouble to answer, for
which thanks, and when I get a bit more information I shall try to post it.

On 22 August 2012 08:41, Warren Hill
<email address hidden>wrote:

> Your question #203579 on apt in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/203579
>
> Warren Hill posted a new comment:
> 1. Ubuntu 12.10 is still experimental so you should not be surprised that
> there are a number of issues.
> I would suggest that you only install 12.10 if you have the technical
> experience to deal with such issues and want to help fix the bugs.
> Otherwise go with the latest stable release. I would also suggest that you
> don't have ubuntu 12.10 as you only / main machine precisely because it is
> still experimental
>
> 2. If you are going to ask for help and one of us asks for information
> to diagnose the fault wouldn't it be sensible to provide the answer?
>
> Actionparsnip and Mark both put a lot of effort into this forum and both
> have a lot of experience here.
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
Warren Hill (warren-hill) said :
#10

We are trying to help. I can't promise a fix but the information requested in post #2 and #3 would be a lot of help in diagnosing the issue.

Please go to the link below and follow the instructions

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PackageManagerTroubleshootingProcedure

Please post full Terminal output here:

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/203579

Revision history for this message
Charles Norrie (norriecb) said :
#11

WHEN I CLICK ON THE PACKAGE MANAGER, IT BREAKS DOWN. iF i ATTEMPT TO REPAR IT, THE CAN GET THE FOLLOWING OUTPUT. sORRY i HAVE BEEN SO LONG IN REPORTING BACK. sORRY ALSO FOR WRITING IN UPPER CASE AS SUDDENLY UBUNTU IS BEHAVING AS IF CAPS LOCKS IS SWITCHED ON, AND i HAVE DISABLED IT.

tHIS IS THE OUTPUT:

installArchives() failed: dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python3:
 python3 depends on python3-minimal (= 3.2.3-2ubuntu1); however:
  Version of python3-minimal on system is 3.2.3-5.

dpkg: error processing python3 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python3-gi:
 python3-gi depends on python3 (>= 3.2.3-3~); however:
  Version of python3 on system is 3.2.3-2ubuntu1.
 python3-gi depends on python3 (<< 3.3); however:
  Package python3 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing python3-gi (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python3-dbus:
 python3-dbus depends on python3 (>= 3.2.3-3~); however:
  Version of python3 on system is 3.2.3-2ubuntu1.
 python3-dbus depends on python3 (<< 3.3); however:
  Package python3 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing python3-dbus (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency probNo apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
lems prevent configuration of python3-aptdaemon:
 python3-aptdaemon depends on python3 (>= 3.2.3-3~); however:
  Version of python3 on system is 3.2.3-2ubuntu1.
 python3-aptdaemon depends on python3-dbus; however:
  Package python3-dbus is not configured yet.
 python3-aptdaemon depends on python3-gi; however:
  Package python3-gi is not configured yet.

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