exclusive lock on management package

[bruce_m]

Please help:

I can't get an "exclusive lock" on kpackagekit. I'm running Kubuntu 10.10 and it has been working great, but now I can't update packages.

I can't delete /var/lib/dpkg/lock for whatever reason (I'm the only user on my computer).

any suggestions?

many thanks!

[arochester]

All package managers use only one database, so you can only use one package manager at a time e.g. apt-get, Aptitude, Synaptic, Update manager or Kpackagekit. So if you are trying to access more than on at a time it says that it cannot get an exclusive lock.

Another problem might be broken packages, incomplete installs or not fully updating.

Connect to the internet. Open a Terminal and try each of the following commands in turn:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get update

After this try Kpackagekit again. If you still get error messages tell us, in full, what they are.

Tip: You do not need to type commands into the Terminal. Highlight the command written on the web page. Move your cursor anywhere in the Terminal and press your mouse wheel or mouse middle button. Automatic Copy and paste! No spelling mistakes! No Typos! No other errors!

[bruce_m]

thanks for your reply!

I tried what you said and everything went smoothly (auto remove did free up some space), except with 'sudo apt-get update' I got this message:

Err https://launchpad.net maverick/main i386 Packages
The requested URL returned error: 404
W: Failed to fetch https://launchpad.net/~openoffice-pkgs/+archive/ppa/dists/maverick/main/binary-i386/Packages.gz The requested URL returned error: 404
E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

When I open Kpackagekit (only package manager open) I get the same 'exclusive lock on backend' message:

E: Error https://launchpad.net maverick/main i386 Packages
The requested URL returned error: 404

what next?

thanks in advance,
B)

[arochester]

If you click on the blue links you have give, indeed they show that the connection does not exist - https://launchpad.net/~openoffice-pkgs/+archive/ppa/dists/maverick/main/binary-i386/Packages.gz

Have you got a ppa in your sources list for OpenOffice that is now outdated?

Copy and paste your sources list here so we can see it.

To open your sources list open Konsole Terminal Program and issue the command:
kdesudo kate /etc/apt/sources.list

[bruce_m]

here's the list:

# deb cdrom:[Kubuntu 10.04 LTS _Lucid Lynx_ - Release i386 (20100427)]/ lucid main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick universe
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick universe
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates universe
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick multiverse
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick multiverse
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates multiverse
deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ maverick partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ maverick partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security multiverse
#disabled on upgrade to maverick
deb https://launchpad.net/~openoffice-pkgs/+archive/ppa/ maverick main
#Thirdparty developers repository
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main

[Snowhog]

here's the list:


#disabled on upgrade to maverick
deb https://launchpad.net/~openoffice-pkgs/+archive/ppa/ maverick main


Comment (add the # ) to the line above, save and close, then run in a console:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

[arochester]

+1

Make the line look like this:
# deb https://launchpad.net/~openoffice-pkgs/+archive/ppa/ maverick main

[bruce_m]

awesome, thanks! it worked, everything is back to normal.

couple of questions:
will i still get updates for Openoffice?
where is the best resource to learn more about working with a console & different commands & understanding kubuntu?

[arochester]

Yes, you will still get upgrades for OpenOffice through repository - but not through the PPA because there is nothing there now. Sometimes there is news that , say, OpenOffice has just upgraded to version x. There can be a delay until that upgrade appears in repository. Most often there will be instructions around about how to upgrade immediately. It is not a critical thing, however.

Occasionally you should run:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade (Why do I feel that this command has changed? Perhaps someone will correct me.)

A dist-upgrade is not an upgrade to the next version of Kubuntu. There is an explanation of it here: http://ubuntulinuxtipstricks.blogspot.com/2010/02/dist-upgrade-misnomer-confusion.html


where is the best resource to learn more about working with a console & different commands & understanding kubuntu? A tricky question to give a good answer to. I remember being at College and studying "The Sociology of Information". It can take years to publish a book, it takes less time to produce a magazine and *buntu marches on with new versions every 6 months. How can people properly catch up?

To some extent you need to follow Ubuntu which has better resources AND learn the subtle differences between that and Kubuntu. Here is a small suggestion. #1 is already years out of date but still worth it...

1) Download the Linux Starter Pack - http://www.tuxradar.com/linuxstarterpack
2) Look at the UNOFFICIAL Ubuntu Guide - http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Maverick
3) Look at the UNOFFICIAL Kubuntu Guide - http://kubuntuguide.org/Maverick
4) Look at Psychocats - http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu
5) Download the Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference - http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html
6) Download Ubuntu 10.4 Manual - http://ubuntu-manual.org/
7) Look at this part of the Forum - http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?board=53.0
particularly:
a) HOWTO find Kubuntu's manual / reference / guide / documentation / help
b) Top 20 Kubuntu FAQs & Answers

If this answers your questions on this post please edit it and mark it [Solved]

[bruce_m]

thanks for being generous with your help, i'll certainly follow up your leads!

:)