can't access synaptic

The "dpkg --configure -a" is asked by the system when a previous update/upgrade process have not completely performed good, and it must run with "root" privileged administrative user.
Using the "sudo" command we can do a command as "root" user, and "dpkg --configure -a" need be run from root user.
After the "dpkg --configure -a" command i add all the usual commands (see below) you can run to be sure your system became fully upgraded.

Please also read this bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/108601/

Typing the commands as sudo the system will ask you for a password, please give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

So please be sure your system is fully updated/upgraded with no pending packages or errors:

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
(if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see nothing when you type it, then press enter)

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove

Hope this helps

Err go up to the Applications menu on the top taskbar, Applications - Terminal

Into the terminal/command console/window type

sudo dpkg --configure -a

and then enter your user password (not the root/superuser one)

Hopefully that should fix it, good luck

While typing on the command line the Tab key does a "predictive text" type feature, try it out. And double clicking the Tab key can be quite revealing too. Also the up arrow goes back into previous sessions which can be great. :)

Welcome to linux,
I hope you enjoy it too
Regards from
Tom :)

Oh, follow what Marcobra says - ignore mine. He's invariably right about this sort of thing :)

Did this last bit help?

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
(if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see nothing when you type it, then press enter)

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove

Definitely worth a try
Good luck
Regards from
Tom :)

Do I need to run them all? Last time I tried to update the computer crashed!

On 1/26/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800
>
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
> The "dpkg --configure -a" is asked by the system when a previous
> update/upgrade process have not completely performed good, and it must run
> with "root" privileged administrative user.
> Using the "sudo" command we can do a command as "root" user, and "dpkg
> --configure -a" need be run from root user.
> After the "dpkg --configure -a" command i add all the usual commands (see
> below) you can run to be sure your system became fully upgraded.
>
> Please also read this bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source
> /update-manager/+bug/108601/
>
> Typing the commands as sudo the system will ask you for a password,
> please give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing
> when you type it, then press enter.
>
> So please be sure your system is fully updated/upgraded with no pending
> packages or errors:
>
> Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and
> type:
> (if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see
> nothing when you type it, then press enter)
>
> sudo dpkg --configure -a
> sudo apt-get -f install
> sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
> sudo apt-get clean
> sudo apt-get update
> sudo apt-get upgrade
> sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
> sudo apt-get clean
> sudo apt-get autoremove
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800
>
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Yeah, if you run them one at a time in the order shown then the problems should be fixed in the right order. The only one which i understand is the step

sudo apt-get clean

which clears out your 'temp' cache that stores packages before installing them. Presumably the steps before that ensure that they have either been installed or uninstalled properly. And i'd guess that the instruction prior to that is to make sure that apt-get can cope with dealing with the packages that are already downloaded but not 'actioned'. To get information on what a command does just type --help after the command, in this case

sudo apt-get --help

It usually works in any linux distro. Sometimes it's more important to know where o look up answers rather than to remember long lists of commands you'll probably never use. Marcobra seems good at doing both to make sure he knows what to do. To look at previous questions Marcobra has answered just click on his name and see he has a high percentage of "Solved" (about 50% i think) and also a large number of people who have solved their problem but not bothered to come back in to confirm that to award him the karma points he deserves.

I think it's good to be wary, especially if you are used to Windows or forums in general so it's always good to have ways of double-checking how much trust you can place in an answer. Better safe than sorry.

I recommend follow each of the actions in the order they are written and wish you luck.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

My goal is to get the "already installed" flash player to function.

On 1/26/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800
>
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
> The "dpkg --configure -a" is asked by the system when a previous
> update/upgrade process have not completely performed good, and it must run
> with "root" privileged administrative user.
> Using the "sudo" command we can do a command as "root" user, and "dpkg
> --configure -a" need be run from root user.
> After the "dpkg --configure -a" command i add all the usual commands (see
> below) you can run to be sure your system became fully upgraded.
>
> Please also read this bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source
> /update-manager/+bug/108601/
>
> Typing the commands as sudo the system will ask you for a password,
> please give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing
> when you type it, then press enter.
>
> So please be sure your system is fully updated/upgraded with no pending
> packages or errors:
>
> Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and
> type:
> (if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see
> nothing when you type it, then press enter)
>
> sudo dpkg --configure -a
> sudo apt-get -f install
> sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
> sudo apt-get clean
> sudo apt-get update
> sudo apt-get upgrade
> sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
> sudo apt-get clean
> sudo apt-get autoremove
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/58800
>
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

If your computer crash please perform a RAM memory check

Please be sure your RAM memory is good:

To test your pc RAM memory chips:

- boot your pc press ESC when you see the GRUB row and jump to step "**"

or

- boot from Ubuntu live cd main menu and at first showed menu and

**) select the item "Memory test" to test your pc ram memory

Please run memory test for many hours or stop it and replace your memory chip if you get errors (the errors usually are rows in red colour)

If you have more than one memory chips plugged on your motherboard, to know which is the damaged
chip please run the memory test with only one chip plugged a time.

Hope this helps

My goal is to get the "already installed" flash player to function.

On 1/29/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on update-manager in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
>
> If your computer crash please perform a RAM memory check
>
> Please be sure your RAM memory is good:
>
> To test your pc RAM memory chips:
>
> - boot your pc press ESC when you see the GRUB row and jump to step "**"
>
> or
>
> - boot from Ubuntu live cd main menu and at first showed menu and
>
> **) select the item "Memory test" to test your pc ram memory
>
> Please run memory test for many hours or stop it and replace your memory
> chip if you get errors (the errors usually are rows in red colour)
>
> If you have more than one memory chips plugged on your motherboard, to know
> which is the damaged
> chip please run the memory test with only one chip plugged a time.
>
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=7
>
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

If you computer crash, or reboot please test your RAM.

To reinstall flash try this:

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
(if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see nothing when you type it, then press enter)

sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin

or

sudo apt-get --reinstall install flashplugin-nonfree

Hope this helps

it just shows it installed

On 1/30/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on update-manager in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
>
> If you computer crash, or reboot please test your RAM.
>
> To reinstall flash try this:
>
>
> Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and
> type:
> (if the system ask you a password give your user password, you will not see
> nothing when you type it, then press enter)
>
>
> sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin
>
> or
>
> sudo apt-get --reinstall install flashplugin-nonfree
>
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=9
>
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Here my output....

 sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 3929kB of archives.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
Get:1 http://archive.canonical.com intrepid/partner adobe-flashplugin 10.0.15.3-1intrepid2 [3929kB]
Fetched 3929kB in 0s (4851kB/s)
(Reading database ... 280868 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace adobe-flashplugin 10.0.15.3-1intrepid2 (using .../adobe-flashplugin_10.0.15.3-1intrepid2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement adobe-flashplugin ...
Setting up adobe-flashplugin (10.0.15.3-1intrepid2) ...

danilo@ubuntu:~$

got this: Reinstallation of adobe-flashplugin is not possible, it cannot be
downloaded.

On 1/30/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on update-manager in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
>
> Here my output....
>
>
> sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin
>
> Reading package lists... Done
> Building dependency tree
> Reading state information... Done
> 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not
> upgraded.
> Need to get 3929kB of archives.
> After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
> Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
> Get:1 http://archive.canonical.com intrepid/partner adobe-flashplugin
> 10.0.15.3-1intrepid2 [3929kB]
> Fetched 3929kB in 0s (4851kB/s)
> (Reading database ... 280868 files and directories currently installed.)
> Preparing to replace adobe-flashplugin 10.0.15.3-1intrepid2 (using
> .../adobe-flashplugin_10.0.15.3-1intrepid2_i386.deb) ...
> Unpacking replacement adobe-flashplugin ...
> Setting up adobe-flashplugin (10.0.15.3-1intrepid2) ...
>
> danilo@ubuntu:~$
>
> --
>
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=11
>
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Please check if your network is working fro a terminal type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin

Also considre to change your download server from menu System→Preferences→Software Source [Ubuntu software]
choose different server form the "Download from" listbox

If this doesn't solve, then please read this alternative method to install flash: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/flash

Hope this helps

Does having to work thru dialup make a difference?

On 1/30/09, marcobra <email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Your question #58800 on update-manager in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
>
> Please check if your network is working fro a terminal type:
>
> sudo apt-get update
>
> sudo apt-get --reinstall install adobe-flashplugin
>
>
> Also considre to change your download server from menu
> System→Preferences→Software Source [Ubuntu software]
> choose different server form the "Download from" listbox
>
> If this doesn't solve, then please read this alternative method to
> install flash: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/flash
>
> Hope this helps
>
> --
>
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800/+confirm?answer_id=13
>
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/58800
>
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

If you are still having trouble with this then please post it as a new question. Only the most recent questions tend to get looked at so posting/reposting a question just before america arrives online gives the best chance of getting a good few answers.

If the problem has been resolved then please follow the link to the forum thread and mark it as Solved.

Good luck and many regards from
Tom :)