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My synaptic package manager in ubuntu is giving error:

  Unable to get exclusive lock
  This usually means that another package management application(like apt-get or  
  aptitude) is already running. Please close that application first.
ntg
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dashingvimeet
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    The error message generally means that you can only have one "Package Manager" open at a time. That includes apt, aptitude, gdebi, synaptic, software centre etc. Close all the "Package Managers" and try Synaptic again. If you still get the message something more serious is happening" –  Jun 28 '12 at 16:20
  • So, this question may had similarities with the "Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/) is another process using it?", but not any more. In the latest ubuntu synaptic (though being the coolest ever imho) does not play well with "Software & Updates": When you go to the repositories option from inside synaptic, "Software & Updates" comes up allowing you to choose e.g. proprietary drivers, HOWEVER it cannot apply the changes because synaptics holds the lock. The only solution I found was to run "Software & Updates" directly, then close it and open synaptic – ntg Jun 12 '20 at 07:38

4 Answers4

15

I had the same problem. This post helped however, the pa aux command and the Kill command were ineffective. sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock seemed to work, and I followed it up by another Linux post.

  1. You need sudo rights, so the full command is:

    sudo dpkg --configure -a

  2. Try using Konsole terminal program instead. Make sure that all package managers are closed! Issue the commands:

    sudo apt-get update  
sudo apt-get upgrade

The sudo apt-get update command worked.

The sudo apt-get upgrade one did not as it stated could not get dns proxy.

Also the following came up:

some files failed to upload using old files.

At least the update was able to fetch 39 of them. The other is irrelevant as this is the latest Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit.

karel
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Thomas
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  • You've posted this as an answer, and it's perhaps an attempt to answer the question here. But if you want help with the problems you had, you should post a new question to ask for that. Also, please note that you probably should have run ps aux rather than pa aux and kill rather than Kill. Terminal commands don't have any tolerance for incorrect spelling or incorrect capitalization. – Eliah Kagan Jul 08 '12 at 15:01
5

I had interrupted a sudo apt-get upgrade, and I was unable to get a lock on anything. I simply fixed it by running sudo dpkg --configure -a, and it let me pick up where I left off. Dunno if it helps, might as well share.

Peachy
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Alpha
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4

As mentioned in the other answer, you have to make sure that no other package management software is running.

Open a terminal and type the following command

ps aux | grep program-name

where program-name can be apt, software etc. (just to find out if apt-get or Software Center are running). If you get entries for them, note down their process id. Let it be xxxx. Then give the following command.

kill xxxx

Now try opening synaptic.

If the problem still persists, give the following command in the terminal,

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Now synaptic should hopefully open.

muru
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Hashken
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2

This error means that anoher Package Management Software is already running and using the files which for example contain the sources for the software. I would look for working processes like apt-get or aptitude with the system-monitor and exit them. Than restart synaptic and it should work.

Marvin Püthe
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