What is polkit.subject-pid and do I need it?

[vinnywright]

yes...

O your output only shows

[FONT=monospace]sudo apt-get  dist-upgrade[/FONT]

not

sudo [COLOR=#ff0000]apt-get update[/COLOR] && sudo apt-get  dist-upgrade

the part in red is necessary as well

VINNY

[GregM]

I just did both again just as you wrote it

[vinnywright]

I just did both again just as you wrote it

you "should " be good ,,,,you should now do

sudo apt-get clean

and then

sudo apt-get autoremove --purge

the first will clean out the package cache of downloaded packages ,,,the second will remove the old kernels and their configs (--purge)

VINNY

[GregM]

The first command didn't do much that I can tell so I ran it a couple times to makes sure.
The second command did do a bunch of stuff...

greg@greg-OptiPlex-990:~$ sudo apt-get clean
[sudo] password for greg:
greg@greg-OptiPlex-990:~$ sudo apt-get clean
greg@greg-OptiPlex-990:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove --purge
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-headers-4.10.0-28* linux-headers-4.10.0-28-generic* linux-headers-4.10.0-32* linux-headers-4.10.0-32-generic* linux-image-4.10.0-28-generic* linux-image-4.10.0-32-generic* linux-image-extra-4.10.0-28-generic*
linux-image-extra-4.10.0-32-generic*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 8 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 616 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 309411 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-4.10.0-28-generic (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.10.0-28 (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.10.0-32-generic (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.10.0-32 (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
Removing linux-image-extra-4.10.0-28-generic (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-35-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-35-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-32-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-28-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.10.0-28-generic (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
Removing linux-image-4.10.0-28-generic (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-35-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-35-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-32-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.10.0-28-generic (4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-28-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-28-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-4.10.0-32-generic (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-35-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-35-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-32-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.10.0-32-generic (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
Removing linux-image-4.10.0-32-generic (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-35-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.10.0-35-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.10.0-32-generic (4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.10.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.10.0-32-generic
greg@greg-OptiPlex-990:~$

[vinnywright]

you will not see any output for the "clean" command it just deletes every thing in /var/cache/apt/archives (this is where downloaded packages are kept for installation),,the second one removes (uninstalles ) every thing listed on the upgrade output as "autoremoveable"

you just freed up a few hundred MB of space

you should keep the commands assessable to you (they are in the Konsole history now and you can use the "up"arrow key to scroll through it ) and run them as a periodic process .

VINNY

[claydoh]

Meanwhile, while the terminal was doing all this I got the message again and it looked like this

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7238[/ATTACH]

I think we are not looking at the dialog box fully.

Here, it appears that something has called for a software update, which requires an admin password.
What this is showing is that the processes polkit.subject-pid and polkit.caller-pid are being called or utilized to have the system prompt a non-root user for their sudo password to allow the update to happen.

polkit , formerly called policykit, is the subsystem that allows non-root things to gain temporary admin privileges to happen (among other things), not the thing that is being installed.

Basically everything below the password box is TMI for most everyone.

[GregM]

It is still doing it and I keep saying ok and giving my password.
When it's done it says it was successful

[GregM]

It has to do with Language support (It said it was incomplete) I tried a couple things and we'll see if that took care of it

[mr_raider]

Understand that from my perspective, the last time I did this command, FF went to hell and I have spent the last two days trying to get back to where I was.
Not saying this command is responsible, but if you do something one day and the next day you are hit with disaster it makes you a little gun shy.
Computer operating systems are not my hobby, so I have to ask question once in a while.

Might I introduce you to the -s parameter? S is for simulation. Run it as

sudo apt dist-upgrade -s

To see what happens, before committing.

I did the dist upgrade and this what happened...

greg@greg-OptiPlex-990:~$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

94 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Look at the last line in the output. It tells you what will happen. Here nothing is being removed. Usually packages are upgraded or new ones are installed. If it tries remove a package, or it's holding back packages, that's a sign to pay attention. It may be normal, but it can be a sign of dependency issue.

No blind upgrades, always read the output of your command lines.

[oshunluvr]

Good point mr_raider. Always good to know all the options.

One I use all the time is "apt list --upgradable". This lists all upgradable packages after running update.

In fact, I have set an alias for "update" to do 'sudo apt update; sudo apt list --upgradable' in my bash_aliases file so I just type "update" and my sudo password.

[GreyGeek]

Two days getting back? 16-24 hours?
Use Btrfs. Make snapshots of @ and @home (takes a few seconds) before any update or packagechange.
If things break it takes less than 5 minutes to do a rollback. If things work out the either keep the snapshots, or delete them and make new ones.
There is no reason to take hours or days to reverse a tragedy when one can run on Btrfs.