error: cannot get exclusive lock on /var/lib/rpm/Packages error: cannot open Packages

inward_eye · 08-24-2003, 02:34 PM

im trying to uninstall gaim so i can install a newer version. but when i type rpm -e gaim this error message comes up.
[matthew@HEADACHE matthew]$ rpm -e gaim
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
[matthew@HEADACHE matthew]$
What does this mean?

leonscape · 08-24-2003, 02:44 PM

are you root user, when you typed it?

david_ross · 08-24-2003, 02:45 PM

You will need to be logged in as root to add or remove packages. su to root then try again:
su -
# Then enter you root password
rpm -e gaim

inward_eye · 08-24-2003, 03:07 PM

thanks. it worked.