I was trying to uninstall a rpm that I was have minor problems with before making a fresh install. I was not able to freshen or upgrade. When I went to uninstall I got:

error: cannot get exclusive lock on /var/lib/rpm/Packages
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - Operation not permitted (1)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

Why am I getting the message that I cannot get an exclusive lock on Packages? I verified that the files exist.

"Why am I getting the message that I cannot get an exclusive lock on Packages? I verified that the files exist."

When rpm updates the rpm data base it first creates a lock file. This blocks other updates from occuring simultaneously which can corrupt the data base. When the update is finished then rpm deletes the lock file. One possible cause of your problem is that rpm may have created a lock file which was never deleted. So look in /var for a lock file:

find /var -iname "*lock*"

Many programs use lock files. You determine which lock file belongs to which program by the name of the directory that the lock file sits in. If you find a lock file that belongs to rpm, delete it and try your uninstall again.

___________________________________
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Steve Stites

Are you logged in as root? I've found that sometimes trying to remove packages with only user privelages I run into problems like the one you reported. So try logging in as root. If that doesn't work, I have no other ideas. Good luck!

Of course you're supposed to login as root in order to access rights for package removal
& then . . . with system admininistrating power, you'd be even more responsible . . .
a log about what happened earlier on might give us more enlightenment for your support.


Regarding El Basto's question:

> If we're not supposed to eat animals, why did God make them out of meat?

I have a message for you from god: " You have about the same right to eat meat as
monkeys have the right to kill rabbits - zilch. Well so far . . . monkeys were obedient,
the dinosaurs were not . . .