Problems with the Synaptic Package Manager

Can you provide more information like what program exactly are you trying to download??
Is this happening only when you try to install this program, or the same happens when you try other programs??

Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately, I am at work and not at home now. So I will post the name of the specific program when I get out of the courthouse at midnight.

To answer your question. The problem I encountered only happened with this current download. I had selected the program to install via the Synaptic Package Manager and two of three of the Poker programs I selected were installed but it appeared to take forever to install that last one. I turne off my machine and came back the next day to find that the synaptic package manager would not allow me do anything in it. When I open it, I recieve the following message:

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

And the only option it gives me is to select "cancel" at the bottom right of the message box. The Synaptic Package Manager is quickly turned off afterwords. It does not allow me to do anymore than just open it and read that message, and then it turns itself off.

I cannot go into add/install and remove it, it won't let me saying that too many programs depend on the Synaptic Package Manager for that to be allowed. In my defence I figured if I could just uninstall the program and reinstall it all would be better. Well, I know differently, lol!

And thanks for your quick response so far. I will do as I said and post the name of the program that gave me so much trouble when I get home.

All you have to do is follow the instructions that Synaptic gave you. In a terminal window just run:

$ sudo dpkg --configure -a

After that it will ask you for your password. Just enter the password you use to login to the system. Be aware that the passwords are case sensitive.

Hope this helps...

I did what you suggested in a terminal window. This is what transpired:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ $ sudo dpkg --configure -a
bash: $: command not found
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

Arrrggghh! No such luck. Nothing happened.

Strange... I repeated what you (by you I mean John K) had told me to do and it did prompt me for a password, so I entered my password and I received the following message:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg -- configure -a
[sudo] password for kevin:
dpkg: need an action option

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg --license for copyright license and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

I guess any progress is still progress? What next?

Ok, then I typed ¨dpkg --help¨ and received the following message:
Usage: dpkg [<option> ...] <command>

Commands:
  -i|--install <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  --unpack <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  -A|--record-avail <.deb file name> ... | -R|--recursive <directory> ...
  --configure|--triggers-only <package> ... | -a|--pending
  -r|--remove <package> ... | -a|--pending
  -P|--purge <package> ... | -a|--pending
  --get-selections [<pattern> ...] Get list of selections to stdout.
  --set-selections Set package selections from stdin.
  --clear-selections Deselect every non-essential package.
  --update-avail <Packages-file> Replace available packages info.
  --merge-avail <Packages-file> Merge with info from file.
  --clear-avail Erase existing available info.
  --forget-old-unavail Forget uninstalled unavailable pkgs.
  -s|--status <package> ... Display package status details.
  -p|--print-avail <package> ... Display available version details.
  -L|--listfiles <package> ... List files `owned' by package(s).
  -l|--list [<pattern> ...] List packages concisely.
  -S|--search <pattern> ... Find package(s) owning file(s).
  -C|--audit Check for broken package(s).
  --print-architecture Print dpkg architecture.
  --compare-versions <a> <op> <b> Compare version numbers - see below.
  --force-help Show help on forcing.
  -Dh|--debug=help Show help on debugging.

  -h|--help Show this help message.
  --version Show the version.
  --license|--licence Show the copyright licensing terms.

Use dpkg -b|--build|-c|--contents|-e|--control|-I|--info|-f|--field|
 -x|--extract|-X|--vextract|--fsys-tarfile on archives (type dpkg-deb --help).

For internal use: dpkg --assert-support-predepends | --predep-package |
  --assert-working-epoch | --assert-long-filenames | --assert-multi-conrep.

Options:
  --admindir=<directory> Use <directory> instead of /var/lib/dpkg.
  --root=<directory> Install on a different root directory.
  --instdir=<directory> Change installation dir without changing admin dir.
  -O|--selected-only Skip packages not selected for install/upgrade.
  -E|--skip-same-version Skip packages whose same version is installed.
  -G|--refuse-downgrade Skip packages with earlier version than installed.
  -B|--auto-deconfigure Install even if it would break some other package.
  [--no-]triggers Skip or force consequential trigger processing.
  --no-debsig Do not try to verify package signatures.
  --no-act|--dry-run|--simulate
                             Just say what we would do - don't do it.
  -D|--debug=<octal> Enable debugging (see -Dhelp or --debug=help).
  --status-fd <n> Send status change updates to file descriptor <n>.
  --log=<filename> Log status changes and actions to <filename>.
  --ignore-depends=<package>,...
                             Ignore dependencies involving <package>.
  --force-... Override problems (see --force-help).
  --no-force-...|--refuse-...
                             Stop when problems encountered.
  --abort-after <n> Abort after encountering <n> errors.

Comparison operators for --compare-versions are:
  lt le eq ne ge gt (treat empty version as earlier than any version);
  lt-nl le-nl ge-nl gt-nl (treat empty version as later than any version);
  < << <= = >= >> > (only for compatibility with control file syntax).

Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management.
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

By the way, what does this mean?

dpkg: requested operation requires superuser privilege
kevin@kevin-desktop:

I thought I did have superuser privilege?

Hello

To correct this problem just open Terminal (Applications → Accesories → Terminal) and type

sudo dpkg --configure -a

If everything is fine then you wont get any output..

Superuser privileges are disabled by default in ubuntu

You should use sudo instead

More info:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

Hope that helps

Bhavani Shankar.

I did as you suggested, this is what I got when I first initiated that command.

Package configuration

 ┌───────────────────┤ Configuring python-poker-network ├────────────────────┐
 │ │
 │ An error seems to have occurred while installing the database. If it's ↑
 │ of any help, this was the error encountered: ▮
 │ ▒
 │ ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using ▒
 │ password: NO) ▒
 │ ▒
 │ At this point, you have the option to retry or abort the operation. If ▒
 │ you choose "retry", you will be prompted with all the configuration ▒
 │ questions once more and another attempt will be made at performing the ▒
 │ operation. "retry (skip questions)" will immediately attempt the ▒
 │ operation again, skipping all questions. If you choose "abort", the ▒
 │ operation will fail and you will need to downgrade, reinstall, ▒
 │ reconfigure this package, or otherwise manually intervene to continue ▒
 │ using it. If you choose "ignore", the operation will continue, ignoring ↓
 │
 │ <Ok>

I went into the Add/Remove section and attempted to remove Python Poker. Here is the message I received:

Cannot remove 'python2.5'

One or more applications depend on python2.5. To remove python2.5 and the dependent applications, use the Synaptic package manager.

I then attempted to remove the two other poker programs related to the original and received this message:

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

And then it sometimes tells me to remove the programs from the synaptic package manager. Except I cannot since, well, you know what it does. It won´t even open for me. Now, sometimes I get told that It cannot remove the program because the synaptic package manager is running another application or something like that (paraphrasing here, sorry). Well, yeah... of course it is running, it is ALWAYS running it seems to be stuck in permanent ¨spin your wheels mode¨. Sort of like it is running but not, since it is paused too. A semi-sort of frozen state.

I love Ubuntu. But I am really, really, really starting to detest the Synaptic Package Manager. LOL! Sorry, had to friggin´ rant there. Really, I do love Ubuntu. Thanks for the help that you, Bhavani Shankar, John Kitsantas and Sorocean Anton have given me so far. Really guys, thanks! Sorry it hasn´t worked.

I had a similar problem, while upgrading to ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10, because i was playing with different mirrors in sources.list file.
I've made a big crap, and reinstalled everythink.

Try to run this command in Terminal:

sudo rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin

It will remove your caches that will be rebuilt from scratch. Found this possible solution here http://www.debianhelp.org/node/11288

It may help.

In the spirit of ¨something is better than nothing, I ran that command in terminal and these were the results:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin
rm: cannot remove `/var/cache/apt/*.bin': No such file or directory
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

I also played around with some of the suggested commands and came up with this:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ aptitude update
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Couldn't lock list directory..are you root?
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016) gutsy/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016) gutsy/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy Release
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security Release [51.2kB]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Sources
Get:5 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Packages [56.8kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Packages [80.8kB]
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Packages [2880B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Packages [14B]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Sources [8138B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Sources [15.1kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Sources [812B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Sources [14B]
Fetched 216kB in 3s (56.5kB/s)
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
E: Couldn't rebuild package cache
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

I also get this:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ aptitude update
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Couldn't lock list directory..are you root?
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo
usage: sudo -K | -L | -V | -h | -k | -l | -v
usage: sudo [-HPSb] [-p prompt] [-u username|#uid]
            { -e file [...] | -i | -s | <command> }
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

And after entering the following command, I received the following:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ aptitude 0.4.6.1
Unknown command "0.4.6.1"
aptitude 0.4.6.1
Usage: aptitude [-S fname] [-u|-i]
       aptitude [options] <action> ...
  Actions (if none is specified, aptitude will enter interactive mode):

 install - Install/upgrade packages
 remove - Remove packages
 purge - Remove packages and their configuration files
 hold - Place packages on hold
 unhold - Cancel a hold command for a package
 markauto - Mark packages as having been automatically installed
 unmarkauto - Mark packages as having been manually installed
 forbid-version - Forbid aptitude from upgrading to a specific package version.
 update - Download lists of new/upgradable packages
 safe-upgrade - Perform a safe upgrade
 full-upgrade - Perform an upgrade, possibly installing and removing packages
 forget-new - Forget what packages are "new"
 search - Search for a package by name and/or expression
 show - Display detailed information about a package
 clean - Erase downloaded package files
 autoclean - Erase old downloaded package files
 changelog - View a package's changelog
 download - Download the .deb file for a package
 reinstall - Download and (possibly) reinstall a currently installed package

  Options:
 -h This help text
 -s Simulate actions, but do not actually perform them.
 -d Only download packages, do not install or remove anything.
 -P Always prompt for confirmation or actions
 -y Assume that the answer to simple yes/no questions is 'yes'
 -F format Specify a format for displaying search results; see the manual
 -O order Specify how search results should be sorted; see the manual
 -w width Specify the display width for formatting search results
 -f Aggressively try to fix broken packages.
 -V Show which versions of packages are to be installed.
 -D Show the dependencies of automatically changed packages.
 -Z Show the change in installed size of each package.
 -v Display extra information. (may be supplied multiple times)
 -t [release] Set the release from which packages should be installed
 -q In command-line mode, suppress the incremental progress indicators.
 -o key=val Directly set the configuration option named 'key'
 --with(out)-recommends Specify whether or not to treat recommends as
                strong dependencies
 -S fname Read the aptitude extended status info from fname.
 -u Download new package lists on startup.
 -i Perform an install run on startup.

                  This aptitude does not have Super Cow Powers.

Try:

sudo rm /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin | sudo rm /var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin

So I tried to run the following command and got somewhere. The system TRIED to finish installing the poker application but gave me a choice of aborting, ignoring, retrying? However, and this may just be because I am learning Ubuntu ¨survival-style¨, lol! But, I don´t know how to abort, retry or ignore from that point. Since I am documenting what I do here I know I can retrace my steps. Getting somewhere is still preferable to nowhere. Since somewhere implies hope.

This is the command I tried: sudo aptitude update

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude update
[sudo] password for kevin:
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016) gutsy/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016) gutsy/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates Release.gpg [191B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/universe Sources
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com gutsy-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com gutsy-security/restricted Sources
Fetched 3B in 1s (2B/s)
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
E: Couldn't rebuild package cache
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

Then I ran this command: sudo aptitude uninstall

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude uninstall
Unknown command "uninstall"
aptitude 0.4.6.1
Usage: aptitude [-S fname] [-u|-i]
       aptitude [options] <action> ...
  Actions (if none is specified, aptitude will enter interactive mode):

 install - Install/upgrade packages
 remove - Remove packages
 purge - Remove packages and their configuration files
 hold - Place packages on hold
 unhold - Cancel a hold command for a package
 markauto - Mark packages as having been automatically installed
 unmarkauto - Mark packages as having been manually installed
 forbid-version - Forbid aptitude from upgrading to a specific package version.
 update - Download lists of new/upgradable packages
 safe-upgrade - Perform a safe upgrade
 full-upgrade - Perform an upgrade, possibly installing and removing packages
 forget-new - Forget what packages are "new"
 search - Search for a package by name and/or expression
 show - Display detailed information about a package
 clean - Erase downloaded package files
 autoclean - Erase old downloaded package files
 changelog - View a package's changelog
 download - Download the .deb file for a package
 reinstall - Download and (possibly) reinstall a currently installed package

  Options:
 -h This help text
 -s Simulate actions, but do not actually perform them.
 -d Only download packages, do not install or remove anything.
 -P Always prompt for confirmation or actions
 -y Assume that the answer to simple yes/no questions is 'yes'
 -F format Specify a format for displaying search results; see the manual
 -O order Specify how search results should be sorted; see the manual
 -w width Specify the display width for formatting search results
 -f Aggressively try to fix broken packages.
 -V Show which versions of packages are to be installed.
 -D Show the dependencies of automatically changed packages.
 -Z Show the change in installed size of each package.
 -v Display extra information. (may be supplied multiple times)
 -t [release] Set the release from which packages should be installed
 -q In command-line mode, suppress the incremental progress indicators.
 -o key=val Directly set the configuration option named 'key'
 --with(out)-recommends Specify whether or not to treat recommends as
                strong dependencies
 -S fname Read the aptitude extended status info from fname.
 -u Download new package lists on startup.
 -i Perform an install run on startup.

                  This aptitude does not have Super Cow Powers.
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

Then I ran this command: sudo aptitude remove

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude remove
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

Then I ran this command: sudo aptitude reinstall

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude reinstall
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude reinstall
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

Then I ran this command: sudo aptitude quit

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude quit
Unknown command "quit"
aptitude 0.4.6.1
Usage: aptitude [-S fname] [-u|-i]
       aptitude [options] <action> ...
  Actions (if none is specified, aptitude will enter interactive mode):

 install - Install/upgrade packages
 remove - Remove packages
 purge - Remove packages and their configuration files
 hold - Place packages on hold
 unhold - Cancel a hold command for a package
 markauto - Mark packages as having been automatically installed
 unmarkauto - Mark packages as having been manually installed
 forbid-version - Forbid aptitude from upgrading to a specific package version.
 update - Download lists of new/upgradable packages
 safe-upgrade - Perform a safe upgrade
 full-upgrade - Perform an upgrade, possibly installing and removing packages
 forget-new - Forget what packages are "new"
 search - Search for a package by name and/or expression
 show - Display detailed information about a package
 clean - Erase downloaded package files
 autoclean - Erase old downloaded package files
 changelog - View a package's changelog
 download - Download the .deb file for a package
 reinstall - Download and (possibly) reinstall a currently installed package

  Options:
 -h This help text
 -s Simulate actions, but do not actually perform them.
 -d Only download packages, do not install or remove anything.
 -P Always prompt for confirmation or actions
 -y Assume that the answer to simple yes/no questions is 'yes'
 -F format Specify a format for displaying search results; see the manual
 -O order Specify how search results should be sorted; see the manual
 -w width Specify the display width for formatting search results
 -f Aggressively try to fix broken packages.
 -V Show which versions of packages are to be installed.
 -D Show the dependencies of automatically changed packages.
 -Z Show the change in installed size of each package.
 -v Display extra information. (may be supplied multiple times)
 -t [release] Set the release from which packages should be installed
 -q In command-line mode, suppress the incremental progress indicators.
 -o key=val Directly set the configuration option named 'key'
 --with(out)-recommends Specify whether or not to treat recommends as
                strong dependencies
 -S fname Read the aptitude extended status info from fname.
 -u Download new package lists on startup.
 -i Perform an install run on startup.

                  This aptitude does not have Super Cow Powers

After monkeying around a bit I occasionally receive the following message:

Package configuration

 ┌───────────────────┤ Configuring python-poker-network ├────────────────────┐
 │ │
 │ An error seems to have occurred while installing the database. If it's ↑
 │ of any help, this was the error encountered: ▮
 │ ▒
 │ ERROR 1045 (28000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using ▒
 │ password: NO) ▒
 │ ▒
 │ At this point, you have the option to retry or abort the operation. If ▒
 │ you choose "retry", you will be prompted with all the configuration ▒
 │ questions once more and another attempt will be made at performing the ▒
 │ operation. "retry (skip questions)" will immediately attempt the ▒
 │ operation again, skipping all questions. If you choose "abort", the ▒
 │ operation will fail and you will need to downgrade, reinstall, ▒
 │ reconfigure this package, or otherwise manually intervene to continue ▒
 │ using it. If you choose "ignore", the operation will continue, ignorin

I tried what you suggested. Here´s the results.

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo rm /var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin | sudo rm /var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin
rm: cannot remove `/var/cache/apt/srcpkgcache.bin': No such file or directory
rm: cannot remove `/var/cache/apt/pkgcache.bin': No such file or directory
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

I tried to open up the Synaptic Package Manager however instead of giving me that annoying error message I recieved the following:

Unable to get exclusive lock

This usually means that another package management application (like apt-get or aptitude) already running. Please close that application first.

Is that a good sign? Is it trying to work itself out?

Well, I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I think I am getting a good crash course in Ubuntu. At least one aspect of it. The synaptic package manager. However, I dicked around with some of the suggestions given here and in the links. And I am consistently getting the following screen which allows me to select the program IN QUESTION that is holding up everything it seems. And so when I go to deliver the coup de´ grace, or by pressing ¨g¨ for Download/Install/Remove packages I am told the following:

Could not get /var/lib//dpkg open

¨Another application is using it¨ seems to be a consistent theme now.

Just out of curiosity, I have been toying with the idea that a re-install of the entire Ubuntu system as well as possibly an upgrade to the newer version of Hardy Heron by erase and remove my problems? At this stage I am becoming comfortable with certain degrees of loss in order to regain control of my system. Suggestions anyone?

More precisely this:

dpkg: status database area is locked by another process
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
dpkg: status database area is locked by another process
Press return to continue.

In short, a program seems to be running, running, running and running. A key system or small group of them that will not allow me to do anything. At this point reinstall and/or upgrade is becoming attractive?

Hmm ok..

Please try this:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure postfix

To reconfigure postfix

Or

sudo gedit /var/lib/dpkg/statoverride

and delete the postfix line...

If nothing works, Then do a reinstall... Thats the only way I think....

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

This is what happened.

I entered sudo dpkg-reconfigure postfix and this text appeared:

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure postfix
[sudo] password for kevin:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for kevin:
debconf: DbDriver "config": /var/cache/debconf/config.dat is locked by another process: Resource temporarily unavailable
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo gedit /var/lib/dpkg/statoverride

I entered sudo gedit /var/lib/dpkg/statoverride and this text appeared in a box title *stateoverride (/var/lib/dpkg/) - gedit

root Debian-exim 0640 /etc/exim4/passwd.client
hplip root 755 /var/run/hplip
root root 04755 /usr/lib/GNUstep/System/Tools/gdomap

Oh, and then a short while later, after punching in sudo dpkg-reconfigure postfix this appeared below it.

Couldn't get main dbus connection: Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.
Couldn't get main dbus connection: Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.
Couldn't get main dbus connection: Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.

So out of curiosity, do recommend reinstalling the current Ubuntu that I have or going with the upgraded Beta-version of Hardy? With the upgrade to Hardy, do I get to keep most of my current data in my existing Ubuntu?

So, I suggest you to reinstall current version of ubuntu backing up your current files to clean up the mess...:)

You can use sbackup to backup your files and restore them...

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BackupYourSystem/SimpleBackupSuite

and after doing a reinstall go for an upgrade after april 24th when the final version of hardy heron releases..

Regards

Bhavani Shankar.

Thank you so much for your help. I had a back up hard drive so I put my important data onto it temporarily and then reinstalled Ubuntu. Truly, I think I am smarter for this fiasco. At least I know my way around the terminal now! Thanks ya' all!

~ Kevin Larson

i have the same exact problem tying to dl Limewire...

SAME HERE lol Limewire lol

If a install fail and is broken:
sudo rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Setting up java-common (0.30ubuntu4) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for doc-base ...
Processing 2 added doc-base file(s)...
Registering documents with scrollkeeper...

Should be fix it and you can select broken in the SPM
that worked for me