removing half installed package
 

Hi,

I was trying to install acroread using apt-get but half-way through downloading the package, there was a problem connecting to the mirror where I was fetching the package. In fact, the site from which I am downloading the package is rather unstable, so I decided to switch to a different source. However, when i try to install the same program again with a different source, i get the error:

Package acroread is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package acroread has no installation candidate

I tried to remove the package using dpkg -r but it gives me an error:
dpkg - warning: ignoring request to remove acroread which isn't installed.

So, what is the correct way of removing a package or a half-installed package?

The new mirror you switched to doesn't provide the acroread package....most likely due to legal reasons.

Let me give you the way, I looked for a apt-get tutorial what I retain are:
--apt-get can only handles .deb packages
--it is recommended to reconfigure the /etc/apt/sources.list before installing acroread
you nned to add repository that is suitable for you. Then run: apt-get update to sync your database with Debian's one.
==apt-get install acroread
--there are 3 packages trees: Sarge, Eich and Sid

to fix broken packages type :

apt-get -f install

if you want to remove acroread then type :

apt-get remove acroread

Yeah,

I think linux-rulz is right. The mirror doesn't provide the acroread package. But I was just wondering. Where does all this .deb package gets downloaded to? How can I view and delete them?

they are stored in /var/cache/apt/archives/ and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/

and you could either delete them or type : apt-get clean

you can get acroread from this source:

add this line to your /etc/apt/sources.list

apt-get update
apt-get install acroread

It should work fine... BTW from what I see you hadn't installed acroread at all. It is in data base because ot was mentioned by some other packages...

Anyway when you do not have something in official repositories try to seach at

www.apt-get.org

thanks everyone for your advice. I did as was told and now I have acroread loaded just fine.:)

FWIW, if you don't really need the repository for acroread (or any other one time install like opera); it is probably easier to use dpkg:[list=1][*]D/L the the .deb to the dir of your choice.[*](poss. optional) su to root.[*](recommended) cd to <dir>.[*]Run 'dpkg -i <package>.deb'[*](if nec.) Fix your menus.[*]Stash, cache, or trash the .deb (Sorry, couldn't resist the alliteration.) [/list=1]Don't ask me what the easy way to fix the menus is, I haven't learned it yet. Perhaps someone would be so kind as to post...