can't install software due to dependencies/broken/held packages
 

Hi, I have spent quite some time looking into this last week, and again today.
I'm running Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela 64-bit.

I have been through loads of threads on the Ubuntu, LM forums and now on here and nothing I have tried helps.

I think it would be best to remove a load of software and start again as I can't install some programs errors with unmet dependencies or held or broken packages. I have spent hours going through posts trying this that and the other and nothing has helped.

I have QGIS 2.8 installed and working fine except for the GRASS/GDAL(?) toolbox integration. I tried to download SAGA GIS & GRASS but get the problem with dependencies etc. There seems to be a lot of interdependence on PyGIS, and GDAL/OGR et al, between these programs I'd like to upgrade to QGIS 2.18 anyway, so maybe a clean sweep is in order? Or how can I find and purge all the bits its not happy with ?

I have previously added repositories as per QGIS & SAGA instructions.

How do I go about removing all traces of these and starting afresh?
Many thanks

what exactly did you try?
you need to show us, complete commands, complete output.

also please post the output of

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond.

Hi, I have spent well over 10 hours on this,over a period of a week or so and I now have no idea what I've tried I'm afraid - all I know is that nothing has worked.

I know I tried this: Synaptic->Custom Filters->Broken to see what appears to be broken. I get nothing from that, not even a "no results" response, so I can't tell if it's working

Thanks

jonathan@GIS ~ $ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for jonathan:
Ign http://archive.canonical.com trusty InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty InRelease
Hit http://repo.steampowered.com precise InRelease
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com trusty Release.gpg
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates InRelease [65.9 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com trusty Release
Hit http://repo.steampowered.com precise/steam Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com trusty/partner amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://repo.steampowered.com precise/steam amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.canonical.com trusty/partner i386 Packages
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main amd64 Packages [925 kB]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com trusty/partner Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://repo.steampowered.com precise/steam i386 Packages
Ign http://repo.vivaldi.com stable InRelease
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security InRelease
Ign http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela InRelease
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela InRelease
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://repo.vivaldi.com stable Release.gpg
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty InRelease
Hit http://repo.vivaldi.com stable Release
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://repo.vivaldi.com stable/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://repo.vivaldi.com stable/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela Release.gpg
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela Release.gpg
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted amd64 Packages [16.4 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted amd64 Packages
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe amd64 Packages [389 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe amd64 Packages
Hit https://deb.opera.com stable InRelease
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit https://deb.opera.com stable/non-free amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages [14.0 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela Release
Hit https://deb.opera.com stable/non-free i386 Packages
Get:6 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main i386 Packages [883 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela Release
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release.gpg
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted i386 Packages
Ign https://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Translation-en_GB
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/main amd64 Packages
Get:7 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted i386 Packages [16.2 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Ign https://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Translation-en
Get:8 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe i386 Packages [390 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Get:9 http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [14.5 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/upstream amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty Release
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net trusty/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/import amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/main Translation-en
Ign http://repo.vivaldi.com stable/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com trusty-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com trusty/universe Translation-en
Ign http://repo.vivaldi.com stable/main Translation-en
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/main i386 Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/upstream i386 Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/import i386 Packages
Ign http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela/main Translation-en
Ign http://repo.steampowered.com precise/steam Translation-en_GB
Ign http://repo.steampowered.com precise/steam Translation-en
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/import Translation-en_GB
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/import Translation-en
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/main Translation-en
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/upstream Translation-en_GB
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela/upstream Translation-en
Fetched 2,714 kB in 5s (476 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done

How did you install those packages? Did you add any additional repos?

Thanks, This is one of the puzzling things - I haven't been able to install GRASS & SAGA (which is what I'm trying to do) However, they share stuff that is beyond my current understanding (possibly python & GDAL/OGR libraries). I think I've seen PyGIS mentioned in one of the dependencies/held/broken packages, but don't know what to do about it and I thought my (functioning) QGIS relied on that too.

I have added a number of PPA's, the GIS ones are in red:

$ grep -P '^[ \t]*[^#[ \t]+' /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/foobnix-team-foobnix-player-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/foobnix-tea...-player/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/foobnix-team-foobnix-player-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/foobnix-tea...-player/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list:deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/johanvdw-saga-gis-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/johanvdw/saga-gis/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/johanvdw-saga-gis-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/johanvdw/saga-gis/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/linuxgndu-sqlitebrowser-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/linuxgndu/sqlitebrowser/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/linuxgndu-sqlitebrowser-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/linuxgndu/sqlitebrowser/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mc3man-trusty-media-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mc3man/trusty-media/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/mc3man-trusty-media-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/mc3man/trusty-media/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/nilarimogard-webupd8-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nilarimogard/webupd8/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/nilarimogard-webupd8-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/nilarimogard/webupd8/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela main upstream import #id:linuxmint_main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela main #id:linuxmint_extra
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty main restricted universe multiverse
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list:deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ trusty partner
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list:deb https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free #Opera Browser (final releases)
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/shutter-ppa-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/shutter-ppa-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list:deb [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list:deb-src [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/teejee2008-ppa-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/teejee2008-ppa-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/teejee2008/ppa/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntugis-ubuntugis-unstable-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntugis/u...nstable/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntugis-ubuntugis-unstable-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntugis/u...nstable/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-x-swat-x-updates-trusty.list:deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-x-swat-x-updates-trusty.list:deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu trusty main
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list:deb http://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main

If you want to remove packages, you can
I'm not a GIS expert, and I'm not sure how different (or similar) the Ubuntu's PPA to the official QGIS repo? You can try the official repo, maybe?

Thanks for this.

If I remove the known/high-profile packages, will the dependencies get removed as well? I want this to happen.

Then when all packages I'm aware of are removed, do this?

apt-get update
apt-get install <the-package>


Thanks


Apparently the official repo lags behind the ones I added - the official QGIS etc websites tell one to add these.

Stumped.
 

Hours of reading, trying stuff & still no nearer. Including...

I removed those (GIS-related) PPAs with sudo rm -i, re-added them (eg sudo add-apt-repository ppa:johanvdw/saga-gis )
updated
sudo apt-get update

then removed as many packages as I knew of:

sudo apt-get --purge remove qgis python-qgis qgis-plugin-grass
sudo apt-get install qgis python-qgis qgis-plugin-grass saga

Trouble is, there are loads of threads on this & related stuff, but they're all a bit out of date, or plain just don't work (for my situation?).

I'm back to square one after another 13 hours... I have to say Windows 7 has never, in the four years that I've been on Linux, looked so attractive...especially coupled with the display problems I'm having https://lqo-thequestionsnetw.netdna-...s/confused.gif

I'll try to help.

Can you let us know what is/isn't working? What do you expect to see? Screen shots, maybe?

c0wb0y, thank you very much, much appreciated.
Habitual, thanks too.

Just realised that the broken/held packages have gone, at least!
And I'm just running a GRASS algorithm, so it appears to be working. Not entirely sure what action(s) sorted it though. Didn't help that there's been a major interface and architecture shake-up between versions.

I'm not sure if I'm out of the woods, but it looks like it.
I've got some work catching up to do now...
Thanks again

That's welcome news!
Glad it is working out.

^ 12 jurors; 1 judge; ½ a chance ?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.