Probelms with Ubuntu Software Center

[kurotmiedignat]

Hi,
I haven't installed ubuntu on my hard disk yet but yesterday i began using Ubuntu11.10 from my usb stick. I managed to install flash player on my ubuntu. However, i had some problems with my battery and therefore my PC had a messy shutdown. Ever since, i could not start Ubuntu Software Center. I need this program because I need to reinstall Flash Player. I don't know why but apparently the installation wasn't permanent. Meanwhile, i have tried typing

sudo apt-get upgrade

and I got this message:

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (22: Invalid argument)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (22: Invalid argument)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

I have done some research on the Internet and I found a site that suggested deleting some lock files. So, I have tried doing:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/dpkg/lock': Invalid argument
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock
rm: cannot remove `/var/cache/apt/archives/lock': No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/lock': Invalid argument

As you can see, I had some problems. Then, I found another site that said that probably these files are still in use cause my PC didn't terminate well. However, I am having problems on locating these processes. This is what I get when I do:

ps -ef
UID PID PPID C STIME TTY TIME CMD
root 1 0 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/init
root 2 0 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [kthreadd]
root 3 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:01 [ksoftirqd/0]
root 6 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [migration/0]
root 7 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [migration/1]
root 9 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [ksoftirqd/1]
root 11 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [cpuset]
root 12 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [khelper]
root 13 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [netns]
root 15 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [sync_supers]
root 16 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [bdi-default]
root 17 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [kintegrityd]
root 18 2 0 09:20 ? 00:00:00 [kblockd]
root 19 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [ata_sff]
root 20 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [khubd]
root 21 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [md]
root 23 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [khungtaskd]
root 24 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [kswapd0]
root 25 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [ksmd]
root 26 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [khugepaged]
root 27 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [fsnotify_mark]
root 28 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
root 29 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [crypto]
root 37 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [kthrotld]
root 166 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_0]
root 182 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_1]
root 185 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_2]
root 188 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_3]
root 204 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/u:3]
root 205 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/u:4]
root 222 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [ttm_swap]
root 251 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [scsi_eh_4]
root 253 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:01 [usb-storage]
root 491 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [loop0]
root 704 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:01 [loop1]
root 901 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [flush-7:1]
root 902 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [flush-8:16]
root 2314 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
syslog 2323 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 rsyslogd -c5
root 2333 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 udevd --daemon
103 2356 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:02 dbus-daemon --system --fork --activation=upstart
root 2370 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/modem-manager
avahi 2396 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 avahi-daemon: running [ubuntu.local]
avahi 2403 2396 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
root 2471 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 NetworkManager
root 2489 2333 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 udevd --daemon
root 2496 2333 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 udevd --daemon
root 2526 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
root 2576 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [kpsmoused]
root 2630 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 upstart-socket-bridge --daemon
root 2698 1 0 09:21 tty4 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
root 2702 1 0 09:21 tty5 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
root 2724 1 0 09:21 tty2 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
root 2726 1 0 09:21 tty3 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
root 2729 1 0 09:21 tty6 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
root 2784 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 acpid -c /etc/acpi/events -s /var/run/acpid.socket
root 2802 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 lightdm
root 2812 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 cron
root 2813 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:01 /usr/sbin/irqbalance
daemon 2844 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 atd
root 2872 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [hd-audio0]
root 2962 2802 6 09:21 tty7 00:04:48 /usr/bin/X :0 -auth /var/run/lightdm/root/:0 -nolisten tcp vt7 -novtswitch -background none
root 3148 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --no-daemon
root 3149 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/bluetoothd
root 3221 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [l2cap]
root 3231 2 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 [krfcommd]
ubuntu 3300 2726 0 09:21 tty3 00:00:00 -bash
ubuntu 3301 2702 0 09:21 tty5 00:00:00 -bash
ubuntu 3303 2724 0 09:21 tty2 00:00:00 -bash
ubuntu 3304 2729 0 09:21 tty6 00:00:00 -bash
ubuntu 3305 2698 0 09:21 tty4 00:00:00 -bash
root 3318 2471 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/dhclient -d -4 -sf /usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action -pf /var/run/dhclient-e
root 3376 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/sbin/cupsd -F
root 3462 1 0 09:21 tty1 00:00:00 /bin/login -f
ubuntu 3720 3462 0 09:21 tty1 00:00:00 -bash
root 3770 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/accountsservice/accounts-daemon
ubuntu 3859 2802 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 gnome-session --session=ubuntu
ubuntu 4141 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session --session=ubuntu
ubuntu 4144 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session --session=ubuntu
ubuntu 4145 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:26 //bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 8 --print-address 10 --session
ubuntu 4188 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
ubuntu 4198 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs//gvfs-fuse-daemon /home/ubuntu/.gvfs
ubuntu 4211 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:06 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-settings-daemon
ubuntu 4212 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=pkcs11
root 4221 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
ubuntu 4298 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:02 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
ubuntu 4300 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gsd-printer
ubuntu 4304 3859 5 09:21 ? 00:04:03 compiz
ubuntu 4306 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver --no-daemon
colord 4308 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/colord/colord
ubuntu 4314 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:02 syndaemon -i 0.5 -K -R
ubuntu 4317 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:17 nautilus -n
ubuntu 4318 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 nm-applet
ubuntu 4319 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
ubuntu 4322 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 bluetooth-applet
ubuntu 4324 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --log-target=syslog
rtkit 4326 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
ubuntu 4329 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/gnome-fallback-mount-helper
ubuntu 4335 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-monitor
ubuntu 4340 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/notify-osd/notify-osd
root 4343 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
root 4345 4343 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr0 /dev/sdb
ubuntu 4355 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor
ubuntu 4359 4324 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/pulseaudio/pulse/gconf-helper
ubuntu 4361 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-monitor
ubuntu 4365 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/d-conf/dconf-service
ubuntu 4370 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spawner :1.1 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/0
ubuntu 4378 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
ubuntu 4381 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-burn --spawner :1.1 /org/gtk/gvfs/exec_spaw/1
ubuntu 4389 4304 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /bin/sh -c /usr/bin/compiz-decorator
ubuntu 4390 4389 0 09:21 ? 00:00:04 /usr/bin/unity-window-decorator
ubuntu 4396 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:03 /usr/lib/bamf/bamfdaemon
ubuntu 4399 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:08 /usr/lib/unity/unity-panel-service
ubuntu 4406 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-datetime/indicator-datetime-service
ubuntu 4407 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-application/indicator-application-service
ubuntu 4411 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-messages/indicator-messages-service
ubuntu 4415 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-session/indicator-session-service
ubuntu 4418 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicator-sound-service
ubuntu 4439 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/geoclue/geoclue-master
ubuntu 4446 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 telepathy-indicator
ubuntu 4450 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/telepathy/mission-control-5
ubuntu 4457 3859 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-disk-utility/gdu-notification-daemon
ubuntu 4463 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/unity-lens-applications/unity-applications-daemon
ubuntu 4466 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/unity-lens-files/unity-files-daemon
ubuntu 4467 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/unity-lens-music/unity-music-daemon
ubuntu 4498 1 0 09:21 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/unity-lens-music/unity-musicstore-daemon
ubuntu 4541 1 14 09:22 ? 00:10:06 /usr/lib/firefox-7.0.1/firefox
ubuntu 4563 3859 0 09:22 ? 00:00:00 update-notifier
ubuntu 4594 3859 0 09:23 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/deja-dup/deja-dup/deja-dup-monitor
root 4620 1 0 09:24 ? 00:00:00 /sbin/mount.ntfs /dev/sda1 /media/FA90D83290D7F35D -o rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=999,g
root 4637 1 0 09:24 ? 00:00:01 /sbin/mount.ntfs /dev/sda5 /media/82EAA3D4EAA3C2B1 -o rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=udisks,uid=999,g
ubuntu 4689 1 0 09:30 ? 00:00:09 banshee /usr/lib/banshee/Banshee.exe
ubuntu 4800 1 0 09:36 ? 00:00:22 gnome-terminal
ubuntu 4806 4800 0 09:36 ? 00:00:00 gnome-pty-helper
ubuntu 4807 4800 0 09:36 pts/0 00:00:00 bash
root 4943 1 0 09:38 ? 00:00:00 dbus-launch --autolaunch=8bd83eaef851cc3013d033440000001a --binary-syntax --close-stderr
root 4944 1 0 09:38 ? 00:00:00 //bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 5 --print-address 7 --session
root 4949 1 0 09:38 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/d-conf/dconf-service
root 5025 2 0 09:51 ? 00:00:03 [kworker/0:2]
root 5173 2 0 10:16 ? 00:00:03 [kworker/1:1]
root 5195 2 0 10:21 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/1:2]
root 5199 2 0 10:23 ? 00:00:01 [kworker/0:0]
root 5206 2 0 10:27 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/1:0]
root 5211 2 0 10:28 ? 00:00:00 [kworker/0:1]
ubuntu 5215 4807 0 10:31 pts/0 00:00:00 ps -ef


I am afraid of killing important processes so I am asking for help. Do you recognize which processes should be killed or is this approach to resolving the problem completely wrong??? :'(

Thx in advance :)

[raja.genupula]

Hi man

open your terminal and then do this


sudo fuser -k -KILL /var/lib/dpkg/lock

then try again

[kurotmiedignat]

I tried it but I still can't delete the files. (Invalid argument). Ubunutu Software Center doesn't seem to be working either.

[kurotmiedignat]

I have another question: Do I really need Ubuntu Software Center to install Flash Player, cause when i am supposed to download it I am asked to choose an application to open Adobe with. The only application that is suggested is Ubuntu Software Center. However, can I install it without using Ubuntun Software Center???? Thx in advance

[raja.genupula]

I have another question: Do I really need Ubuntu Software Center to install Flash Player, cause when i am supposed to download it I am asked to choose an application to open Adobe with. The only application that is suggested is Ubuntu Software Center. However, can I install it without using Ubuntun Software Center???? Thx in advance

Hi man

go with this

https://launchpad.net/~sevenmachines/+archive/flash


all the best

[moldaviax]

its always worth making a recovery system on a usb key if you have one. Do you have a usb key handy so that you could make it a live usb with whichever ubuntu version you are running with? Perhaps you could at least access the software centre that way?

M.

[kurotmiedignat]

I tried what the site said but this is what I obtained:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 8, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
ImportError: No module named softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 111, in apport_excepthook
os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREAT|os.O_EXCL, 0o600), 'w')
OSError: [Errno 22] Invalid argument: '/var/crash/_usr_bin_add-apt-repository.0.crash'

Original exception was:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 8, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
ImportError: No module named softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 8, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
ImportError: No module named softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties
Error in sys.excepthook:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport_python_hook.py", line 111, in apport_excepthook
os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREAT|os.O_EXCL, 0o600), 'w')
OSError: [Errno 22] Invalid argument: '/var/crash/_usr_bin_add-apt-repository.0.crash'

Original exception was:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 8, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
ImportError: No module named softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties

Do you think that permanently installing ubuntu would fix the problem??

And thx very much for your help so far!!!:p

[kurotmiedignat]

Well that is definetly not a bad idea
:)

[kurotmiedignat]

What I am going to do is delete this ubuntu from my USB stick and then reinstall it. Maybe I will get lucky the next time