I've somehow broken my Ubuntu 14.04 install.
A project I'm working on required me to install Jupyter notebook, which created some path issues (apparently I should have installed with anaconda rather than pip?). In any event, to fix this I tried uninstalling everything, and reinstalling with anaconda. Jupyter still didn't work, and now Python didn't work either. Turns out it went deeper than that though, my Ubuntu crashed altogether and I had to use recovery mode to reinstall enough things to get it back to a state where I could login without a safe mode.
What I've gathered now is somewhere along the line I uninstalled something in Python, or Python completely. In trying to fix it, I've had it tell me I cannot remove it in the current state, rather, need to reinstall first. Doing so caused issues, because apparently I needed a working version of Python to install what I needed to install ... rather circular. Python is broken, but need Python to fix Python.
For example, trying to individually fix the python packages, with something like:
sudo dpkg --configure python3-apt
returns an error "package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration". Trying to reinstall fails.
I've tried pretty much any solution I've found online that looked reasonable, no luck. It isn't just a python path issue. Both:
sudo apt-get install -f
and
sudo apt install --reinstall python3-apt
returns a bunch of stuff, but the end says a lot:
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-apt_0.9.3.5ubuntu3_amd64.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-distupgrade_1%3a0.220.10_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-update-manager_1%3a0.196.25_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/update-manager_1%3a0.196.25_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-problem-report_2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-apport_2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/software-properties-common_0.92.37.8_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/software-properties-gtk_0.92.37.8_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-software-properties_0.92.37.8_all.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/python3-uno_1%3a4.2.8-0ubuntu5.3_amd64.deb
The only reasonable thing I've come across and haven't tried is to reinstall Ubuntu altogether (see here). I have backed up all of my files onto an external drive (in case it all crashes), but, I don't know how to do that sort of Ubuntu reinstall + don't want to risk not being able to figure it out. Someone else installed Ubuntu for me onto my laptop. Dual boot. The Windows 8 still works fine.
List of programs errors have occurred with:
ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk
python3-uno
python3-apt
apport-gtk
update-manager-core
python3-update-manager
python3-crypto
python3-louis
update-notifier
unattended-upgrades
ubuntu-release-upgrader-core
python3-distupgrade
python3-apport
python3-problem-report
python3-software-properties
update-manager
apport
update-notifier-common
software-properties-gtk
flashplugin-installer
software-properties-common
When I tried to fix update-manager, it won't let me due to unmet dependencies with other packages. When I try to fix those packages, it won't let me fix them either, owing to unmet dependencies with the previous package. Circular again.
Whenever I try to install anything, before it asks whether I agree to install X MB to my machine, it shows (but never actually does install these things):
The following extra packages will be installed:
python3-apport python3-apt python3-distupgrade python3-problem-report
python3-software-properties python3-uno python3-update-manager
software-properties-common software-properties-gtk update-manager
Suggested packages:
python3-launchpadlib python3-apt-dbg python-apt-doc
The following packages will be upgraded:
python3-apport python3-apt python3-distupgrade python3-problem-report
python3-software-properties python3-uno python3-update-manager
software-properties-common software-properties-gtk update-manager
10 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 17 not upgraded.
22 not fully installed or removed.
Also, I cannot open Ubuntu Software Center or Software Updater.
Requested outputs:
which python
which python3
both return nothing. Immediately allows me to enter a new terminal command, without any error message or output whatsover. Somewhere along the line I think I uninstalled python3, but python2.7 is still present.
echo $PATH
returns
/home/myname/MESA/mesasdk/bin:/home/myname/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/home/mynames/bin:/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/bin:/opt/intel/bin
where MESA is a program for school.
Can anyone help me navigate out of this mess I've accidentally created? I don't want to mess anything further up. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Update
I've decided to uninstall Ubuntu 14.04, and reinstall the latest Ubuntu in its' place, following this, as suggested on here. Thank you all who helped me with this issue!
sudo apt install --reinstall python3-apt– Kaz Wolfe Sep 20 '18 at 20:43which pythonandwhich python3to the question. – N0rbert Sep 20 '18 at 20:54echo $PATHto the question. I think that the problem is that you have overridden system Python by Anaconda's. You need to fix PATH variable and start over. See debugging section of this answer to get clues. – N0rbert Sep 22 '18 at 07:15