Software Centre authentication error

**swarfega** · December 29th, 2012

Hi all.

First apologies if this is posted in the wrong area.

I recently installed Ubuntu 12.10. I have since added a few repositories while installing various software.

However when I try to install anything from Software Centre I get the following error:

Software can't be installed or removed because the authentication service is not available. (org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.Error.Failed: ('system-bus-name', {'name': ':1.68'}): org.debian.apt.install-or-remove-packages

Can anyone help me remedy this please.

**fantab** · December 29th, 2012

Welcome!

From the Terminal run the following command while connected to internet:

Code:

$ sudo apt-get update

And then post the output you get here.

Also tell us what Ubuntu you are using.

EDIT: Close "software center" and 'update manager' if they are running, before you run the above command.

**swarfega** · December 29th, 2012

Thanks for getting back to me.

Here is the output from update: http://pastebin.com/41KbfkNG

Im using Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit.

Software I've installed so far includes amarok, nvidia drivers, kde desktop, kkmail, google chrome, vlc, kvirc for starters.

**fantab** · December 29th, 2012

Do you have any incomplete installations? Looks like it to me. From the Terminal run:

Code:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

Update UBUNTU using Update-Mangager.

Then check with The Software Center to see if its working again. If yes good. If not then, From terminal run:

Code:

$ sudo apt-get update 
$ sudo apt-get install idle3

**swarfega** · December 29th, 2012

I followed the instructions and it installed a few python packages.

But I'm still getting the following in software Centre:

Software can't be installed or removed because the authentication service is not available. (org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.Error.Failed: ('system-bus-name', {'name': ':1.88'}): org.debian.apt.install-or-remove-packages

notice the slight difference in the name numeric.