Can't install/upgrade software

[alles_klar]

Re: Can't install/upgrade software

I'm afraid I'd be heading down the re-installation path,

Ok. Any special instructions about this. Do I reboot, run the live CD and install over the old one using the same partitions?

although it sure would be nice to know how the combination of tar and package manager got so dysfunctional. Did you observe anything strange, like a power interruption or something, around the time that it stopped working correctly?

No, nothing like taht. Actually yes, during the original install, my laptop shut up in the middle because the temperature was running too high. THis might be the cause of the problems. We reinstalled over that without problems, but who knows.

[jankushka]

Re: Can't install/upgrade software

it's all my fault...

we're just better over here, period.

i shouldn't have written this one!!!

now...
if your linux still boots we might try and recover it.
dpkg stuff will have to be on the live/desktop cd somewhere, i think...
it won't be straightforward, though.

if you have critical data on the linux file system you can try and back it up somehow.
working from the live/desktop cd, for example, if your linux doesn't come up anymore.

possibly, re-install is the easiest/fastest way to go now.


EDIT:
sorry...didn't see you already are about to reinstall.
yeah, i'd say, just reinstall it over the old partition.

[alles_klar]

Re: Can't install/upgrade software

Thanks guys.

It's getting late here in Germany. I want to do this tomorrow morning when I have more time and not being so tired.

[dibl]

Re: Can't install/upgrade software

If you didn't make a separate hard drive partition for "/home" the first time, I would do that this time you install Kubuntu -- the data and software settings in that partition can be kept intact and re-used when it is separate from the OS partition "/". It is very helpful to have those software settings when you set up your packages again.

As far as installing Kubuntu, I like the "Alternate Install" CD better than the Live CD -- it allows more visibility and control over the process.

I think that laptop thermal shutdown while you were installing corrupted something in dpkg -- hopefully you can avoid such a problem this time.

I hope "all is clear" .......

[alles_klar]

It's working



On my first install, i got a temperature interruption again. So on this cool morning I opened all windows and elevated by laptop unto a couple books to let the air flow underneath. That worked and the install went fine the second time.

Next I installed Firefox and it worked great. I'm really happy now and ready to do real work on my linux box.

Like I said before it's so much faster and I'm really happy.

Thanks a whole lot to you guys for helping me out. Kudos from me to each who helped in this thread. You guys do better than tech support at any company.

And yes, dibl, 'Alles Klar' now. ;-)

Jan, I really like how you suggest the commands but also explain what they do and their purpose.

ALl the best.