Announcement

**SteveRiley** · Feb 08, 2013, 02:02 AM

Cool, you have Internet access. I'd like you to try that tool I mentioned in step #50:

Code:

sudo apt-get install pastebinit

After it installs, run these two commands:

Code:

pastebinit /var/log/apt/history.log

for i in /var/log/apt/history*gz; do zcat $i | pastebinit; done

This will upload every package management history file on your computer to Ubuntu's pastebin site. The second command may take a little while; it's a short script that iterates through every .gz file in the subdirectory. You might have several, I don't know. Each iteration will output the URL of the pastebinned file to the sceen.

Once the command prompt returns, take another photo and post here. Then I can look at the uploaded files and try to find out where breakage occurred.

**SteveRiley** · Feb 08, 2013, 02:31 AM

Originally posted by judedawson View Post

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your continued follow up with me

Am eager to get to the bottom of this...
Symphony practice - wow....what instrument do you play?

TBH, I love trying to solve these little mysteries.

---------

I play French horn. Specifically, this here quirky example:

A fine piece of mid-1970s East German engineering from Hans Hoyer; even stamped "Made in GDR" on the leadpipe. The fifth valve lowers the pitch of the horn 1/2 or 3/4 step (depending on the position of the fourth valve). Why? It's common to see portions of music marked "stopped," which means to close the right hand and completely cover the bell opening. This produces an edgy, buzzy sound, more interesting than an ordinary mute. Players with normal horns have to transpose the notes written on the page, because closing the bell this way alters the pitch. My cheater "stopping valve" adds the correct length of tubing to eliminate the need to transpose.

I have recently begun playing in the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra; they needed a sub for the next concert and I get called pretty frequently for that kind of thing. My usual gigs are the Seattle Symphonic Band and the Seattle Civic Band. One time last spring I spent a Saturday in a recording studio, playing in an orchestra assembled to record music for a local film. That was a lot of fun!

**judedawson** · Feb 08, 2013, 09:36 AM

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the good news that I have working internet with a direct CAT5 connection

The following are my observations with regard to Step#76 & #50;

1. Output for command

Code:

sudo apt-get install pastebinit

and

for command

Code:

pastebinit /var/log/apt/history.log

are shown in the attached screen-shot1.

2. Outputs for command

Code:

for i in /var/log/apt/history*gz; do zcat $i | pastebinit; done

and

from Step#50, outputs for command

Code:

for i in /var/log/lightdm/*; do echo -n "$i - "; sudo pastebinit $i; done

are shown in the attached screen-shot2 (it's a little blurry, though...).

Attached Files

Screenshots_080213.pdf (1.26 MB, 2 views)

**judedawson** · Feb 08, 2013, 09:43 AM

Hi Steve,

The french-horn is truly a unique brass-instrument and not many choose it as their weapon-of-choice

Thanks for sharing the picture of the beautiful shiny instrument

It must be really cool to play with a symphony orchestra, I imagine...

From,
Jude

**SteveRiley** · Feb 08, 2013, 10:04 PM

Well, that upgrade you performed on 1 Feb 2013 at 3:35 PM wreaked havoc on your machine. Quite a number of packages got removed. Curiously, they're all from Kubuntu-related PPAs for 12.04, not 12.10. Mixing PPAs for different releases can result in systemwide breakage. APT, the package management system for Debian and its derivatives such as Ubuntu, will not permit broken packages to exist on a system. Irresolvable version conflicts can result in the removal of many packages. Did you add any PPAs or change software sources or do anything else package-related on or before the fateful day?

Please run these two commands:

Code:

pastebinit /etc/apt/sources.list

tail -n +1 /etc/apt/sources.list.d/* | pastebinit

Reply here with the two URLs that pastebinit returns.

----

In fourth grade I started playing trumpet, never got very good. In eighth grade I switched to horn. It works much better for me. Got pretty good, won lots of contests, decided to make it a career, got accepted into some schools, chose one. Then realized I didn't have the desire to practice 12 hours a day, which you really need to do if you even want to think of auditioning for one of the top orchestras or land a spot in a pit orchestra on Broadway (my preference). Put the thing away when I got married in 1992 and didn't touch it until after I left Microsoft in 2009. So now I do community concert bands and orchestras. I prefer bands, really, because there's more to play.

**judedawson** · Feb 09, 2013, 12:13 AM

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info, that explains a lot!

Yes, I did re-select some PPAs & software sources that fateful day... luckily I noted it down here early on in Step#5 (thanks, Vinny

)

I am not sure of the exact names of the PPA. I do remember roughly what they were:
1. 3rd party software supported by Ubuntu & Canonical.
2. KDE updates for Oneiric (from your inspection of the history logs, I know now it was for 12.04)
3. KDE backport updates for Oneiric (or something like that... - (from your inspection of the history logs, I know now it was for 12.04).

So, your observations are consistent with what I had done that day. Cool...

OK, moving on to today's tests;

1. Output for command

Code:

pastebinit /etc/apt/sources.list

is URL

Code:

http://paste.ubuntu.com/1627692

2. Output for command

Code:

tail -n +1 /etc/apt/sources.list.d/* | pastebinit

is URL

Code:

http://paste.ubuntu.com/1627697

----------------------

You mentioned practicing 12hrs a day - it reminded me of when I was studying the classical piano in my youth. I got to Grade 7 (ABRSM-UK)but didn't finish it. I remember practicing scales for an hour a day & then another hour on technical proficiency & skill - everyday. I was never really good at it but good enough to carry a tune. Eventually moved to guitar - got myself an Ibanez electric 10 years ago & applied my piano training to the 6-string. Still working on my guitar-skills. I recently 're-discovered' my interest for the 'ivory-keys' and find myself slowly drawn to it again as I get older...Am blessed now because I get to use my sills aquired on the keys & 6-string for my church worship band where I play electric rhythm-guitar, keyboards & do vocals. Sweet...

From,
Jude

**SteveRiley** · Feb 09, 2013, 01:31 AM

Your sources.list file shows that you're running Quantal. However, the additional repositories pointed to by the files in sources.list.d contain the origin of your problems.

First, we can eliminate from consideration a number of these files -- APT reads only files ending with .list, so the .list.save and .list.distUpgrade files aren't doing anything. Next, we can eliminate lines beginning with the pound sign, which signifies a comment and means the line is skipped by the parser. Third, we can ignore the repositories for Dropbox, Google Talk, and OpenLP, as these won't contain packages that conflict with the operting system. That leaves us with:

Code:

==> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-backports-natty.list <==
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/backports/ubuntu/ precise main

==> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-ppa-natty.list <==
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/ppa/ubuntu/ precise main

==> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list <==
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ quantal free non-free

I include Medibuntu because I don't know it well enough to immediately dismiss it as non-problematic, but since I don't hear of complaints regarding Medibuntu packages, let's set that one aside, too. Now we're down to two. Can you spot why they might be a problem?

You are still telling APT to grab Kubuntu updates and Kubuntu backports from Precise, and these should instead be from Quantal. This forces APT, the underlying package management system that supports Muon, to make some pretty tough decisions -- decisions that aren't always palatable -- in an effort to not completely break your system. I'm not surprised that you can boot into text mode without problem. It's your desktop that's been forced into an unfortunate state of malfunction.

Ideally, I'd recommend reinstalling the operating system at this point, so that you know you have a clean base. However, it probably isn't absolutely necessary. Instead, we can bring back the parts that are missing.

Tidy up your software sources. Run each of these:

Code:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list.save

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list.distUpgrade

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-backports-natty.list

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-backports-oneiric.list

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-ppa-natty.list

Clean out your local package cache:

Code:

sudo apt-get clean

Update your package index files:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

All that's left to do is reinstall Kubuntu.

Now then -- I admire your persistence here and your obvious desire to learn. Otherwise, you wouldn't be taking so much time as I walk you through this rather detailed discovery process. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't want to perform the reinstall without first taking a look at the output of a simulation. So let's do that first. Run the following:

Code:

apt-get --simulate install --reinstall kubuntu-desktop | tee /dev/tty | pastebinit

This bit of commandline-fu runs APT in simulation mode, which displays on the screen everything that would happen if you ran it for real, but actually installs nothing. The redirection stuff in the middle grabs the output of the simulation and sends it to our friend pastebinit. I'm having you do it this way so you can simultaneously watch the output while the information goes to the pastebin. Omitting the | tee /dev/tty | portion would also work, but you'd see nothing on the screen in the process. The simulation run could take a little bit of time, so this way you won't get annoyed just staring at an unmoving screen.

When the command finishes, the last line before the command prompt will be yet another Ubuntu pastebin URL. Let me know what that is and I'll take a look. I'm pretty certain it'll be exactly what we need.

**judedawson** · Feb 09, 2013, 10:11 PM

Hi Steve,

That explains why my kubuntu-desktop is borked! Man, I need to be more careful with PPA upgrades...

OK, moving on to today's activity;

1. Outputs for commands

Code:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list.save
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list.distUpgrade
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-backports-natty.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-backports-oneiric.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubuntu-ppa-ppa-natty.list
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update

all run smoothly without any error messages.

2. Outputs for command

Code:

apt-get --simulate install --reinstall kubuntu-desktop | tee /dev/tty | pastebinit

run as it should (I think).

The last 2 lines of the outputs are;

Code:

E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
http://paste.ubuntu.com/1631952

Thanks again, Steve.

Almost there, almost...
_______________________

I discovered this useful compilation of Linux command-lines today & wanted to share it with command-line newbies like myself;

http://www.cheatography.com/davechil...-command-line/

It is by no means exhaustive but I must say, it is a comprehensive list.

From,
Jude

BTW: Gong Xi Fa Chai to those celebrating the Chinese New Year

**judedawson** · Feb 11, 2013, 08:13 AM

Hi Steve,

Hope you had a great weekend

I was wondering if there's any good news from the logs of the most recent pastebinit output in step#83.

Thanks so much

From,
Jude

**judedawson** · Feb 12, 2013, 06:20 AM

While awaiting Steve's follow-up, I took a look at the pastebinit output. From just reading the text, I'm guessing that it checks out OK & that we're ready for the next step.

Am I right, guys?

Also, is the correct command-line to install;

Code:

sudo apt-get --reinstall kubuntu-desktop

or is it just;

Code:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

<14/02 - Checked an earlier posted thread of a similar problem & confirm it's the second command that's correct>

Thanks, guys.

From,
Jude

**judedawson** · Feb 14, 2013, 09:06 AM

OK, I've come this far & the only thing left is to install the kubuntu-desktop.

Have decided to go ahead with it tomorrow night & see what happens - I've gotta try...

**SteveRiley** · Feb 14, 2013, 12:32 PM

Hey! Sorry, it's been one of those weeks where free time is scarce.

In looking at your pastebin, all those "is not going to be installed" messages indicate that APT detects a dependency resolution problem. So no, you aren't OK. We need more information on what's causing the holds. Please show the output of:

Code:

apt-get -s install --reinstall systemsettings

**judedawson** · Feb 15, 2013, 08:28 AM

Hi Steve,

Thanks for making the time to follow up on my problem

I was getting a little nervous after receiving no updates on the forum these past few days...

The output for command

Code:

apt-get -s install --reinstall systemsettings

is shown in the attached screenshot.

What does it mean that I 'have held broken packages' and what are they?

Thanks again, Steve.

From,
Jude

Attached Files

Screenshot_150213.pdf (810.8 KB, 6 views)

**judedawson** · Feb 18, 2013, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by judedawson View Post

The last 2 lines of the outputs are;

Code:

E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
http://paste.ubuntu.com/1631952

Based on the instructions in step#87, I took a closer look at my post for step#83. Line32 of the pastebinit output states that 'kubuntu-desktop' depends on 'systemsettings' (among SEVERAL other packages) which will not be installed.

So, then, when I re-look at the output screen-shot for step#87, it states that 'systemsettings' depends on 'kde-runtime' which will not be installed.

After some searching the net for the answer to my questions in step#88, I discovered this post in the Ubuntu Forums:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2110102

Step#5 of that post suggests deleting the dependant package.

So, my question now is - would it help if I deleted 'kde-runtime'

Code:

sudo apt-get purge kde-runtime

and from

Code:

/var/cache/apt/archives

via nano

and finally, re-install systemsettings;

Code:

sudo apt-get install systemsettings

Would this, then, bring me closer to a successful reinstall of kubuntu-desktop?

Your comments and feedback are much appreciated.

From,
Jude

**judedawson** · Feb 20, 2013, 03:27 AM

Uninstalled & reinstalled 'kde-runtime' only to have a similar issue with having 'held broken packages'. For 'kde-runtime', the held packages are as follows:

Code:

Depends: plasma-scriptengine-javascript (= 4:4.9.4-0ubuntu0.1) but 4:4.9.5-0ubuntu0.1~ubuntu12.04~ppa1 is to be installed
Recommends: kubuntu-debug-installer but it is not going to be installed

Loos like I'm sliding deeper & deeper down the rabbit-hole...

Announcement

Kubuntu 12.10 does not boot past boot-splash screen after Muon Software Update.

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