Can't start synaptic package manager

[ubto66]

ubuntu 12.04
running on a usb memory stick
lxde

Several times I have used synaptic package manager in order to remove older
kernels, and it has worked every time.
I use a procedure I found on the internet.

This time synaptic package manager would not open and I got an error message.
Info:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

I do not understand the message, and I do not know how to resolve it.

Thanks, if you could tell me what to do.

Remark: The error occurred after updating to the latest kernel, and I have restarted.

[QIII]

An update was interrupted and things are in an odd state.

In the terminal, do

sudo dpkg --configure -a

and press enter. Enter your password carefully when prompted. It will appear as though nothing is happening when you type. This is a normal safety feature.

The update process should continue and finish and things should be normal thereafter.

[kc1di]

hi ubto66,

The error message conatains the answer:
go to a terminal and run the following command

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Then run the following also:

sudo apt-get autoclean 
sudo apt-get clean

try to start synaptic from the same terminal with

sudo synaptic

if it opens fine if not post any error messages you receive here

[ranger1021994]

You might have broken packages or you might have interrupted some installation process.

Try :

sudo dpkg --configure -a

[ubto66]

Thank you for all the answers.
You were right. It was an error regarding the last updating.
I tried to update again, and though it said something about update errors
in the terminal, during the update procedure, it finished updating and know
synaptic package manager runs.

[kc1di]

Glad you got it going
when you have a moment please mare thread as Solved - thanks

[dkolars]

hi ubto66,

The error message conatains the answer:
go to a terminal and run the following command

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Then run the following also:

sudo apt-get autoclean 
sudo apt-get clean

try to start synaptic from the same terminal with

sudo synaptic

if it opens fine if not post any error messages you receive here

Just ran into this problem, and wanted to say that this fix WORKED... autoclean hung the first time, but I ran clean, then autoclean and I'm back in business... I would attempt to open Synaptic PM or Ubuntu Software Center, it would flash on the screen, then disappear... NOW it works. Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Danke, Mahalo!!