im running the new version of ubuntu 6.01 i think. I saw that ubuntu was cacheing .deb files after i installed pkgs so like the idiot i am, i rm -rf /var/cache/apt/archives and now when i try to apt-get anything i get this error

apt-get install kolourpaint
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
kdelibs-bin kdelibs4c2 netpbm
Suggested packages:
khelpcenter
Recommended packages:
perl-suid
The following NEW packages will be installed:
kdelibs-bin kdelibs4c2 kolourpaint netpbm
0 upgraded, 4 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
E: Could not open lock file /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (2 No such file or directory)
E: Unable to lock the download directory


not sure how to correct this, but any help would be nice.

thx
digsby

Got another instance of apt running, or maybe synaptic or some other GOOEY tool
looking at installing software?

Check
lsof | grep "/var/cache/apt/archives/lock" and see which process holds it.


Cheers,
Tink

If I understood, the OP has erased the directory, so I think no process has it opened? (the lsof will tell if some process has a nonexistent file open, so do what tinkster said)
I would (as root):
and maybe this
edited

mkdir -p /var/cache/apt/archives/partial allowed me to use apt again. Trying to touch the file only said it wasnt there.

thx a ton
digsby