synaptic package manager now doesn't start

Do this:
1. Open a terminal by hitting CTRL + ALT + T
2. Insert and run this commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo synaptic

3. Copy and paste here all the output.

Output from 1st command:
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates InRelease
Get:1 http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release.gpg [72 B]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric Release.gpg
Ign http://dl.google.com stable InRelease
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric Release.gpg
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric Release
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates Release
Get:2 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Sources
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner Sources
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric/main i386 Packages
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main Sources
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner i386 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/restricted Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/universe Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/multiverse Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/main i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted TranslationIndex
Get:3 http://dl.google.com stable Release [1,338 B]
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/main Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/restricted Translation-en_GB
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/universe Translation-en_GB
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric/universe Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates/universe Translation-en
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner Translation-en_GB
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric/main Translation-en
Get:4 http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages [464 B]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main TranslationIndex
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en
Fetched 2,072 B in 9s (207 B/s)
Reading package lists... Done

2nd command started synaptic but it still won't run from the main menu.

Thanks for your help

Richard

Please do this:
1. Open a terminal by hitting CTRL + ALT + T
2. Insert and run this commands:
cat /usr/share/applications/synaptic.desktop
cat /usr/share/applications/synaptic-kde.desktop

3. Copy and paste here all the output.

1st command:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Synaptic Package Manager
GenericName=Package Manager
Comment=Install, remove and upgrade software packages
Exec=synaptic-pkexec
Icon=synaptic
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=PackageManager;GTK;System;Settings;
NotShowIn=KDE;
X-Ubuntu-Gettext-Domain=synaptic

2nd command:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Synaptic Package Manager
Name[ar]=مدير الحزم التشابكي
Name[be]=Кіраўнік пакетаў Synaptic
Name[be@latin]=Kiraŭnik pakunkaŭ Synaptic
Name[bg]=Мениджър на пакети (Synaptic)
Name[br]=Merour pakadoù Synaptic
Name[bs]=Upravnik paketa „Synaptic“
Name[ca]=Gestor de paquets Synaptic
Name[ca@valencia]=Gestor de paquets Synaptic
Name[cs]=Správce balíků Synaptic
Name[da]=Synaptic - pakkehåndtering
Name[de]=Synaptic-Paketverwaltung
Name[el]=Διαχείριση πακέτων Synaptic
Name[es]=Gestor de Paquetes Synaptic
Name[et]=Synaptic paketihaldur
Name[eu]=Synaptic pakete-kudeatzailea
Name[fi]=Synaptic-pakettienhallinta
Name[fr]=Gestionnaire de paquets Synaptic
Name[gl]=Xestor de paquetes Synaptic
Name[he]=מנהל החבילות Synaptic
Name[hi]=सिनेप्टिक पैकेज प्रबन्धक
Name[hu]=Synaptic csomagkezelő
Name[ia]=Administrator de pacchettos Synaptic
Name[id]=Synaptic Manajer Paket
Name[it]=Gestore pacchetti
Name[ja]=Synaptic パッケージマネージャ
Name[ko]=시냅틱 패키지 관리자
Name[ku]=Rêveberê Pakêtan Synaptic
Name[lt]=Paketų tvarkyklė Synaptic
Name[mk]=Менаџер за пакети - Синаптик
Name[nb]=Synaptic pakkebehandler
Name[nl]=Synaptic pakketbeheer
Name[no]=Synaptic Pakkeadministrasjon
Name[pl]=Synaptic Menedżer Pakietów
Name[pt]=Gestor de Pacotes Synaptic
Name[pt_BR]=Gerenciador de pacotes Synaptic
Name[ro]=Administratorul de pachete Synaptic
Name[ru]=Менеджер пакетов Synaptic
Name[sk]=Správca balíkov Synaptic
Name[sl]=Upravljalnik paketov Synaptic
Name[sr]=Синаптик — управник пакета
Name[sr@Latn]=Upravnik paketa „Synaptic“
Name[sv]=Pakethanteraren Synaptic
Name[th]=เครื่องมือจัดการแพกเกจ Synaptic
Name[tr]=Synaptic Paket Yöneticisi
Name[uk]=Менеджер пакунків Synaptic
Name[xh]=UMlawuli woMqulu we-Synaptic
Name[zh_CN]=新立得软件包管理器
Name[zh_TW]=Synaptic 套件管理程式
GenericName=Package Manager
GenericName[ar]=مدير الحزم
GenericName[be]=Кіраўнік пакетамі
GenericName[be@latin]=Kiraŭnik pakunkaŭ
GenericName[bg]=Мениджър на пакети
GenericName[br]=Merour pakadoù
GenericName[bs]=Upravnik paketa
GenericName[ca]=Gestor de paquets
GenericName[ca@valencia]=Gestor de paquets
GenericName[cs]=Správce balíků
GenericName[da]=Pakkehåndteringsprogram
GenericName[de]=Paketverwaltung
GenericName[el]=Διαχείριση πακέτων
GenericName[es]=Gestor de paquetes
GenericName[et]=Paketihaldur
GenericName[eu]=Pakete-kudeatzailea
GenericName[fi]=Pakettienhallinta
GenericName[fr]=Gestionnaire de paquets
GenericName[gl]=Xestor de paquetes
GenericName[he]=מנהל חבילות
GenericName[hi]=पैकेज प्रबन्धक
GenericName[hu]=Csomagkezelő
GenericName[ia]=Administrator de pacchettos
GenericName[id]=Manajer Paket
GenericName[it]=Gestore pacchetti
GenericName[ja]=パッケージマネージャ
GenericName[ko]=패키지 관리자
GenericName[ku]=Rêveberê Pakêtan
GenericName[lt]=Paketų tvarkyklė
GenericName[mk]=Менаџер за пакети
GenericName[nb]=Pakkebehandler
GenericName[nl]=Pakketbeheer
GenericName[pl]=Menedżer pakietów
GenericName[pt]=Gestor de Pacotes
GenericName[pt_BR]=Gerenciador de pacotes
GenericName[ro]=Administrator de pachete
GenericName[ru]=Менеджер пакетов
GenericName[sk]=Správca balíkov
GenericName[sl]=Upravljalnik paketov
GenericName[sr]=Управник пакета
GenericName[sr@Latn]=Upravnik paketa
GenericName[sv]=Pakethanterare
GenericName[th]=เครื่องมือจัดการแพกเกจ
GenericName[tr]=Paket Yöneticisi
GenericName[uk]=Менеджер пакунків
GenericName[xh]=UMlawuli woMqulu
GenericName[zh_CN]=软件包管理器
GenericName[zh_TW]=套件管理程式
Comment=Install, remove and upgrade software packages
Comment[ar]=ثبّت، أزل وحدّث حزم البرامج
Comment[be]=Усталёўвае, выдаляе і абнаўляе пакеты
Comment[be@latin]=Instaluj, vydalaj i aktualizuj prahramnyja pakunki
Comment[bg]=Инсталиране, премахване и актуализиране на софтуерни пакети
Comment[bn]=সফটওয়্যার প্যাকেজ ইনস্টল, অপসারণ এবং আপগ্রেড
Comment[br]=Staliañ, dilemel hag hizivaat meziantoù
Comment[bs]=Instaliraj, ukloni i nadogradi softverske pakete
Comment[ca]=Instal·la, elimina i actualitza paquets de programari
Comment[ca@valencia]=Instal·la, elimina i actualitza paquets de programari
Comment[cs]=Nainstalovat, odstranit a aktualizovat balíky
Comment[da]=Installér, fjern og opgradér softwarepakker
Comment[de]=Software-Pakete installieren, entfernen und aktualisieren
Comment[el]=Εγκατάσταση, απομάκρυνση και αναβάθμιση πακέτων λογισμικού
Comment[es]=Instalar, eliminar y actualizar los paquetes de software
Comment[et]=Paigalda, eemalda ja uuenda tarkvarapakette
Comment[eu]=Instalatu, kendu eta bertsio-berritu software-paketeak
Comment[fi]=Asenna, poista ja päivitä ohjelmistopaketteja
Comment[fr]=Installer, désinstaller et mettre à jour les paquets de logiciels
Comment[gl]=Instalar, retirar e anovar os paquetes de software
Comment[he]=התקנה, הסרה ושדרוג חבילות תכנה.
Comment[hi]=सॉफ्टवेयर पैकेजों की स्थापना, अद्यतन करें या उन्हें हटाएं.
Comment[hu]=Csomagok telepítése, törlése és frissítése
Comment[it]=Installa, rimuove e aggiorna i pacchetti software
Comment[ja]=ソフトウェアパッケージのインストール、削除またはアップグレード
Comment[ko]=소프트웨어 패키지를 설치, 지우기, 업그레이드
Comment[ku]=Pakêtên nivîsbariyê saz bike, jê bibe û bilindbike
Comment[lt]=Įdiekite, šalinkite ir atnaujinkite programų paketus
Comment[mk]=Инсталирајте, отстранете или надградете софтверски пакети
Comment[nb]=Installer, fjern eller oppgrader programpakker
Comment[nl]=Softwarepakketten installeren, verwijderen of bijwerken
Comment[no]=Installer, fjern eller oppgrader programvare pakker
Comment[pl]=Instalacja, usuwanie i aktualizacja pakietów z oprogramowaniem
Comment[pt]=Instalar, remover e actualizar pacotes
Comment[pt_BR]=Instalar, remover e atualizar pacotes de software
Comment[ro]=Instalează, dezinstalează şi actualizează pachete software
Comment[ru]=Установить, удалить и обновить пакеты
Comment[sk]=Inštalovať, odstrániť alebo aktualizovať softvérové balíky
Comment[sl]=Namestitev, odstranjevanje in nadgradnja programskih paketov
Comment[sr]=Инсталирајте, уклоните и надоградите пакете програма
Comment[sr@Latn]=Instaliraj, ukloni i nadogradi softverske pakete
Comment[sv]=Installera, ta bort och uppgradera programvarupaket
Comment[th]=ติดตั้ง ถอดถอน และปรับรุ่นแพกเกจซอฟต์แวร์
Comment[tr]=Paketleri kur, kaldır ya da yükselt
Comment[uk]=Встановлення, вилучення та оновлення пакунків програмного забезпечення
Comment[xh]=Faka, susa uze uphucule imiqulu yesoftware
Comment[zh_CN]=安装，删除和升级软件包
Comment[zh_TW]=安裝、移除及升級套件
Exec=synaptic
Icon=synaptic
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=PackageManager;System;
X-KDE-SubstituteUID=true
OnlyShowIn=KDE;

Thanks again

Richard

Uhm, just try to do this:
go to the folder
/usr/share/applications

you will find two file with the icon of synaptic, just start both. Then please write here if one of the file have worked.

Thanks

One has the command 'synaptic' and opens synaptic without asking for a password. The other has the command 'synaptic-pkexec' and does the thing I've described - asks for a password and then nothing.

Many thanks for your help

Richard

Sorry I've forget that you use KDE, so you have to change the line
Exec=synaptic-pkexec

and

Exec=synaptic

in

Exec=kdesu synaptic

Thanks. I don't want kde and have gone back to gnome so do I just ignore your last post?

Richard

Hmm, try to launch Synaptic, if it don't work follow the #7 message. If it works don't change anything and don't follow any message.

Followed #6 message and it works. Many, many thanks.

Richard

sorry, I meant #7 message

Thanks Enrico "eNry" Carafa, that solved my question.

I'm having the same issue, but in Gnome, so I'm looking for instructions for that platform. Synanptic briefly launches, then quits without an error notification.

syndaemon is running, if thet has anything to do with it.

I was using gnome so the above may work for you. I am now using Linux Mint, not Ubuntu (couldn't stand unity and the very much cut down 'classic' alternative!) so I can't help further.

Best of luck