Why I can't install packages? apt-get says that I'm helding broken packages

Question

I am trying to install my wifi using:

sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source

But I get this error:

unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

Any ideas?

I am using Lubuntu 12.10

Answer 1

Sounds like you have a broken partial downloaded, try:

sudo apt-get clean 

and then do the

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

and try to install the package again.

Answer 2

This probably happened because you have a hold on the package, that needs to be upgraded before installation of your desired package.

You can get a list of actual hold packages with:

dpkg --get-selections | grep hold

Then you can try to fix the problem you are facing with:

sudo apt-get install -f bcmwl-kernel-source

or

echo "package_name install" | dpkg --set-selections
sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source

NB: package_name obtained via dpkg --get-selections ... command above.

Answer 3

You can also try to fix the installation:

sudo apt-get --fix-broken --ignore-hold install bcmwl-kernel-source

Unless something else is wrong, that should allow you to install the package.