error message when upgrading through synaptic package manager

pbtest · 08-19-2008, 01:25 PM

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/python-uno_2.0.4.dfsg.2-7etch5_i386.deb: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

I have linux satux and I keep getting the above error message through the synaptics package manager. It tells me I have a broken package which I have tried to repair using the synaptics package manager, without success.

This means that certain programs will not run like K3b.
I am totally new to Linux so please explain how to resolve this simply

m_yates · 08-19-2008, 01:52 PM

What is the rest of the error say?

AwesomeMachine · 08-19-2008, 02:50 PM

Close Synaptic.

In a terminal window, type su, and then enter the root password.

then type

dpkg --purge --force-depends python-uno

Wait until it gets done.
type
dpkg --configure --pending

Answer any questions, open synaptic, and finish what you were doing. And don't select stuff you don't need right now. Dpkg has a tendency to choke if one installs 1500 packages at a time. But do allow synaptic to install the dependencies needed for the packages you select.

m_yates · 08-19-2008, 03:15 PM

The command:

Code:

dpkg --purge --force-depends python-uno

will remove python-uno and ignore the dependency problems in doing so. This will cause problems for openoffice.org-writer, which depends on python-uno. If you plan on using openoffice.org-writer, you should probably re-install python-uno when you are finished upgrading your system.

There should be some more to the error message after "...script returned error exit status 1". The rest of the error message may shed light on what the underlying problem is with the python-uno package upgrade.

pbtest · 08-19-2008, 05:50 PM

Hi all and thank you for your quick response.

Everytime I open the synaptics package manager it tells me I have a broken package, and to fix the broken package, wen I click on fix broken package a message comes up successfully fixed dependency problems.

So firstly how do I access a terminal window?

What is the root password?

Error message details, how can I copy them to here?

Part of error message below

AttributeError:'NoneType'object has no attribute 'remove byte code'dpkg: error processing var/cache/apt/archives/python-uno_2.0.4.dfsg.2-7_i386.deb (--unpack):
subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/python-uno_2.0.4.dfsg.2-7etch5_i386.deb: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error code (1)
A package failed to install.Trying to recover:

Yes I do use openoffice.org, so I need this program.

m_yates · 08-20-2008, 07:17 AM

I'm not familiar with Satux, and it isn't listed on distrowatch. In any event, one way to get to a terminal prompt is by pressing the key combination "ctrl+alt+F1". Log in there using your user name and pass word. Next, you need to become root, or "super user". If you did not set up a root password during installation, satux might use "sudo" to allow normal users to do administrative tasks. Try typing the command:

Code:

sudo su

at the terminal prompt. If "sudo" works, it will ask for a password. Enter your user password, and then you will become root. Then try entering the command:

Code:

apt-get update

followed by:

Code:

apt-get dist-upgrade

Make note of any error messages you see. If you read the error message, it should tell you something about what is going wrong with the "python-uno" package. You can enter the command:

Code:

dpkg --purge --force-depends python-uno

and that will simply remove the python-uno package and purge configuration files associated with the package. You can then try running:

Code:

apt-get dist-upgrade

again to see if you can finish upgrading your system. The "force-depends" option used with dpkg means that it will remove python-uno even if it means breaking some other package. The package "openoffice.org-writer" depends on python-uno, so it you need to re-install python-uno if you want openoffice writer to work properly:

Code:

apt-get install python-uno

If there is an error installing python-uno, make note of it, and post back here. It will be helpful to figure out what the underlying problem is. To return to your desktop from the terminal, press the keys "ctrl+alt+F7". Good luck!

pbtest · 08-20-2008, 09:57 AM

I tried pressing crl+alt+F1, this took me to the satux screen, not a terminal.
When I do find where there is a terminal, how do I find my username and password, as satux was already installed when I purchased the computer?

Thanks for the help

m_yates · 08-20-2008, 10:29 AM

If "ctrl+alt+F1" or "ctrl+alt+F2" doesn't bring up a command prompt, then satux has seriously altered Debian.

OK, an alternate way to get to the command prompt is from the log in screen (I am assuming gdm is used?). On the login screen, you can click on "sessions" and select "failsafe terminal" and you will be logged in at a terminal where you can enter commands as I described above.

The last part of your question confuses me. You do not know your user name or password? I guess that means that you are being automatically logged in? If synaptic is not asking you for a password to run, it means that you are being automatically logged in as "root". This was done by another Debian-based distribution called "Lindows" a few years ago. This is a BAD IDEA!

If Satux is automatically logging you in as root, and not giving you access to a terminal (which it seems to be the case), then this means that you can cause a major screw up of your system (because you are root) and little you can do to fix it (because you don't have a terminal). It is a BAD IDEA!

My suggestion to you is to visit Ubuntu. If you have a fast internet connection, you can download a CD, otherwise you can buy a CD or request a free one. Installing Ubuntu is easy, and you will find a much greater number of Ubuntu users who can help you than Satux users, in case you run into problems.

pbtest · 08-20-2008, 11:30 AM

OK ctrl+alt+F2 gives me a terminal window with a flashing cursor.
Do I now enter in the code as you suggested?

m_yates · 08-20-2008, 12:37 PM

yes. try it.

pbtest · 08-20-2008, 04:05 PM

Ok I can acccess a terminal window, but it asks me for a login: and a password, which I do not have?
I can also log out of satux and go to another screen to access sessions, failsafe terminal, but again it asks me for a login:
And I guess it will ask for a password. Again I don have these.
How can I find them, will they be on the satux recovery disc supplied with the computer? Or somewhere else in the computer files?
Is there a way to resolve this through the synaptics package manager?
Or should I do something else?
I appreciate your time and patience with this, as it is trying my patience that is for sure.
But I need to learn about this linux system.
I look forward to the next replies.

m_yates · 08-20-2008, 04:41 PM

First of all, find out who you are. Try the command:

Code:

whoami

my guess is that it will answer "root", if, as I suspect, your version of linux is automatically logging you in as root. Otherwise, it will tell you a user name that you are running on.

If you are running as root, it is possible that you have no password. Again, this is a BAD IDEA! In any event, you can try logging in with the user name "root" and leaving the password blank. If that works, you can create your own password with the command:

Code:

passwd

There is no easy way to find out what your root password is in the case it is not blank. It is encrypted to keep malicious people from harming your system. If you have a bootable CD like Knoppix, you can delete the root password to make it blank, then create a new password. That route is not easy for someone with no Linux experience, but you can do a search for "lost root password" and find a number of descriptions on how to do it.

If I were you, I'd scrap Satux and install Ubuntu. Ubuntu is pretty easy for new users and has a very large user base with a wide range of skill levels that you can draw on for help.

pbtest · 08-20-2008, 05:04 PM

Ok I have now found the login and password for the terminal, it is satux for both.How simple
that got me in I then entered at the next prompt sudo su, this worked
apt-get update, apt-get dist upgrade I think worked
dkpg -- purge --force-depends python-uno returned the following error
bash:dkpg: command not found

m_yates · 08-21-2008, 06:36 AM

That was a typo. It is "dpkg" not "dkpg".

However, if "apt-get dist-upgrade" returned no error, then your system is up to date. Try logging back in and see if synaptic is still giving an error. You may not need to purge python-uno.

pbtest · 08-21-2008, 02:05 PM

Synaptics package manager was still showing error with python-uno.
I entered the following dpkg -- purge --force-depends python-uno.
And got the following:
dpkg: python-uno: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you request:
openoffice.org-writer depends on python-uno (>=2.0.4.dfsg.2)
(reading database ... 109750 files and directories currently installed)
Removing python-uno ...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/sbin/pycentral", line 1373, in? main()
File "/usr/sbin/pycentral", line 1367, in main
rv= action.run(global_options)
File "/usr/sbin/pycentral", line 953, in run
pkg.remove(runtimes, remove_script_files=True)
File "/usr/sbin/pycentral", line 697, in remove
default_runtime.remove_byte_code(self.private_files)
Atrributeerror: 'None type'object has no atrribute'remove_byte_code'
dpkg: error processing python-uno (--purge):
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing: python-uno
Any ideas please?