snapd installation hangs apt with error: cannot read the state file: open /var/lib/snapd/state.json: no such file or directory

[sem]

Tried to install Firefox, apt hangs at 54%.

This may be related to the fact that calamares reported a failed installation when I tried to install element, but it still let me boot into it. I reported that bug against calamares but it could have been snapd at fault.

apt output:

```
$ sudo apt install firefox

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree... Done

Reading state information... Done

The following additional packages will be installed:

snapd squashfs-tools

Suggested packages:

zenity | kdialog

The following NEW packages will be installed:

firefox snapd squashfs-tools

upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and not upgraded.

Need to get 27.5 MB of archives.

After this operation, 111 MB of additional disk space will be used.

Do you want to continue? [Y/n]

Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/main amd64 squashfs-tools amd64 1:4.6.1-1 [188 kB]

Get:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/main amd64 snapd amd64 2.60.4+23.10 [27.3 MB] Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/main amd64 firefox amd64 1:1snap1-0ubuntu5 [77.3 kB]

Fetched 27.5 MB in 1s (33.4 MB/s)

Preconfiguring packages

Selecting previously unselected package squashfs-tools.

(Reading database .. 254744 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to unpack.../squashfs-tools_1%3a4.6.1-1_amd64.deb

Unpacking squashfs-tools (1:4.6.1-1)

Selecting previously unselected package snapd.

Preparing to unpack.../snapd_2.60.4+23.10_amd64.deb

Unpacking snapd (2.60.4+23.10)

Setting up squashfs-tools (1:4.6.1-1) Setting up snapd (2.60.4+23.10)

error: cannot read the state file: open /var/lib/snapd/state.json: no such file or directory

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.aa-prompt-listener.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.aa-prom

pt-listener.service.

I Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.apparmor.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.apparmor.service.

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.autoimport.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.autoimport.serv ice.

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.core-fixup.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.core-fixup.serv

ice.

Created

symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.recovery-chooser-trigger.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.r

ecovery-chooser-trigger.service.

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.seeded.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.seeded.service.

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/cloud-final.service.wants/snapd.seeded.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.seeded.service. is added as a dependency to a non-existent unit cloud-final.service.

Unit /lib/systemd/system/snapd.seeded.service symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/snapd.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.service.

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/timers.target.wants/snapd.snap-repair.timer/lib/systemd/system/snapd.snap-repair.timer.

Created

Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/snapd.socket/lib/systemd/system/snapd.socket. Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/final.target.wants/snapd.system-shutdown.service/lib/systemd/system/snapd.system-shutdown

.service.

snapd.failure.service is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it. snapd.mounts-pre.target is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it.

snapd.mounts.target is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it.

snapd.snap-repair.service is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it.
```

This was copied/ocr from a photo of the screen, apologies if there are typos

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: snapd 2.60.4+23.10
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-9.9-generic 6.5.3
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-9-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.27.0-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: LXQt
Date: Thu Jan 4 20:00:17 2024
SourcePackage: snapd
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)