Linked to bug #349469: debconf: DbDriver "config": /var/cache/debconf/config.dat is locked by another process: Resource temporarily unavailable

...Possibly...

All package managers use the one and only database. Therefore can only use one package manager at a time - Dpkg, Apt, Aptitude, Synaptic, Update Manager etc.

Close ALL applications you reasonably can.

Connect to the Internet, open a Terminal, only the Terminal, and try each of the following commands one at a time:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get update

tried one at a time still cant install updates still fails

Try:

sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/*deb

May help

Failing that:

sudo mv /var/cache/debconf ~/; sudo apt-get install -f

Might help

POSTED RESULTS:Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
debconf: DbDriver "config": could not open /var/cache/debconf/config.dat
Setting up man-db (2.5.7-4) ...
debconf: DbDriver "config": could not open /var/cache/debconf/config.dat
dpkg: error processing man-db (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-headers-2.6.35-23-generic (2.6.35-23.41) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/nvidia-common 2.6.35-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic
debconf: DbDriver "config": could not open /var/cache/debconf/config.dat
run-parts: /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/nvidia-common exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-headers-2.6.35-23-generic.postinst line 110.
dpkg: error processing linux-headers-2.6.35-23-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
 man-db
 linux-headers-2.6.35-23-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
satan@satan-laptop:~$

Please try this solution:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/debconf/+bug/349469/comments/5

and this solution:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/debconf/+bug/349469/comments/8

did not understand your first link but I tried the second one but no change

should also mention this happened when i removed a chat client and installed another,i tried a few different ones and stopped when this happened-also i am running 10.10 satanic on a laptop. Be back at 9pm gotta go to work thanks for all your help

Please send us the full output of the following command:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

satan@satan-laptop:~$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 10.04 LTS _Lucid Lynx_ - Release i386 (20100429)]/ lucid main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick multiverse
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security multiverse
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick main #Third party developers repository
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick-security multiverse
deb http://ubuntusatanic.org/hell maverick main
deb-src http://ubuntusatanic.org/hell maverick main
satan@satan-laptop:~$

should i just reinstall system

Please try with standard Ubuntu repository, try removing this repository

deb http://ubuntusatanic.org/hell maverick main
deb-src http://ubuntusatanic.org/hell maverick main

I tried removing both sources but same problem,going for fresh install with no satanic. Thank you all for trying

                                                                                Jim Weaver