LinuxQuestions.org - Unable to get exclusive lock

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mbs	06-07-2009 01:21 PM

Unable to get exclusive lock

I am no longer able to install anything from limewire to Miro. In the add/remove applications, I get

"Unable to get an exclusive lock
This usually means that another package management application (like apt-get or aptitude) is already running. Please close that application first."

I have tried restarting, killing other applications like update manager, but every command leads to:

E: could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

jamescondron

06-07-2009 01:31 PM

Code:

ps aux |grep dpkg

ps aux |grep apt

ps aux |grep synaptic

What exactly did you try to fix this?

Tinkster

06-07-2009 01:32 PM

lsof | grep /var/lib/dpkg

mbs	06-07-2009 02:57 PM

well it looks like whatever you two gave me worked, I was able to install a program.

However my theme seems to have been messed up from it. I now see windows with a "windows 95" looking gray theme. However I have a custom window boarder from emerald working. Strange.

But thanks for the help :)

Tinkster

06-07-2009 03:03 PM

Heh.

Neither james' nor my commands have anything to do with
fixing your issue(s). They're merely means of diagnostics;
james' trying to locate potential active culprits, mine simply
looking at which process has handle(s) on the locked file.

Cheers,
Tink

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