cannot install downloads updates

Vojtěch Trefný suggests this article as an answer to your question:
FAQ #52: “Can't install new software and updates”.

Open Terminal (Applications→Accesories→Terminal) and type "sudo dpkg --configure -a" (without quotation marks).

I type in what you said and and it ask for my password. when I try to enter my password the command prompt does noting

Vojtěch Trefný suggests this article as an answer to your question:
FAQ #62: “Unable to type password in terminal”.

Please open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Then to update and upgrade by command line, type:

sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Hope this helps

I tried the 'sudo apt-get -f install' also sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade and still get the message 'you must manually run 'dpkg -- configure-a ' to correct this problem

The command you must type isn't

dpkg -- configure-a

Please open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type or copy and paste the row below:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Hope this helps

I typed in the ' sudo dpkg --configyre -a' and now get a message that said

 "package is in very bad inconsistent state - you should reinstall it before
attempting to configureing"
then it said "processing triggers for libc6"
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
errors where encountered while processing:
cupsys

marcobra, 'sudo apt-get --reinstall install cupsys' worked.
thank you,