dpkg : status database area is locked by another process while trying to install oper

[Kizamime]

I had downloaded the opera web browser .deb file form their website, because it wasnt in synaptic. I tried to install it in terminal, and I get this: dpkg : status database area is locked by another process
Its really annoying, because it does that with every package I try to install. Apt-get isnt running. Nothing like that is. I need all you smart Ubuntu people to help TT_TT

[aheckler]

That's odd. Try logging out, logging back in, and then installing the .deb file.

[Kizamime]

Just did. Got me nowhere.

dpkg: status database area is locked by another process

I dont understand why its not letting me......

[aheckler]

Paste the output of this please:

ps ax | grep dpkg

[Kizamime]

Okay, nevermind. Got it fixed now ^^. Thanks for the idea, I resarted and fixed some broeken things.

[fibrebiz]

Same problem, different cause.

Terminal was installing the linux mint deb packages but taking MUCH too long so I closed terminal.

ps ax | grep dpkg gives me the following:

4554 ? D 0:00 dpkg -i mint-common_1.0.5_all.deb mintmenu_4.9.9_all.deb mint-translations_2010.02.02_all.deb
4888 pts/1 S+ 0:00 grep --color=auto dpkg

[nutellajunkie]

I have to say, I am getting this exact same problem recently! Has some update screwed around with settigns or something?

Please help us fix this!

[fibrebiz]

Problem solved:

All it took was a simple restart.
After restarting, the lock disappeared, then I was able to remove the package that caused the lock and try installing it again (which worked the second time around).

Though the solution was simple, it's still annoying to have to restart to kill the lock.

[agibby5]

You could also run:

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Then:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

[balaji31d]

@ agibby5 - Great! your solution worked like a charm Thanks!