Cannot remove Dropbox

Question

I am using Ubuntu 12.04

I tried to install Dropbox using Ubuntu Software centre but it stopped at some point

Now I cannot remove the partial installation. If I try using the Software centre it hangs.

At terminal

sudo apt-get remove dropbox

I get

E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

What can I do?

@Whaaaaaat The question was "cannot remove Dropbox". Obviously I can't cover both possibilities, but that's what I'm trying to do. Some of the question is obviously a duplicate, but if user3070181 accepts a different answer I'm going to retract my close vote to resolve the conflict. The issue is further complicated by the fact the if the Software Center is hanging because of a lock on dpkg, then your sudo dpkg --configure -a answer wouldn't work and he will have to uninstall Dropbox anyway. — karel, Aug 30 '14 at 09:44
@Whaaaaaat This problem is built like a house of cards, but it's possible to get some logic out of it. 1. How do I uninstall Dropbox? 2. Why does the Software Center hang while trying to install Dropbox? 3. How do I properly install Dropbox? All of these questions have been answered and upvoted, but what hasn't been answered are all possible combinations of 1 & 2 and 1 & 3 and 2 & 3. In the limiting case of a question called "Cannot remove Dropbox" I'm for not extending the question into 2 or 3 (although it's inviting to do so) since answers for 2 and 3 already exist. — karel, Aug 30 '14 at 09:56

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 26 '16 at 21:56

1

try this...

sudo apt-get remove nautilus-dropbox

answered Jul 26 '16 at 21:56

Saikat Kundu

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 30 '14 at 09:24

0

Try doing exactly what the error message says:

Run sudo dpkg --configure -a.

In this case, Ubuntu has nice error messages.

answered Aug 30 '14 at 09:24

Kaz Wolfe

Thanks - I tried that but it just tries to continue the installation of dropbox – Psionman Aug 30 '14 at 09:40
1

@user3070181 Let it complete the installation. It is a "broken package" so it needs to be fixed. Once it is done installing, just remove it. – Kaz Wolfe Aug 30 '14 at 09:41
Yes, but the problem is it doesn't install - it just sits there for hours – Psionman Aug 30 '14 at 09:43
@user3070181 Is there a specific place it hangs? – Kaz Wolfe Aug 30 '14 at 09:44
Yes -
jeff@cnicht:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a Setting up nautilus-dropbox (0.7.1-2) ...
Dropbox is the easiest way to share and store your files online. Want to learn more? Head to http://www.dropbox.com/

Downloading Dropbox... 100%
– Psionman Aug 30 '14 at 10:25
It just hangs at the end of the download? – Kaz Wolfe Aug 30 '14 at 10:27
Yes. It's been like that for 4 hours – Psionman Aug 30 '14 at 15:01

score -1 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

-1

Still going!

Is it safe to assume it's not going to install? :)

Answers like the above often get deleted very quickly unless you include some sort of answer in the answer, so here are some links that might help.

How do I uninstall Dropbox?
Why does the Software Center hang while trying to install Dropbox? And how can I make it stop hanging? -- Dropbox install stuck at 99%, how do I fix it? (and any dpkg errors)
How to install Dropbox?. There are different answers to this question for different versions of Ubuntu, so select an answer for Ubuntu 12.04.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Community

answered Aug 31 '14 at 05:20

Psionman

If you have dpkg errors from trying to install Dropbox, fix them first! (by removing Dropbox) After that, it's not an uncommon problem: Dropbox install stuck at 99%, how do I fix it? (and any dpkg errors). – karel Aug 31 '14 at 05:55
Thanks karel. Fixed it. So frustrating until you know where and how to look :) – Psionman Aug 31 '14 at 13:48

3 Answers3