Ubuntu
synaptic package

my Synaptic package manager failed!

Asked by wondim

I was downloading network package manager and vpnc.
my computer shutdown and when I restart and open synaptic manager

i got this message:

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

when I try
 dpkg --configure -a

 in the terminal , it showed me another message

that I need a superuser privilege. what shall I do please??

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Ubuntu synaptic Edit question
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Solved by:
Alan Jenkins
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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

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.

Please also subcribe this bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/108601/

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 be sure your system is fully updated/upgraded with no pending packages or errors:

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
(if 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
Best Alan Jenkins (aj504) said : 		#2

Yes, you want "sudo dpkg --configure -a".

Don't do "sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" unless you actually want to :-). That command will upgrade to the next version of Ubuntu when it becomes available. Upgrading to the next version of Ubuntu sometimes break things, or requires a little adjustment to new software, so you don't want to do it without realising.

Best wishes

Revision history for this message
wondim (hailatye18) said : 		#3

Thanks Alan Jenkins, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#4

Glad this issue is solved

But: the "apt-get dist-upgrade" DON'T upgrade the actual release to the next Ubuntu version.

Thank you

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#5

To upgrade a release if a new release is available you must type:

sudo do-release-upgrade

more detail at the end of this page: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading

Hope this helps