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Idea #11690: Include proper instructions if dpkg is interrupted

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #2298: Repair package management failures.
Written by aysiu the 31 Jul 08 at 15:01. Category: Others. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
This is related to http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/2298/ (Idea #2298: Automatic reparation of interrupted dpkg)

I'd love to see an automatic repair of an interrupted dpkg, but I also know that'd take much longer to implement.

In the meantime, the message given to users should be to run

sudo dpkg --configure -a

instead of what they currently get, which is to run

dpkg --configure -a

Of course, when they run dpkg --configure -a, they also get an error message saying they aren't root so can't run the command, which is silly, since Ubuntu doesn't enable the root account by default, and the user just ends up confused.

No solutions.

Propose your solution

Attachments
forum Ubuntuforums.org thread #709660


Duplicates


Comments
droetker wrote on the 31 Jul 08 at 15:39
Ubuntu doesn't enable the root PASSWORD by default, the account is ok.
just do a "sudo -s"

But the idea is good, to be more transparent.

aysiu (Brainstorm moderator) wrote on the 31 Jul 08 at 19:52
Actually, sudo -s is a bad idea. It runs a root prompt but with the user's environment, which can lead to certain files in the user's home folder becoming owned by root.

sudo dpkg --configure -a should take care of the problem.

If someone desperately needs a persistent root login, she should use sudo -i instead of sudo -s

oodlesofmoddles wrote on the 1 Aug 08 at 03:11
+1

I've had to reinstall Ubuntu because of this issue.

Johanvd wrote on the 3 Aug 08 at 11:37
sudo -i is better than sudo -s.
It sets the correct environment for the root user.
So no files in the user's home folder become owned by root.

Dread Knight wrote on the 5 Aug 08 at 16:17
I think "please type a lot of crap/garbage" really sucks.

Make it something really short or a button, click-able link or whatever for God's sake.

cousteau wrote on the 19 Feb 09 at 00:26
"...you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' from a terminal to correct the problem."

(And add a button or something to Synaptic and Update manager that runs `gksu dpkg --configure -a` when they fail)


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