Ubuntu
update-manager package

The installation of a software package failed

Asked by Fredrik Almyren

Hi.
I am having problems when trying to install/update software packages using the update manager. when trying to install something I get this error message:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
Stller in tzdata (2011g-0ubuntu0.11.04) ...
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68.
Use of uninitialized value $ret in string eq at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 109.
dpkg: fel vid hantering av tzdata (--configure):
 underprocess installerade post-installation-skript gav felkod 128
Fel uppstod vid hantering:
 tzdata
Stller in tzdata (2011g-0ubuntu0.11.04) ...
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in scalar chomp at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 66.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in concatenation (.) or string at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 67.
Use of uninitialized value $reply in split at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 68.
Use of uninitialized value $ret in string eq at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Passthrough.pm line 109.
dpkg: fel vid hantering av tzdata (--configure):
 underprocess installerade post-installation-skript gav felkod 128
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

This seems to be similar to what has been discussed around bug #442941 concerning the w/r permissions of the file /var/cache/debconf/config.dat as my config file is set up in mode 0600. However I could not figure out from the bug description how I should solve the problem. I tried the obvious to change the permissions to 0644 but was not allowed (thought that I was root admin...)

Note: I am running a clean installation of 11.04 on a former windows machine and I am a newbee on the Ubuntu operative (even thought I have some experiences of Unix some years back).

Would be very happy for anyones help on this.

Kind regards
/ Fredrik (Sorry for some swedish in the error log... )

Question information

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Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
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Solved by:
Eliah Kagan
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Revision history for this message
Best Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#1

If you haven't already, first try updating in the Update Manager again. It might work the second time.

If it doesn't work, then please quit the Update Manager (and any other graphical package management programs, such as the Software Center and the Synaptic Package Manager), open a Terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run the following commands. You should wait until each command completes before running the next one. If you see something that looks like an error, I recommend stopping and posting all the text from the Terminal (Edit > Select All; Edit > Copy) here.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -y upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Then see if the problem is fixed. If the problem is not fixed, run:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

See if that fixes it. If the problem is still not fixed run these two commands (they both start with sudo -- you'll have to copy the first one from https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/166843 since it won't copy correctly from your email):

sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/`dpkg-query -f='${Package}_${Version}_${Architecture}' -W tzdata`.deb
sudo apt-get --purge --reinstall install tzdata

If *that* doesn't fix it, then please follow this procedure in fully from Step 1 to Step 4:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PackageManagerTroubleshootingProcedure

If the problem is still not fixed, then please select all the text in the Terminal (Edit > Select All), copy it to the clipboard (Edit > Copy), and paste it here.

Please note that you should make sure to completely quit out of the Update Manager before running any of the commands listed above; they might not be able to perform their intended functions if run while the Update Manager (or other graphical package management utilities) is running.

Revision history for this message
Fredrik Almyren (k-fredrik) said : 		#2

Thanks Eliah Kagan, that solved my question.