Can't install or clear updates out of update manager.Update manager frozen.How can I clear Update Manager?

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

I tied this, but just sends me back to terminal prompt.

When this command run without problems, there is no output in terminal ;-).

Yes, I'm stuck at the terminal prompt" john@john-desktop: -$

Yes and I said it's normal behaviour → no output in terminal means that everything was OK.

I once again tried to install updates, but Terminal Output gets stuck with Sun Microsystems package installation "Agreement Liscence" form..Won't let me finish reading the agreement or "agree" to it. The computer just sits there spinning,thinking that there is more to come, but it never gets to the end of terms agreement..
Thanx!

Maybe if I can get the Update Manager from being stuck "running" both problems can be solved!I HOPE! Thanx sooo much!

"I once again tried to install updates, but Terminal Output gets stuck with Sun Microsystems package installation "Agreement Liscence" form..Won't let me finish reading the agreement or "agree" to it. The computer just sits there spinning,thinking that there is more to come, but it never gets to the end of terms agreement..
Thanx!"
→ use Tab (tabulator) to acces OK or Agree choise

I tried using the "Tab" on my keyboard..No luck.. Update Manager is still stuck running the terms of liscence agreement. Thanx!!

A day later, Update Manager is still stuck.. Can't get rid of or download updates!! Can anyone yelp??Thanx sooo much!!

Use the "ps -aux | grep synaptic" command to find out the process id then issue the "kill" command to kill the process then try:

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

and let us know.

I know what the problem is. The Sun Java Documentation is the clue.

For some dumb reason, Ubuntu is allowed to ship everything but the Sun Java documentation. The Installer has a link to the documentation so it can install it once you manually download the documentation and put it in the /tmp folder and type sudo chown root:root <documentation file>

If you look at the details of the synaptic install it does mention this (but I agree that it is confusing).

You can get the Java documentation here for Java 5 (if that is what you are installing) here:

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp

You'll want the J2SE 5.0 Documentation (make sure to grab the English version).

If you are installing Java 6, you can get the documentation here:

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

You want the Java SE 6 Documentation

Save either of these to /tmp

Then switch to /tmp and type:

sudo chown root:root <name of the documentation file you downloaded>

Then go back to your synaptic installer session (or update session) and expand out the details, there should be a note about hitting Enter.

Do it now and the Sun Java installation will finish and stop hanging your installer.

Thanx!! I'm new to Ubuntu, so I understand some of the above..

I'm not sure how to "save to/tmp"

/tmp I assume is the terminal, but I'm not sure how to "save"..

Thanx!! This is not easy for a "newbie", but I'm getting an education, and it is very interesting!

It's not quite "fun" yet, but I'm working on it!! Thanx again!

The /tmp directory is the directory where your temporary files are stored. Type:

cd /tmp

to get there and have a look around.

Once there, try the:

sudo chown root:root <name of the documentation file you downloaded>

command . . . this changes the ownership of the file to the root user. Try running syaptica gain after that and tell me what you get.

This eventually does become fun! :P

Gottit!! Thanx sooo much!! I finished scrolling terms of agreement by Clicking on "more" and using PgDn!! Simple as that!! WOW ! Now it's getting FUN!

Got the same problem; stupit that a doc file stalls the installer Tx for the tip!
Geert

Hi.

I have a problem that starts like the one described in the beginning of this thread. When running update manager I get the message:

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

And I have no idea of what and how to do. I'm pretty new to Linux so I could use some help. If someone has a clue, I'll write the full details of the story (attempted installation of 4py and skype sms application.

TIA

Jacob

@Jacob

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

Thanks for the advice, Marcobra.

After writing this question I later saw a discussion of the subject somewhere else. Someone said that the problem would be about the Java installation, as the documentation isn't included in the package. I downloaded the file <jdk-6u10-docs.zip> and have tried to 'do something about it'. When I run the Update Manager now, I can do the update (by typing 'no' about the java doc) but the system tells me that the Java documentation file isn't installed. And appearently the file I believe I've downloaded doesn't exist on my computer!!!

The system tells me to download the java documentation file into root.root and then copy it to /tmp. Does that mean that I must have two copies of the file on my computer? (I suppose that root.root in this case means the 'root' folder in 'file system'?

Hope these movice questions aren't driving you all nuts!

Thanks

Jacob

I am new to Ubuntu and Linux. I know it will be a rewarding experience but one major difficulty has been encoutered.

The machine froze up in the course of an update. The net result was that a directory named SQUASHMNT showed up on the list of files. That file contains 143,321 items and it occupies 2.9GB of space.

I read about the "rm" command (terminal) but when that was tried, the response was that "no such file exists" or words to that effect.

Another utility announces that it belogs to the root and I have no permission to change or delete it.

How can that file/directory be deleted.

Thanks