E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
 

Hi,

Hope I have this in the right spot, know how frustrating it can be for Administrators when it isn't

so after a decade of not using Linux and my utter disgust over the egomanical Microcrap, chose to get back into using Linux and similar operating systems.

Tried Ubuntu...I was as impressed with this as Linuxmint...as in I wasn't...so thought I'd give Debian 8 a shot.


got it going,but this is what i get everytime I try to install packages via terminal. even after going in and killing any related processes.

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)

E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?


plenty of subjects with this error, but none fitting my particular circumstances...and your wiki section is less than useful on this one...it tells me what i already know...except how to fix it.

was there something in the original installation I should've included when it asked what components to install, or is it something entirely different? either way, need it get it resolved asap.

Thanks :)

Only the superuser, a.k.a. "root", can install software. If you are root, tell us what potential causes you have ruled out. Also, what processes are you killing?

no,I wasn't root, once i figured that one out, main problem was quickly resolved...i had tried originally to google switching to root or superuser, but 1st 3 pages were Ubuntu oriented and i'm still catching up on the similiarities if any between it and Debian where Terminal commands are concerned, as Sudo definitely doesn't work(unless you can activate it in Debian...god, haven't felt this Newbish since I was 8 lol)

it was an apt process, can't remember now anything more specific...gotta get some sleep, been up for 3 days too long lol