Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Question

E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (21: Is a directory)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

Please add more detail to get help – George Udosen Mar 12 '17 at 17:24 — George Udosen, Mar 12 '17 at 17:24

score -1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 12 '17 at 17:31

Your error says that /var/lib/dpkg/lock is a directory. It's supposed to either be a regular file or not exist at all. See if sudo rmdir /var/lib/dpkg/lock works. (If it fails because there's stuff in it, move the stuff somewhere else then delete the directory.)

Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock

1 Answers1