Package system is broken

Asked by Edmond Condillac

Update Manager fails with the message that "The package system is broken". The problem remains even after removing 3rd party software sources.
As root user I ran apt-get install -f. This output that sysinfo will be installed as an extra package; also output Suggested packages: nvidia-settings
The following packages will be upgraded: sysinfo
1 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 16 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/108 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1,016 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
dpkg: warning: there's no installed package matching sysinfo:all
root@Ryan:~# sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of sysinfo:
 sysinfo depends on libgtkmm-2.4-1; however:
  Package libgtkmm-2.4-1 is not installed.
 sysinfo depends on libglademm-2.4-1; however:
  Package libglademm-2.4-1 is not installed.
dpkg: error processing sysinfo (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
 sysinfo
Next I tried running sudo dpkg --force-all -i *.deb. After a short download. Flash Plugin was installed.
Lastly, I ran the command sudo apt-get -f install. This resulted in the following error messages:

dpkg: error processing flashplugin-nonfree (--remove):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 2
postinst called with argument `abort-remove'
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 flashplugin-nonfree
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

The error message in backend_helper.py is:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:

flashplugin-installer: sysinfo: Depends: libgtkmm-2.4-1 but it is not installed
         Depends: libglademm-2.4-1 but it is not installed

Kindly advise about repairing broken system packages, please.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu apt Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Manfred Hampl
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

If you are root, why are you using sudo? It makes no sense.

What is the output of :

apt-cache policy sysinfo libgtkmm-2.4-1 libglademm-2.4-1; lsb_release -a; uname -a

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#2

Thank you for your continued advice and help. The output for the command is as follows:

econd@Ryan:~$ apt-cache policy sysinfo libgtkmm-2.4-1 libglademm-2.4-1; lsb_release-a; uname -a
sysinfo:
  Installed: 0.6.1-3
  Candidate: 0.7-8
  Version table:
     0.7-8 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe i386 Packages
 *** 0.6.1-3 0
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
libgtkmm-2.4-1:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:
libglademm-2.4-1:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:
lsb_release-a: command not found
Linux Ryan 3.5.0-45-generic #68~precise1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Dec 4 16:19:28 UTC 2013 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
econd@Ryan:~$

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#3

Please provide the output of the following commands:

lsb_release -a
sudo dpkg --audit
sudo apt-get --download-only install sysinfo
sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/sysinfo_*0.7-8*.deb

then copy/paste all output into this question document as done before.

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#4

On 17/01/14 08:56, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #242289 on apt in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/242289
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> Please provide the output of the following commands:
>
> lsb_release -a
> sudo dpkg --audit
> sudo apt-get --download-only install sysinfo
> sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/sysinfo_*0.7-8*.deb
>
> then copy/paste all output into this question document as done before.
>
Thank you for looking into this request. The output required is as
follows below:

econd@Ryan:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
econd@Ryan:~$ sudo dpkg --audit
[sudo] password for econd:
The following packages have been unpacked but not yet configured.
They must be configured using dpkg --configure or the configure
menu option in dselect for them to work:
  sysinfo Know Your Computer

The following packages are only half configured, probably due to problems
configuring them the first time. The configuration should be retried using
dpkg --configure <package> or the configure menu option in dselect:
  flashplugin-nonfree Adobe Flash Player plugin installer

econd@Ryan:~$ sudo apt-get --download-only install sysinfo
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
  flashplugin-installer : Conflicts: flashplugin-nonfree (<
11.0.1.152ubuntu1)
                          Conflicts: libflashsupport
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or
specify a solution).
econd@Ryan:~$ sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/sysinfo_*0.7-8*.deb
(Reading database ... 228664 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace sysinfo 0.6.1-3 (using
.../archives/sysinfo_0.7-8_all.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement sysinfo ...
dpkg: warning: unable to delete old directory '/usr/local/share':
Directory not empty
dpkg: warning: unable to delete old directory '/usr/local': Directory
not empty
Setting up sysinfo (0.7-8) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus ...
Processing triggers for menu ...
econd@Ryan:~$

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#5

Now try

sudo apt-get -f install

and copy/paste the output as done before.

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#6

On 17/01/14 17:36, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #242289 on apt in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/242289
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Manfred Hampl proposed the following answer:
> Now try
>
> sudo apt-get -f install
>
> and copy/paste the output as done before.
>
The required output follows:

econd@Ryan:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
[sudo] password for econd:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure
-a' to correct the problem.
econd@Ryan:~$

Thanks again for the continued help.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#7

try the commands

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install

and copy/paste the output as done before.

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#8

On 18/01/14 16:56, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> Your question #242289 on apt in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/242289
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Manfred Hampl proposed the following answer:
> try the commands
>
> sudo dpkg --configure -a
> sudo apt-get -f install
>
> and copy/paste the output as done before.
Thank you very much for your fyrther help. The required output is:

econd@Ryan:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
[sudo] password for econd:
Setting up oracle-java8-installer (8b123-0~webupd8~0) ...
Downloading Oracle Java 8...
--2014-01-18 16:58:42--
http://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Resolving www.java.net (www.java.net)... 209.189.227.38
Connecting to www.java.net (www.java.net)|209.189.227.38|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location:
https://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
[following]
--2014-01-18 16:58:43--
https://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Connecting to www.java.net (www.java.net)|209.189.227.38|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 303 See Other
Location:
http://download.java.net/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz?q=download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
[following]
--2014-01-18 16:58:43--
http://download.java.net/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz?q=download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Resolving download.java.net (download.java.net)... 137.254.120.26
Connecting to download.java.net
(download.java.net)|137.254.120.26|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 416 Requested range not satisfiable

     The file is already fully retrieved; nothing to do.

Download done.
Removing outdated cached downloads...
sha256sum mismatch jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Oracle JDK 8 is NOT installed.
dpkg: error processing oracle-java8-installer (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of oracle-java8-set-default:
  oracle-java8-set-default depends on oracle-java8-installer; however:
   Package oracle-java8-installer is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing oracle-java8-set-default (--configure):
  dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
  oracle-java8-installer
  oracle-java8-set-default
econd@Ryan:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 0 not to upgrade.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up oracle-java8-installer (8b123-0~webupd8~0) ...
Downloading Oracle Java 8...
--2014-01-18 16:59:06--
http://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Resolving www.java.net (www.java.net)... 209.189.227.38
Connecting to www.java.net (www.java.net)|209.189.227.38|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location:
https://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
[following]
--2014-01-18 16:59:06--
https://www.java.net/download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Connecting to www.java.net (www.java.net)|209.189.227.38|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 303 See Other
Location:
http://download.java.net/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz?q=download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
[following]
--2014-01-18 16:59:07--
http://download.java.net/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz?q=download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Resolving download.java.net (download.java.net)... 137.254.120.26
Connecting to download.java.net
(download.java.net)|137.254.120.26|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 416 Requested range not satisfiable

     The file is already fully retrieved; nothing to do.

Download done.
Removing outdated cached downloads...
sha256sum mismatch jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
Oracle JDK 8 is NOT installed.
dpkg: error processing oracle-java8-installer (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of oracle-java8-set-default:
  oracle-java8-set-default depends on oracle-java8-installer; however:
   Package oracle-java8-installer is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing oracle-java8-set-default (--configure):
  dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because the error message indicates it's a
follow-up error from a previous failure.
                             E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an
error code (1)
econd@Ryan:~$

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#9

ok, this now is a completely different problem. The original issue with sysinfo seems to be solved.

What is the output of

ls -l /var/cache/oracle-jdk8-installer/

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#10

On 18/01/14 17:26, Manfred Hampl wrote:
> ls -l/var/cache/oracle-jdk8-installer/
Thank you for the further instructions. The required output is:
econd@Ryan:~$ ls -l /var/cache/oracle-jdk8-installer/
total 113092
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 91 Sep 4 2012 jar.binfmt
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 148 Feb 9 2011 javaws-wrapper.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 115787055 Jan 13 18:59
jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 90 Jan 18 16:59 wgetrc

Revision history for this message
Best Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#11

try

sudo rm /var/cache/oracle-jdk8-installer/jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#12

Thank you for your most kind help.

Revision history for this message
Kevin Cole (kjcole) said :
#13

I think the most telling line is:

sha256sum mismatch jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz

which continues to appear after deleting the cached tarball and re-downloading it fresh again.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#14

@Kevin Cole:

Do you have a similar problem yourself? Then please start a new question document (with reference to this one).

If you are just commenting on Edmond's problem: Your interpretation "continues after deleting the cached tarball and re-downloading it" is not right. wget tries to continue an interrupted download and does not delete what is already there. On that system there was a file with the right size present, that failed the sha checksum test. So wget assumed the file is already correctly downloaded, but the checksum test failed, this is why at the next attempt wget was called to download the file and so on. Only manually deleting the file with rm ... solved that cycle.

Revision history for this message
stm (spam1208) said :
#15

I get the same error (about the sha256 checksum mismatch). I removed and downloaded the file several times, but the problem persists. There seems to be some kind of problem with the latest update of oracle's java 8 or maybe the ppa installer package (https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team/+archive/java). I'd recommend just waiting for the next update or maybe checking the Oracle support site.

Revision history for this message
Kevin Cole (kjcole) said :
#16

I had the exact same problem as Edmond. Before seeking a solution, I
rm'd the offending directory from the cache (which included the file
in question), and tried the apt-get again.

When it downloaded a fresh copy and failed a second (and third) time,
I went seeking solutions online and came up with your (Manfred's)
answer here. I tried that, and again got the same result. I repeated
your solution a second time, and once again it failed. I'm not certain
why Edmond was able to get through it after following your directions.
I repeatedly get the checksum error.

So, I'm waiting for the "self-correcting" solution of "eventually an
upgrade will fix it". ;-)

Revision history for this message
Marko Stanković (sm4rk0) said :
#17

Last night I emailed admins at webupd8.org (who are maintaining the package oracle-jdk8-installer) about the problem:

Hi,

First of all, thank you for maintaining this PPA!

Second, there's a problem installing oracle-jdk8 with your installer:
oracle-java8-installer_8b123-0~webupd8~0_all.deb

Searching for the error gave me this user's question, with exactly the
same problem as mine:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/242289

In summary, problem is with sha256sum, while the md5sum is the same as
the one at:
http://download.java.net/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8-ea-
bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.md5?q=download/jdk8/archive/b123/binaries/jdk-8
-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.md5

actual sha256sum:
4514041e06cf42ec62edb9a511fb1fd5db3e687e83f8966312b2f7023e6ad22c
expected (from postinst script):
5b0488674b9852f6b9f06c56299550cae63f2ffbc809a697b6dfa9580a5d44e3

Regards,
Marko Stanković

...and got this reply today:

Hello,

Thanks for the email! There's an update to version 8b124 so this should be fixed with the update (it will be available in 1-2 hours).

Regards,

-Andrew

Revision history for this message
Edmond Condillac (econ22) said :
#18

This is just for info:
Update Manager just ran successfully and there are no further updates required on my PC.

Revision history for this message
stm (spam1208) said :
#19

Hm, funny... it doesn't work for me. I've followed the directions in #11, but it keeps downloading jdk-8-ea-bin-b123-linux-i586-10_jan_2014.tar.gz (not b124 or something) and telling me about the wrong checksum.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#20

@stm:
1. It would be better if you create your own question document.
2. make sure to delete all tarballs from that directory (sudo rm /var/cache/oracle-jdk8-installer/jdk*.tar.gz)
3. make sure you have updated your repository list (sudo apt-get update) and that you are using the latest version of oracle-java8-installer (sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-installer)

Revision history for this message
stm (spam1208) said :
#21

That did not help, but uninstalling and re-installing the package did help. Thanks for your patience.