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Reading package lists... Error!
E: Write error - write (9: Bad file descriptor)
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
david@david-Inspiron-N5110:~$
Mitch
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davidas
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  • I would suggest you do a df to see whether the /var directory is on a disk partition that's full. If so, then you will need to do some clean up. Otherwise Amir's answer should help you in fixing the issue. – Alexis Wilke Aug 02 '13 at 00:40

1 Answers1

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welcome to askUbuntu ;)

open up your terminal (ctrl+alt+t) or you can find it using the superkey (the windowskey in windows) and then write terminal. In terminal first write:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf

then hit enter. a password prompt will be showed up, enter password and hit enter. Afterward run the update manager in terminal via:

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

and hit enter. wait for the packages to be upgraded and updated.

EDITED/Added: Thanks to @Alexis Wilke : First check the /var partition of your hard whether its full or not. Do it using terminal with the command :

df -h

if so, clean up some space and the retry ;)

Hope that works ;)

Amir
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  • It is still not working, I get the same error again and again. I am new to ubuntu so I dont really know anything about it – davidas Aug 02 '13 at 09:39
  • i get an error saying i cant open /var/lib/dpkg/status and now the software center is not opening either – davidas Aug 02 '13 at 09:58
  • @dividas, check the updated answer – Amir Aug 02 '13 at 14:17
  • I have upgraded to ubuntu 13.04 and now i cant get any software to download from the software center it gives me this error – davidas Aug 02 '13 at 18:08
  • installArchives() failed: Selecting previously unselected package libnss3-1d:amd64. – davidas Aug 02 '13 at 18:09
  • @davidas, take a look at here : [Same Issue](http://askubuntu.com/questions/54851/package-operation-failed-when-installing-software) – Amir Aug 02 '13 at 22:49