Ubuntu
kdebase package

Database Locked Adept

Asked by Darrell Hare

I'm a real Newbie at this but here goes. I was trying to install Frostwire using adept and got this message:
"Read only mode. Database locked - Adept Mana
You will not be able to change your system settings in any way (install,remove,or upgrade software) because another process is using the packageing system database (probably some other adept application or apt-get or aptitude) Please close the other application before using this one. "
I openned KSysGuard but don't have a clue on which running processes I would shut down?
I hope I'm not asking a real lame question here but I need some help.
Thanks
Darrell

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Nicolai
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Best Nicolai (jegmaaikkesige) said : 		#1

It is not a lame question. I've even seen this once today already. ;)

Adept probably isn't running, but because of an earlier crash, a lock file has decided to get stuck.

First type this:
sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

This will remove the lock-file, but after a crash this usually isn't enough.

Secondly type this
sudo dpkg --configure -a

This will solve the dependencies that were broken during the crash. if a package still won't work, it will simply be marked as broken, and you can use Adept normally again.

I hope this helps. :)
Nicolai M.

Revision history for this message
Darrell Hare (dbh-eastlink) said : 		#2

Thanks Nicolai, that solved my question.

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parsivale (man-stkildafan) said : 		#3

Also Thanks Nicolai. That solved my problem as well. You help is very appreciated.

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Simon (peachayne) said : 		#4

Hi
I had a similar problem when trying to install gnome onto my kubuntu fiesty,
I was trying to overcome my login problems in kde , but unfortunately trying to convert to gnome just crashed adept.
Ive attached the terminal output after running the above which incidentally cured the adept lock ( thanks a lot)
Has anyone got any ideas on what the main problem is
Thanks
    Simon
 Ps Ive deleted login name below
Password:
:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/dpkg/lock': No such file or directory
~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up libdjvulibre15 (3.5.17-3ubuntu2) ...

Setting up cdrecord (1.1.2-1) ...

Setting up desktop-base (4.0.0) ...

Setting up eog (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up evolution-data-server-common (1.10.1-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up gconf-editor (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up metacity (2.18.2-0ubuntu1.1) ...

Setting up gnome-cards-data (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up gedit-common (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-core:
 gnome-core depends on gnome-menus (>= 2.14.3); however:
  Package gnome-menus is not installed.
dpkg: error processing gnome-core (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libpt-1.10.0 (1.10.3-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up dia-common (0.96.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gnome-media-common (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-panel:
 gnome-panel depends on gnome-menus (>= 2.11.1-1); however:
  Package gnome-menus is not installed.
dpkg: error processing gnome-panel (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libkpathsea4 (3.0-27ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libenchant1c2a (1.3.0-2ubuntu1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gdm-themes:
 gdm-themes depends on gdm (>> 2.4); however:
  Package gdm is not installed.
dpkg: error processing gdm-themes (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up nautilus-data (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libtotem-plparser1 (2.18.1-0ubuntu3) ...

Setting up libpoppler1-glib (0.5.4-0ubuntu8) ...

Setting up dia-libs (0.96.1-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libgtksourceview-common (1.8.5-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libgksu2-0 (2.0.3-3ubuntu5) ...

Setting up epiphany-browser (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up dia-gnome (0.96.1-0ubuntu1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of fast-user-switch-applet:
 fast-user-switch-applet depends on gdm; however:
  Package gdm is not installed.
 fast-user-switch-applet depends on gnome-panel; however:
  Package gnome-panel is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing fast-user-switch-applet (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up gnome-backgrounds (2.16.1-1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-control-center:
 gnome-control-center depends on gnome-menus (>= 2.17.5); however:
  Package gnome-menus is not installed.
dpkg: error processing gnome-control-center (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up gcalctool (5.9.14-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up python-pyorbit (2.14.2-0ubuntu3) ...
Setting up libgnomecups1.0-1 (0.2.2-5ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libxml2-utils (2.6.27.dfsg-1ubuntu3) ...
Setting up libpt-plugins-v4l (1.10.3-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up evince (0.8.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libeel2-data (2.18.0.1-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libshout3 (2.2.2-1build1) ...

Setting up libvte-common (0.16.1-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libeel2-2 (2.18.0.1-0ubuntu1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-session:
 gnome-session depends on gnome-control-center (>= 1:2.16); however:
  Package gnome-control-center is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing gnome-session (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up file-roller (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libsexy2 (0.1.11-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up abiword-common (2.4.6-1.1ubuntu2) ...

Setting up libgnome-pilot2 (2.0.15-0.1ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgnomeprint2.2-data (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libpisock9 (0.12.2-7ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gnome-terminal-data (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libsoup2.2-8 (2.2.100-1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nautilus:
 nautilus depends on gnome-control-center (>= 2.6); however:
  Package gnome-control-center is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing nautilus (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libgtkhtml3.14-19 (3.14.1-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up xsltproc (1.1.20-0ubuntu2) ...
Setting up esound (0.2.36-3ubuntu4) ...
Setting up gksu (2.0.0-1ubuntu3) ...

Setting up libbeagle0 (0.2.16.3-0ubuntu4) ...

Setting up libnautilus-burn4 (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libedata-book1.2-2 (1.10.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libnm-glib0 (0.6.4-6ubuntu7) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of evolution:
 evolution depends on evolution-data-server (>= 1.9.91); however:
  Package evolution-data-server is not installed.
dpkg: error processing evolution (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up notification-daemon (0.3.6-0ubuntu3) ...
notification-daemon: no process killed

Setting up gnome-system-tools (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libguile-ltdl-1 (1.6.8-6build1) ...

Setting up libedata-cal1.2-6 (1.10.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgnomeprintui2.2-common (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up python-libxml2 (2.6.27.dfsg-1ubuntu3) ...

Setting up libvte9 (0.16.1-0ubuntu1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-applets:
 gnome-applets depends on gnome-panel (>= 2.13.4); however:
  Package gnome-panel is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing gnome-applets (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up gstreamer0.10-plugins-good (0.10.5-1ubuntu2) ...

Setting up evolution-common (2.10.1-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up libqthreads-12 (1.6.8-6build1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of ekiga:
 ekiga depends on evolution-data-server; however:
  Package evolution-data-server is not installed.
dpkg: error processing ekiga (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libpt-plugins-alsa (1.10.3-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up libgnome-media0 (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gnome-power-manager (2.18.2-0ubuntu3) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gnome-terminal:
 gnome-terminal depends on gnome-control-center (>= 1:2.8.0); however:
  Package gnome-control-center is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing gnome-terminal (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libpisync0 (0.12.2-7ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libopal-2.2.0 (2.2.3.dfsg-2ubuntu2) ...

Setting up libexchange-storage1.2-3 (1.10.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libegroupwise1.2-13 (1.10.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgnomeprint2.2-0 (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgnomeprintui2.2-0 (2.18.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gnome-doc-utils (0.10.3-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gtkhtml3.14 (3.14.1-0ubuntu2) ...
Setting up bug-buddy (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgtksourceview1.0-0 (1.8.5-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up yelp (2.18.1-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up guile-1.6-libs (1.6.8-6build1) ...

Setting up abiword-gnome (2.4.6-1.1ubuntu2) ...
Setting up python-gnome2-desktop (2.18.0-0ubuntu3) ...

Setting up gedit (2.18.1-0ubuntu1) ...

Errors were encountered while processing:
 gnome-core
 gnome-panel
 gdm-themes
 fast-user-switch-applet
 gnome-control-center
 gnome-session
 nautilus
 evolution
 gnome-applets
 ekiga
 gnome-terminal

Revision history for this message
Nicolai (jegmaaikkesige) said : 		#5

That's quite a list. =)

From looking at it I can see the problem is the 'gdm' and 'gnome-menus' packages. If you can access adept, you might want to try to install these packages separately and then try installing gnome again. If adept keeps crashing then try this:
sudo apt-get install gdm gnome-menus

If the problem persists, you might need to check your sources list in etc/apt/sources.list
If any of them seem out of the ordinary then this might be the reason for the crash. (you can post the list here if you do not understand it)

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Anderu (0x610x6e0x640x650x720x75) said : 		#6

Hey nicolai, thanks for the solution. I Googled an answer to the same problem and your answer came up. Thanks.

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Fred Pilcher (fpilcher) said : 		#7

Thanks Nicolai - that fixed my problem too!

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jonlewi5 (jonlewis) said : 		#8

brilliant, fixed my problem too, thank you!!

Revision history for this message
Darrell Hare (dbh-eastlink) said : 		#9

Hi Nicolai,
My name is Darrell Hare. You helped me handle a problem a while back and
I was wondering if you could help me with a similar problem?
I recently did a version upgrade from Gutsy to Hardy. I ran into many
problems one of which is that I ended up with Ubuntu 8.04 when I wanted
Kubuntu. I haven't figured out how to get from Ubuntu to Kubuntu yet.
I'm hoping I can do it from Adept. Which leads to my question for you.
When I open Adept I get the following message:

*"You will not be able to change your settings in any way (
install,remove or upgrade software ), because this application needs
special administrator ( ROOT ) privileges. Please run it as root or
through KDESU ( I don't know what this is) or Sudo Programs to be able
to perform these actions"

*I had a similar problem before in Feisty and you sent me the following
solution that worked then but not this time.

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
then
sudo dpkg --configure -a

I tried them this time to no avail.

Can you help me out? I didn't go to the forms because you helped me with
a similar problem last time.

Darrell Hare

Revision history for this message
Nicolai (jegmaaikkesige) said : 		#10

You might wish to make this into a seperate question, so people with the same problem can get the answers. It will also mean more people will see the question. Despite my earlier record, I cannot promise succes from my part. ;)

kdesu is the command you are asked to use. It is the same as sudo, but used for graphical enviroments to make certain they do not wreck the system. The command should be the following:

kdesu adept_manager

If Adept opens properly, you only have to install this package for Kubuntu:

kubuntu-desktop

If Adept does NOT open correctly, try this command:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

One of the possibilities for your problems with Adept is a botched list of repositories. If Adept is asked to get packages from a site that doesn't exist or a cd that isn't in the tray, it might just refuse to work. Another possibility is of course that your cross-upgrade from Kubuntu to Ubuntu meant a number of packages did not get installed, which means adept might be missing a vital part. If that is the case, the commandline method would hopefully work instead, so we can get things necessary to make things work.

This is hopefully helpful,
Nicolai M.