Software Manager gets stuck installing app then hogs APT

Bug #671210 reported by Old Marcus
40
This bug affects 8 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Linux Mint
Confirmed
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

I was reinstalling Firefox with the software manager and it got stuck near the end, with the message "Waiting for config file prompt".

I right clicked on the offending app and it gave me the option to cancel, but it was greyed out. I logged out and in again, but mintinstall is still trying to install and is still hogging apt. Firefox at this point is happily reinstalled and working fine.

Revision history for this message
Old Marcus (old-marc) wrote :

It seems that after sorting out the installation issue through the CLI, it was waiting for a response from me on what to do with 'bookmarks.html' since I still had my old one. Software Manager had no option to answer this via the GUI.

Revision history for this message
Old Marcus (old-marc) wrote :

Would it be possible to add a GUI dialogue for when these questions get asked, so that the installation doesn't just hang?

Revision history for this message
Justin Krehel (jkrehel) wrote :

Hello Marcus,

Thank you for reporting this. Can you help us confirm if this is still an issue? The Software Manager has received updates since the posting of this bug. We would appreciate it.

Thank you kindly, looking forward to hearing more from you!

Changed in linuxmint:
status: New → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Old Marcus (old-marc) wrote :

I'm not sure, if you can suggest an app that would ask me for input during installation, normally via the CLI, I can confirm the bug.

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Paul Andrews (pandrews-o) wrote :

I confirm that this is an issue when installing ufraw-0.16-3 as well. No way to cancel in the gui and it just hangs apt.

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Tinker Toyz (tinkertoyz) wrote :

I just installed Linux Mint 12 - 32 bit.

Tried installing OpenSSH-Server and the installation hangs about 62% with same statement as the 1st posting by Old Marcus "Waiting for config file prompt".

Cancel is greyed out and there nothing else I can do at this point.

1st time I have installed Linux so ... give me some step by step instructions to clear this and allow the backed up installs to proceed.

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Paul Andrews (pandrews-o) wrote :

Exit out of software manager and then try this:
Run Synaptic Package Manager with the command 'sudo synaptic' (requires root password to apply software changes). It has a 'Fix Broken Packages' option under 'Edit'. Then you can install your software through synaptic, or try to install again through the Software Manager.

I haven't had any problems with the Software Manager program since I did this step once... Though I sometimes use synaptic to install software instead of the Software Manager program.

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Dima Zag (dimanga0) wrote :

I also got this error now. I was trying to install wine.
I tried to re-install software manager, but it didn't help, it saves where it left of.
And I don't want to re-install all the system because of this.

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defcon1 (defcon-1) wrote :

I confirm this while installing wine...
any way to cancel the installation?

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Teddy (treeheadster) wrote :

Defcon as a quick temporary restart your computer. That's what I did, I don't think it truly fixes it but it's a good temporary fix.

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Krack (krack3rz) wrote :

I got it installing wine, its stuck at 75% saying "Waiting for config file prompt"

Same as OP and [#9] defcon1 (defcon-1)

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Brandon Zehm (brandon-ucks) wrote :

I just wanted to let everyone know this is still a bug. I had it happen while trying to install the ubuntu software center on Linux Mint.

I've been a Linux user for 10+ years, but I honestly don't know how to fix this :-\ Doing the "Fix Broken Packages" option in Synaptic as recommended above didn't help. Whenever I open Software Center it just says "1 ongoing actions", and when I click on that it says "Installing software-center: Waiting for config file prompt."

Any suggestions?

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Justin Stone (free1028479) wrote :

I fixed this on my system, a few minutes ago.
I was installing wine, and this problem occurred.
I fixed it in the terminal:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
when it prompts you, use option "y"

Good luck!

Revision history for this message
Paul Andrews (pandrews-o) wrote :

I upgraded to Mint 13 and ran into this problem again on ufraw. Looks like it's only a problem when there's an existing config file that software manager doesn't know to overwrite. Following Justin's instructions work as well to resolve the conflict:

sudo dpkg --configure -a
(I answered no to save my config, and we're good to go.)

Khalid A. (kalid-ah)
Changed in linuxmint:
status: Incomplete → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Khalid A. (kalid-ah) wrote :

It also:

1- When download an app and it starting to download. The ongoing bar percentage stuck at 16%. To check if it finished installing I go back to the sereach resulte then inter the downloaded app again.
http://goo.gl/uPlBF

2- It gave a different percentage in the ongoing page.
http://goo.gl/06uuA

Revision history for this message
Khalid A. (kalid-ah) wrote :

And by the way I'm on linux mint 13.

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Khalid A. (kalid-ah) wrote :

I found a temporary solution. After downloading apps from software manager, click on categories button and wait until apps installed.

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Albert van Osch (avanosch) wrote :

Wow...
This issue is STILL not fixed!!

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Phillip Ledger (phillip-ge) wrote :

still a bug in mint 13

Revision history for this message
onlineaddy (onlineaddy) wrote :

I'm on LM13. Trying to install wine and it still gives me the same error: "waiting for config file prompt". It's almost 3 years now that this bug hasn't been fixed? Wow.

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