Unable to lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock

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larson57000 -  
 Paul6 -
Hello,
what does it mean?
Unable to lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Temporary resource not available)
it tells me this for certain packages that I install via the terminal

for compiz after the command "$ apt-cache search compiz" here’s what it gives me, everything seems to be there

compiz-bcop - Compiz option code generator
compizconfig-backend-gconf - Settings library for plugins - OpenCompositing Project
desktop-effects-kde - compiz setup tool for KDE
libcompizconfig0 - Settings library for plugins - OpenCompositing Project
libcompizconfig0-dev - Development file for plugin settings - OpenCompositing Project
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra - Collection of additional plugins from OpenCompositing for Compiz
cairo-clock - An analog clock drawn with vector-graphics
compiz-fusion-bcop - Compiz Fusion option code generator
compizconfig-backend-kconfig - KConfig Settings library for plugins - OpenCompositing Project
compizconfig-settings-manager - Compiz configuration settings manager
emerald - Decorator for compiz-fusion
fusion-icon - tray icon to launch and manage Compiz Fusion
kicker-compiz - modified pager applet for Kicker made to work with Compiz
libcm-dev - Support code for compositing managers - development files
libcm7 - Support code for compositing managers
libemeraldengine0 - Decoration engines for compiz-fusion
pdfcube - PDF document viewer with 3D effects
python-compizconfig - Compiz configuration system bindings
screenlets - Widget-like mini-applications for GNOME
simdock - A fast and customizable dockbar
simple-ccsm - Simple Compizconfig settings manager
compiz-fusion-plugins-main - Collection of plugins from OpenCompositing for Compiz
compiz-kde - OpenGL window and compositing manager - KDE window decorator
kicker-taskbar-compiz - modified Kicker taskbar applet made to work with compiz
compiz - OpenGL window and compositing manager
compiz-core - OpenGL window and compositing manager
compiz-dev - OpenGL window and compositing manager - development files
compiz-gnome - OpenGL window and compositing manager - GNOME window decorator
compiz-plugins - OpenGL window and compositing manager - plugins
libdecoration0 - Compiz window decoration library
libdecoration0-dev - Compiz window decoration library - development files
Configuration: Linux Firefox 3.0.15

3 réponses

mamiemando Posted messages 33541 Registration date   Status Modérateur Last intervention   7 935
 
First of all, thank you for making a serious effort with your spelling.

What does it mean?
Unable to lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open


This means that another package manager (synaptic, aptitude, apt-get...) is running or has exited improperly. If you are sure that no package manager is running, simply delete this file:

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock


I want to point out that this problem is mentioned very frequently on forums and I encourage you, when you receive an error message, to do some research beforehand.

For compiz after the command "$ apt-cache search compiz" here’s what I get, everything seems to be there

If you take the time to read:
http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/apt-cacher?redirect=1

... or even:

man apt-cache


... you will see that apt-cache only searches for potentially installable packages. It does not take into account what is installed or not on your PC. It is only used to search for the name of a package. For example, if you want to install compiz under gnome, you will quickly find that you need to install the package "compiz-gnome" for example via synaptic.
http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/synaptic

Good luck
34
supermega boss Posted messages 406 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   82
 
Thanks, that helped me a lot except... that I'm not on Ubuntu 9.10, I'm on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.
0
Paul6
 
Thank you, I am on elementary OS 32-bit...
0