[SOLVED] Debian won't install .DEBs

Lorax · 12-13-2009, 03:43 PM

Hi again, friends!

I'm using Debian 503 Lenny, Gnome.
My machine, She-Beast, is a 2001 Compaq Presorry-o, 1100GHz Celery.

With every, that is, E V E R Y, attempt to install any .deb, it fails.
When I 2x click on the .deb icon, or when I r-click -->Open with archive manager,
I get a dialog window:
"Could not open "(filename).deb". Archive type not supported."

If I use root terminal, dpkg -i, similar responses come up.

evo2 · 12-13-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorax

If I use root terminal, dpkg -i, similar responses come up.

Can you please post the exact command you type and the exact error message?

Cheers,

Evo2.

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 03:58 PM

Hi Lorax,

Dude, don't tell me that your She-Beast is still not rocking like it should

You've got some weird things happening on your side. Like evo2 said, post the results that you get when trying to install a package.

Kind regards,

Eric

Lorax · 12-13-2009, 04:03 PM

For example:

Quote:

LORAXNETWORK:~/Desktop# dpkg -i install_flash_player_10_linux.deb
dpkg: error processing install_flash_player_10_linux.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
install_flash_player_10_linux.deb

Thanks evo. Hey Eric!

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 04:06 PM

Are you in the directory where the package is when executing that command? Looks like you downloaded the package for example in directory Downloads and you're trying to execute the command from, for example your home directory.

If the package is in the Downloads directory then cd into that directory and then execute the dpkg command or :

Code:

dpkg -i /full/path/tofilename.deb

Kind regards,

Eric

Lorax · 12-13-2009, 04:12 PM

The .deb is on the Desktop. Do I still need the full path, if my prompt is in the Desktop directory?

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 04:13 PM

If the deb is on your Desktop and you open a terminal then you are in your home directory. Try:

Code:

cd Desktop
dpkg -i yourpackagename.deb

in a terminal.

Kind regards,

Eric

Lorax · 12-13-2009, 04:16 PM

Btw Eric,
I am having a few problems here. Eventually I will have a novel, with chapters:

I still can't access other partitions,
I can't play any media files

and other amazing stories...

worm5252 · 12-13-2009, 04:17 PM

Never hurts to use 'pwd' to find out where you are, or to use 'ls' to make sure the file is there.

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 04:18 PM

Well, you know where to find me and how to reach me, but I'll be a bit more 'unavailable' the coming weeks as you know. Anyway it's always a good idea to post all problems here too, so other users can have a go at solving it too. I'm sure there are some pretty good witchhunters hanging around here that can lift the curses that are bestowed upon your She-Beast.

Kind regards,

Eric

evo2 · 12-13-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worm5252

Never hurts to use 'pwd' to find out where you are, or to use 'ls' to make sure the file is there.

And don't forget the miracle of <TAB> completion :-)

Evo2.

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 04:20 PM

About the 'other partitions' issue, you're referring to the ntfs partition, right? Did you unmount it and remount specifying filesystem type as ntfs-3g?

Kind regards,

Eric

Lorax · 12-13-2009, 04:21 PM

Yea,
I have tried, from home,
dpkg -i filename.deb

and, from LORAXNETWORK:~/Desktop# (as above),
dpkg -i filename.deb

brianL · 12-13-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorax

I can't play any media files...

For that, see this:

http://debian-multimedia.org/

Follow the instructions on there, then you can browse through Synaptic and grab what you need.

EricTRA · 12-13-2009, 04:23 PM

Also Lorax, please post the output of

Code:

df -h

to make sure that 'full' filesystem isn't causing your problem.

Kind regards,

Eric