how to unlock a a lock after a failed install (SOLVED)

[kevinorourke2008]

Hi guys, I tried to install dropbox and it failed leaving me with a problem.
I am using ubuntu 12.04 lts on my acer aspire 1
I have tried to correct the problem by opening up synaptic package manager but it just keeps on telling me that another program is using it. I tried the pasted suggestion below but this is all that comes up.

sudo apt-get install -f
[sudo] password for kevin:
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

I looked in the /var/lib/dpkg and there is a file which is locked in there ! I am stumped as to where to go from here.

Any suggestions ??? :)

[ibjsb4]

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

[fantab]

E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

This error is usually reported when we try to run two apt-gets... like you may have the 'Software Updater" or Synaptic open and you try to use apt-get in the terminal. If you are doing so then don't and run only one apt-get application at one time.

If not, then use the command in the above post by ibjsb4, then run 'apt-get update', if it doesn't work then report back with the output of apt-get update.

[kevinorourke2008]

Hi fantab,
I did as you suggested and I have posted the results below !

kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
[sudo] password for kevin:
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ apt-get update
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$

[ibjsb4]

Reboot, then try an update and see if you get the same results.

[kevinorourke2008]

ok will do

[kevinorourke2008]

Hi ibjsb4,
I shut down and restarted, and did the same again, here are the results.

kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
[sudo] password for kevin:
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ apt-get update
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$

[ibjsb4]

That is:

sudo apt-get update

[kevinorourke2008]

Hi ibjsb4,
Slightly different output this time ! I tried doing the "sudo dpkg --configure -a" and it says downloading, it goes to 100% and then stops doing anything ?

kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
[sudo] password for kevin:
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$ sudo apt-get update
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
kevin@kevin-AOA150:~$

cheers Kev.

[ibjsb4]

Open your "System Monitor" and go to processes. Look for any package manager or packager updater that is open, like software center, update manager, synaptic. If you find any, highlight it and use the "Kill" option. Then update.

[kevinorourke2008]

hi ibjsb4,
I tried what you suggested and there are both "aptd" and 2 x "dpkg" open when I try to kill them this is what happens.

Cannot kill process with pid 2665 with signal 9.
Operation not permitted.

[Bashing-om]

kevinorourke2008; Hi !

How about trying to get some more info on what is locking up "dpkg"
terminal codes:

sudo lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo apt-get check
just try'n to help

[JPKnowMad]

lsof: WARNING: can't stat() fuse.gvfsd-fuse file system /run/user/jpknowmad/gvfs
Output information may be incomplete.
COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
dpkg 2790 root 3uW REG 8,1 0 2883723 /var/lib/dpkg/lock



I'm having the same problem and thats what I got

[JPKnowMad]

I was in the middle of an upgrade from 12.04 when my comp shutdown. I downloaded the 12.10 iso and tried to burn it to USB but i'm getting errors with that too. I went into terminal to do sudo apt-get update and upgrade but it keeps getting hung on the stupid nautilus dropbox thing. It reaches 100% and then nothing happens after that. Software center isn't acting right either. I think if I can just get past this dropbox issue and finish the upgrade, I can get my USB creator to work and start with a clean install

[ibjsb4]

So originally this is a version upgrade from 12o4 to 12.10 that went bad? Thats too bad. I have tried in the past to help others with this type of problem and have not once succeeded. Perhaps someone else will come along with a fix, but as far as I am concern you must backup you personal files and do a fresh install.

Sorry for the bad news :(

[Bashing-om]

@JPKnowMad;
Try this;
rerun the lsof command again to make sure that the PID is the same;
then run this code:

ps aux | grep <that PID> ##confirmation of the process
kill -9 <that PID>

for example only:

ps aux | grep 3322
kill -9 3322
Now can you do the updates ?

hope this helps

[kevinorourke2008]

SOLVED, I gave up and reinstalled the operating system. Everything works fine now.

[Bashing-om]

kevinorourke2008; Hey ,

That is one solution that always works !


all's well that ends well