Ubuntu Wants to Reboot After Every Package Installation

[freeware.preacher]

I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 and every time I install a program (either from the center or from the terminal), my power button turns red telling me I have to restart to complete the update and I get an error message saying:

Package operation failed. The installation or removal of a software package failed.

Details>

installArchives() failed: Selecting previously deselected package python-bluez.
(Reading database ... (Reading database ... 5% (Reading database ... 10% (Reading database ... 15% (Reading database ... 20% (Reading database ... 25% (Reading database ... 30% (Reading database ... 35% (Reading database ... 40% (Reading database ... 45% (Reading database ... 50% (Reading database ... 55% (Reading database ... 60% (Reading database ... 65% (Reading database ... 70% (Reading database ... 75% (Reading database ... 80% (Reading database ... 85% (Reading database ... 90% (Reading database ... 95% (Reading database ... 100% (Reading database ... 213516 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking python-bluez (from .../python-bluez_0.18-1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package gtkwhiteboard.
Unpacking gtkwhiteboard (from .../gtkwhiteboard_1.3+dfsg-5.2ubuntu1_all.deb) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Processing triggers for python-gmenu ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/desktop.en_CA.UTF8.cache...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for menu ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for python-support ...
Setting up linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (2.6.35-22.35) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
Not updating initrd symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Not updating image symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 2.6.35-22-generic

* bcmwl (5.60.48.36+bdcom)...
...done.
* virtualbox-ose (3.2.8)...
...done.
* nvidia-current (260.19.06)...
...done.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
/etc/default/grub: 23: Syntax error: newline unexpected
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 2
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Setting up python-bluez (0.18-1) ...
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
Processing triggers for python-central ...
Setting up gtkwhiteboard (1.3+dfsg-5.2ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for menu ...
Processing triggers for python-central ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic
localepurge: checking for existence of /var/cache/localepurge...
localepurge: checking for existence of /var/cache/localepurge/localelist...
localepurge: checking system for new locale ...
localepurge: processing locale files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/locale: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing man pages ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/man: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing Gnome files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/gnome/help: 8 KiB
localepurge: processing Omf files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/omf: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing KDE files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/doc/kde/HTML: 0 KiB

Total disk space freed by localepurge: 8 KiB

localepurge: checking for existence of /var/cache/localepurge...
localepurge: checking for existence of /var/cache/localepurge/localelist...
localepurge: checking system for new locale ...
localepurge: processing locale files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/locale: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing man pages ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/man: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing Gnome files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/gnome/help: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing Omf files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/omf: 0 KiB
localepurge: processing KDE files ...
localepurge: Disk space freed in /usr/share/doc/kde/HTML: 0 KiB

Total disk space freed by localepurge: 0 KiB

Setting up linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (2.6.35-22.35) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
Not updating initrd symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Not updating image symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 2.6.35-22-generic

* bcmwl (5.60.48.36+bdcom)...
...done.
* virtualbox-ose (3.2.8)...
...done.
* nvidia-current (260.19.06)...
...done.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
/etc/default/grub: 23: Syntax error: newline unexpected
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 2
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2

The program was clearly installed, and when I reboot, the red power button goes away.

What's wrong?

[sikander3786]

The problems lies here.

Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic.postinst line 1010.

Try this from terminal and post the output.

sudo dpkg --configure -a

And here

/etc/default/grub: 23: Syntax error: newline unexpected

Post the contents of your /etc/default/grub file by,

gedit /etc/default/grub

[yetiman64]

....

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

@ sikander3786, rather than the OP opening that file in a root editor just for accessing the contents for posting (the potential for accidental changes is very high), maybe the command,

cat /etc/default/grub

would be better. btw gedit is a graphical application and as such the use of "gksudo" is also recommended. Link #4 in my sig, "Graphical Sudo" section explains why. Hope this is of some help.

Edit: or even just consider removing the sudo as there is no need to actually edit the file, just to open it "read only"

[sikander3786]

@ sikander3786, rather than the OP opening that file in a root editor just for accessing the contents for posting (the potential for accidental changes is very high), maybe the command,

cat /etc/default/grub

would be better. btw gedit is a graphical application and as such the use of "gksudo" is also recommended. Link #4 in my sig, "Graphical Sudo" section explains why. Hope this is of some help.

Edit: or even just consider removing the sudo as there is no need to actually edit the file, just to open it "read only"

Ahhh. I keep on making that mistake. Feeling a bit heavy headed due to work load overnight. Thanks for pointing out. Just updated the code in above post.

[yetiman64]

You're welcome,

[freeware.preacher]

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Setting up linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (2.6.35-22.35) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
Not updating initrd symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Not updating image symbolic links since we are being updated/reinstalled
(2.6.35-22.34 was configured last, according to dpkg)
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 2.6.35-22-generic
* bcmwl (5.60.48.36+bdcom)... [ OK ]
* virtualbox-ose (3.2.8)... [ OK ]
* nvidia-current (260.19.06)... [ OK ]
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 2.6.35-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
/etc/default/grub: 23: Syntax error: newline unexpected
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 2
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic

My power button also prompted me to reboot.

cat /etc/default/grub

# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
#GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=>>1204x768-24<<,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=" vga=769"

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xe fefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=>>1204x768-24<<

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

Thanks for the help guys, this i why I love the Linux community.

[sikander3786]

Edit /etc/default/grub by,

gksudo gedit /etc/default/grub

Comment this line with # at start

GRUB_GFXMODE=>>1204x768-24<<

So it looks like

#GRUB_GFXMODE=>>1204x768-24<<

Save and close. Now update your grub.cfg by,

sudo update-grub

Now try to reconfigure the packages.

sudo dpkg --configure -a

I hope it reports no errors this time.

Note: You can always have custom resolutions for your Grub menu. Commenting that line means that it will revert to its defaults. I have never tweaked Grub resolution. If you want to, you can change the line to

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768

instead of commenting it and later run update-grub.

More info here.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Grub2#grub%2...efault/grub%29

[freeware.preacher]

Yeah... Well, at first I did that, and I couldn't boot, as my Ubuntu Desktop entry was removed from grub. I had to boot from my install CD to recover it.

One line had to be changed too:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

When I rebooted and ran

grub-update

everything worked fine.

All in all, I'm happy, but a lesser geek might have spazzed.

Thanks guys!