Cannot get updates

[Lloydb39]

Using 12.04 on a Dell laptop. There are 47 updates available, the notification says. Update manager won't run and it says I must do "dpkg configure" but when I do it tries to install "bcmwl" and that is the kiss of death for this computer. It always crashes. Is there a way to block that package and get the others I may or may not need? Everything is working fine so I presume I could just keep using what I have without updates? (This situation resulted from a previous fix that solved a problem with the wireless card driver.)

[Frogs Hair]

There is an option to freeze package versions in the synaptic package manager if installed. I don't know the effects on other packages though . Post the out put of of the following terminal command in code tags. You may not be able to install anything with the package system tied up.
sudo apt-get update

[ibjsb4]

I don't know if synaptic will work in your 'dpkg' situation, but you can try to lock the package (http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-lock-package-versions-from-synaptic-package-manager.html).


sudo apt-get install synaptic

[ian-weisser]

The entire exact error message, and any other associated warning and errors, would be helpful.

Are you subscribed to a bcmwl ppa?
Has this kind of issue ever happened before with kernel updates?

If an updated package (likely associated with an updated kernel) is really the issue, then you have two choices:
1) Pin (freeze) the version so future updates will be rejected. This will also prevent future kernel updates.
2) Reinstall your bcm fix after each kernel update in the future.

Which option do you prefer to pursue?

[Lloydb39]

Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release [49.6 kB]
Get:4 http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg [72 B]
Get:5 http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release [49.6 kB]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release
Get:7 http://archive.canonical.com precise Release [7,078 B]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Get:8 http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages [8,935 B]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe TranslationIndex
Get:9 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Sources [415 kB]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner TranslationIndex
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Sources [85.1 kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Sources [2,494 B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Sources [28.0 kB]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Sources [1,803 B]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main i386 Packages [325 kB]
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en
Get:15 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Sources [7,031 B]
Get:16 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Sources [94.6 kB]
Get:17 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Sources [8,358 B]
Get:18 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main i386 Packages [699 kB]
Get:19 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted i386 Packages [4,620 B]
Get:20 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe i386 Packages [84.1 kB]
Get:21 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted i386 Packages [11.4 kB]
Get:22 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe i386 Packages [216 kB]
Get:23 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [14.0 kB]
Get:24 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main TranslationIndex [3,564 B]
Get:25 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex [2,605 B]
Get:26 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted TranslationIndex [2,461 B]
Get:27 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe TranslationIndex [2,850 B]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse TranslationIndex
Get:28 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse i386 Packages [2,633 B]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Translation-en
Get:29 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main TranslationIndex [74 B]
Get:30 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse TranslationIndex [72 B]
Get:31 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted TranslationIndex [72 B]
Get:32 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe TranslationIndex [73 B]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Translation-en
Get:33 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Translation-en [307 kB]
Get:34 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Translation-en [149 kB]
Get:35 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Translation-en [8,064 B]
Get:36 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Translation-en [2,637 B]
Get:37 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Translation-en [125 kB]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe Translation-en
Get:38 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Translation-en [1,299 B]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Translation-en
Get:39 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Translation-en [51.8 kB]
Fetched 2,771 kB in 11s (233 kB/s)
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

[Lloydb39]

install synaptic did this:
lloyd@lloyd-Inspiron-1150:~$ sudo apt-get install synaptic
[sudo] password for lloyd:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

[Lloydb39]

"The entire exact error message, and any other associated warning and errors, would be helpful.

Are you subscribed to a bcmwl ppa?
Has this kind of issue ever happened before with kernel updates?

If an updated package (likely associated with an updated kernel) is really the issue, then you have two choices:
1) Pin (freeze) the version so future updates will be rejected. This will also prevent future kernel updates.
2) Reinstall your bcm fix after each kernel update in the future.

Which option do you prefer to pursue?"

I really don't know what all that means. I guess freeze the version sounds best. How would I accomplish that? The bcm fix< i think, was to blacklist bcmwl and do "bcm 43 mod" and a few other things (detailed in an earlier thread marked "solved" in the wireless forum).
I appreciate the suggestions, guys, even those I don't understand.

[ian-weisser]

Try the command sudo dpkg --configure -a and show us the result.

[Lloydb39]

Interesting. This time when I did dpkg configure it didn't crash. Apparently it updated. BUT, I immediately lost all access, wireless and wired. I had to reboot and roll back to an earlier version to get it to work on Ethernet, which is where I am now. Here's the output from the dpkg command:
Setting up bcmwl-kernel-source (6.20.155.1+bdcom-0ubuntu0.0.1) ...
Loading new bcmwl-6.20.155.1+bdcom DKMS files...
First Installation: checking all kernels...
Building only for 3.2.0-51-generic
Building for architecture i686
Building initial module for 3.2.0-51-generic
Done.

wl:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/3.2.0-51-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod.....

DKMS: install completed.
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up fakeroot (1.18.2-1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/fakeroot-sysv to provide /usr/bin/fakeroot (fakeroot) in auto mode.
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-51-generic

[Lloydb39]

Also, I think I gave you inaccurate information previously. What I blacklisted was not bcmwl but the driver for a USB wireless device I was using when I was not able to use the BCM4306 card. They were in conflict. I must have done something in resolving all that to preclude updates.

[ian-weisser]

I really don't know what all that means.

It means that the kernel handles hardware compatibility. Many hardware manufacturers contribute code to the kernel so their devices work perfectly with Linux, and many users never have any problems with hardware (like wireless).

Some manufacturers, however, refuse to contribute their linux drivers, or refuse to update them. Since that compatibility cannot be included in the kernel, you must manually add that functionality yourself later...like making a Broadcom wireless card work.

When you upgrade your kernel, any changes you made to the older (working) kernel are lost.
This means that your finally-working hardware will suddenly stop working. That should seem familiar to you.

To prevent kernel upgrades from revering (breaking) your hardware, you can freeze (pin) your kernel version. This will prevent a new kernel from being installed. However, it also means that you will prevent kernel-related security updates, and you won't be able to upgrade to the next version of Ubuntu. Pinning is generally considered a temporary solution.

The more robust -but somewhat annoying- solution is to re-apply the fix each time you upgrade the kernel. This can be scripted so it's not onerous. This means you can upgrade the kernel as much you wish, and you can upgrade to newer versions of Ubuntu.

The best solution, of course, is for hardware manufacturers to contribute code to the kernel, so their devices work without any fiddling at all.