Ubuntu
update-manager package

Problem with Update Manager in Ubuntu 8.10

Asked by kath

I got this message when I tried using the update manager or the synaptic package manager:

"E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report."

I tried to open terminal and typed "sudo dpkg --configure -a
but this appeared:

"Setting up flashplugin-nonfree (9.0.124.0ubuntu2) ...
Downloading...
--16:13:39-- http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz
           => `./install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz'
Resolving fpdownload.macromedia.com... 88.221.178.70
Connecting to fpdownload.macromedia.com|88.221.178.70|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response..."

I was trying to install this package weeks ago but it didn't work cos the connection is too slow...so I'm guessing linux is still trying to install this package for me and hence I cannot update any other programmes at all!?

How can I cancel this and update stuff properly?
And how can I install the latest flash manually? I've already downloaded the package from the flash main website elsewhere...!

Thank you!

Kath

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
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Solved by:
marcobra (Marco Braida)
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Revision history for this message
Wyatt Smith (wyatt-smith) said : 		#1

Please open a terminal and try these commands

sudo apt-get clean all
sudo apt-get autoremove

This should clean out the local cache and remove any packages that are no longer required. Then to fully update your system.

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

Then you can install flash and a bunch of other goodies by enabling the mulitverse repository in System-> Administration-> Software Sources and installing the following package.

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Hope this helps

Revision history for this message
kath (hamstars) said : 		#2

It doesn't seem to work...or have I done something wrong?!
The first cleaning up seems fine but then they're telling me to run dpkg --configure -a.

"kathryn@kathryn-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get clean all
[sudo] password for kathryn:
kathryn@kathryn-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
kathryn@kathryn-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get update
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/restricted Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/universe Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/main Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com hardy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem. "

But then when I try doing that it went:
"kathryn@kathryn-laptop:~$ dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: requested operation requires superuser privilege"

Sigh...what should I be doing!?

Revision history for this message
Best marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#3

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.

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:

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
(when 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

Revision history for this message
Wyatt Smith (wyatt-smith) said : 		#4

Please try

sudo dpkg --purge -a
sudo apt-get autoremove

Please report any errors you get.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
kath (hamstars) said : 		#5

Thanks marcobra, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
kath (hamstars) said : 		#6

Thanks to Wyatt too for your help!