Authentication error when trying to install or uninstall using Ubuntu Software Center (14.04)

Question

when trying to install or uninstall from Ubuntu Software Center (14.04). I'm getting the error message

**Software can't be installed or removed because the authentication service is not available. (org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.Error.Failed: ('system-bus-name', {'name': ':1.85'}): org.debian.apt.install-or-remove-packages**

when I try to install or uninstall anything from the Center.

I'm running this through Crouton on a Chromebook. Is there anything I can do to fix this issue?

score 12 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 19 '14 at 10:43

12

I was faced with the same problem and the following solution fixed my case:

check whether you have policykit-1-gnome installed. (I only had policykit-1 installed before). If not, install it using apt-get.
run /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1. Now try to start software center from launcher and software should be able to be installed successfully.
add /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 to your startup applications. press super key and search "startup applications" in all programs. Open it and click "add" to add this command line.

Good luck.

edited Jun 19 '14 at 10:43

hmayag

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answered Jun 19 '14 at 09:47

Andi Wang

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Hi, Winter and @hmayag, you have clearly nailed the issue. It helped to resolve the issue. Thanks. – Vinod Tigadi May 28 '15 at 06:14
Thanx. It fix me. Who knows how it happened and how to fix without adding to "startup applications"? – ArcherGodson Jul 30 '15 at 09:09
What is the supper key? the windows key doesn't do anything for me, is there another way to open the startup applications? – Elia Weiss Aug 05 '18 at 06:55

Authentication error when trying to install or uninstall using Ubuntu Software Center (14.04)

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