I always get this error when I attempt to install a package using apt-get. I would appreciate help. This seems a common problem with every other package, but I've never encountered a problem with the dpkg itself.
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David your friend
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muffin
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2the apt-get -f install prompts the same message – muffin Feb 02 '17 at 04:45
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Recover some backups of dpkg: `sudo cp /var/backups/dpkg.status.0 /var/lib/dpkg/status` – David your friend Feb 02 '17 at 07:00
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1Can't find a source to download version '1.17.5ubuntu5.4' of 'dpkg:amd64' – muffin Feb 02 '17 at 08:25
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Please update & add output from command: `cat /etc/apt/sources.list` Have you tried using `Synaptic`/`Aptitude` to reinstall packages. – David your friend Feb 09 '17 at 04:01
2 Answers
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Ubuntu dpkg recovery
Recover dpkg status file
cp /var/backups/dpkg.status.0 /var/lib/dpkg/status
Reinstall - dpkg
cd /var/cache/apt/archives/
dpkg --force-depends -i dpkg_*.deb
Reinstall - apt
cd /var/cache/apt/archives/
dpkg --force-depends -i apt_*.deb
dpkg --force-depends -i apt-utils_*.deb
apt-get update
Missing files in /var/lib/dpkg/info?
Use dpkg to list installed packages..
dpkg -l | grep ii
Reinstall from output using apt...
dpkg -l | grep ii | awk '{print "apt-get --reinstall -y install", $2}' > /tmp/reinstall
Now, install ucf which may be of importance to installation of kernel or others...
apt-get --reinstall install ucf
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Manuel Jordan
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David your friend
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1"The package dpkg needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it." >> exact error listed – muffin Feb 03 '17 at 01:19
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for the command `cp /var/backups/dpkg.status.0 /var/lib/dpkg/status` , I am getting error, `cp: cannot stat '/var/backups/dpkg.status.0': No such file or directory` – Varsh Feb 09 '21 at 05:54
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I found a solution that worked for a user with a related problem...
sudo -i
mkdir /tmp/dpkg
cd /tmp/dpkg
#i386 version
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/dpkg_1.18.4ubuntu1.1_i386.deb
or
#amd64 version
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/dpkg_1.18.4ubuntu1.1_amd64.deb
ar x dpkg*.deb data.tar.gz
tar xfvz data.tar.gz ./usr/bin/dpkg
sudo cp ./usr/bin/dpkg /usr/bin/
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install --reinstall dpkg
Source:
Manuel Jordan
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David your friend
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1the dpkg package is no longer valid i guess? the wget returns a not found – muffin Feb 02 '17 at 04:46
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1What does `w/` mean to a learner, please use full english words and not short hands! – George Udosen Feb 02 '17 at 05:10
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1since you use wget to download the package to reinstall it, then you don't need to navigate to tmp where its stored temporary after installing it – Pavlos Theodorou Feb 02 '17 at 05:48
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2sudo apt-get install --reinstall dpkg >> gives me the same error because apt-get requires dpkg but then dpkg is the one i need to reinstall.. – muffin Feb 02 '17 at 06:41
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2This answer seems to be outright plagiarised from [this one](https://askubuntu.com/a/474681/759929), but actively modified so that it doesn't actually work. – Michael Homer Jan 15 '19 at 21:15
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@[Michael Homer](https://askubuntu.com/users/759929/michael-homer); I added the source to the bottom of my post. Also what do you recommend I do to fix this answer? – David your friend Jan 15 '19 at 21:59
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I have re-proposed the edit; I don't have any other recommendation other than that honesty is the best policy. – Michael Homer Jan 15 '19 at 22:07