all package managers disappeared from Kubuntu 16.10 installation

[PJJ]

This is weird. I have the latest version of Kubuntu 16.10 installed with the latest updates.
I am updating via Terminal commands.

Synaptic is installed, but not loading and nowhere to be found.
Muon (or whatever it is called right now) is also not showing in the application launcher.

Command line attempts to call or install Synaptic result in 'package' not found.

Does anyone have an idea what could cause this strange behavior, please?

Otherwise, the Kubuntu is running well.

Thanks.

[Snowhog]

If Synaptic is in fact installed, then it will run. Click on an empty area of the Desktop and then just start typing: synaptic and it should be identified by Krunner and you can just press Enter to launch it.

By default, Muon Discover (or is it Plasma Discover) is the (not a) package (not a) manager. To install the Muon Package Manager, in a konsole type: sudo apt update && sudo apt install muon

[PJJ]

Thank you for the information.
I tried synaptic on the desktop. It does not work. Just sits there.
I know synaptic is installed or at least was installed.

Tried 'sudo apt --configure -a' ( not sure about the correct command) and got an error message indicating that there is no configuarion file.

But the machine boots and works on everything I use on a daily basis.
Planning to upgrade to 17.04 Beta1.
Would that replace the missing file(s)?

[PJJ]

Of course, it is 'dpkg' and not apt. But still, does not do anything.
When attempting to open synaptic I get an error that claims that certain files in 'cache' are missing or cache itself.

[clivejo]

Muon Discover was split out and is now called plasma-discover, the Muon package manager was un-maintained for a while and was broken, but recently received a bit of love and attention, you can install it:

sudo apt install muon

The screen shot below is Muon Package Manager running in Zesty

[stephen46710]

Hi all,

to show all packages listed, open Konsole and paste (type) the following command:

apt list --installed

It will list everything in alphabetical order so just scroll down.

If Synaptic isn't installed, use the following command:

sudo apt-get install synaptic

[PJJ]

Thank you for the productive suggestion.
It produced a long list of items - but no synaptic or muon or anything else of that ilk.

I checked out the error message I get when I click on the desktop icon for synaptic. It says in essence that ./usr/share/applications/synaptic.desktop is not there.
Indeed, it is not.

But I know I had synaptic installed. The desktop icon proves it.

Furthermore, 'sudo apt-get install synaptic' does not work.
It claims that no package of that name is found but that 'synaptic' is mentioned in another package. Unfortunately, ho hint as to what that package might be.

I decided to upgrade to 17.04 Beta1. If that does not work because of the missing stuff in my 16.10 installation, I will just do a clean install from my USB version. Tested it and it works just fine.

Thanks again to all who contributed to this thread.

[Snowhog]

Show us the content of your sources.list file.

[clivejo]

You must have universe disabled or something. Both muon and synaptic are there!

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/yakkety/+source/synaptic
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/yakkety/+source/muon