Installed Ubuntu 10.10 - Unable to Upgrade or Install Apps

[Arc Angel]

Hi all,

I'm new to Ubuntu. I ran 10:10 off a CD and all was fine.

I've installed onto a Dell XPS M1330 (erasing the drive) and I'm logged in fine.

However, I can't upgrade, install any applications, or drivers. I get the following errors.

SystemError: Failed to lock/var/cache/aprt/archives/lock

When I tried to install GIMP I received the following error:

installArchives() failed: Selecting previously deselected package libgimp2.0.
(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%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package `linux-headers-2.6.35-25-generic-pae': Input/output error

When I tried to install the NVIDIA accelerated graphics drivers I got the following error:

SystemError: InstallArchives() failed

I run an Arts non-profit and we are thinking of using Ubuntu for some of our community programs (we develop creative learning programs in art, music, media) but this has got me stumped.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

The error "SystemError: Failed to lock/var/cache/aprt/archives/lock" suggest you have more that one of the following in use Synaptic Package Manager, Ubuntu Software Center, or apt-get. You can only have one of them in use at a time.


Edit: If you have not updated the index of package before trying to install enter this in a terminal
sudo apt-get update

[Arc Angel]

Thanks for the suggestion:

seraphim@seraphim-XPS-M1330:~$ sudo apt-get update
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en_CA
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release.gpg
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en_CA
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com maverick Release.gpg
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en_CA
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/multiverse Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/multiverse Translation-en_CA
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en_CA
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/multiverse Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/multiverse Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en_CA
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com maverick Release
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main Sources
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/multiverse Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en_CA
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en
Ign http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en_CA
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com maverick/main Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com maverick/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/universe Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Reading package lists... Done

How do I know if Synaptic is running?

When I try to open Synaptic I get the following error:

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

I tried running Synaptic Package Manager to upgrade ....

I got ...

Reading database .... 60%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package 'linux-headers-2.6-35-25-generic-pae': Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:

(then it hangs)

[Arc Angel]

If I try to use Ubuntu Software Centre to install GIMP I get:

installArchives() failed: Selecting previously deselected package libgimp2.0.
(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%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package `linux-headers-2.6.35-25-generic-pae': Input/output error

[arpanaut]

Open a terminal and run: (copy and paste works great)


sudo dpkg --configure -aPost back here if you get more errors.
If not try to install your program again.

[Arc Angel]

ran sudo dpkg --configure -a (OK)

Opened Ubuntu Software Centre

Tried to install a random app (in this case gCalculator)

installArchives() failed: Selecting previously deselected package galculator.
(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%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package `linux-headers-2.6.35-25-generic-pae': Input/output error

[Arc Angel]

Can anyone help with his .....

[dino99]

clean the sources:

sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/*

then into synaptic, choose the "main" server instead of "ca" (it might be down or not updated), then update, upgrade

[Arc Angel]

When I try sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/*

I get:

rm: cannot remove `/var/cache/apt/archives/partial': Is a directory

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

While in synaptic go to the Other Software tab and remove the check next to the entries that have "archive.ubuntu.com" in them.

[Arc Angel]

In both cases, the Entries for Canonical Partners were unchecked.

The entries for Independent (http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu) are checked.

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Run this command in the terminal and post the output of the command so that we can see what repositories you are using
cat /etc/apt/sources.list

[Arc Angel]

Thanks for your help so far. Much appreciated:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release i386 (20101007)]/ maverick main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

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

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

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick main

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
seraphim@seraphim-XPS-M1330:~$

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Get into Synaptic then select "Other..." from the "Download from:" menu. Then click on the "Select Best Server" button. It will take some time for Synaptic to test the servers and give you a suggested server. When it does, click the "Choose Server button". Then follow the instructions to Reload.

It appears that you have used some tutorial for setting up your system; because, some of the repositories you have enabled are not enabled by default. Can you post a link to the tutorial you used?

AND, I am going to go to sleep soon. We must be in different time zones.

[Arc Angel]

Hi,

I haven't used a tutorial, simply installed from a 10.10 CD I burned.

Changed the server in Synaptic.

Downloaded the updates, but when trying to install updates, I got the following errors:

(Reading database ... 60%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package 'linux-headers-2.1.35-25-generic-pae': Input/ourput error

E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:

[steveneddy]

From where did you download this CD from?

Was it from the Ubuntu site?

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

[Arc Angel]

From where did you download this CD from?

Was it from the Ubuntu site?

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Yes, http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

'linux-headers-2.1.35-25-generic-pae'

Linux 2.1.35-25.
:lolflag:

[Arc Angel]

Sorry, typo :)

Reading database .... 60%dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting
failed to read on buffer copy for files list for package 'linux-headers-2.6-35-25-generic-pae': Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:

[Arc Angel]

Any ideas from anybody as to who I can solve this problem?

[Old_Grey_Wolf]

Any ideas from anybody as to who I can solve this problem?

Your original post suggested that you were having problems with a fresh install; however, after looking at your sources.list, it looks like you have been making mods to your system. Some of the repositories in your sources.list are not enabled by default.

Without knowing exactly what you have done to your system, I don't know what to suggest.