Synaptic gives me 'E:Read error - read (21: Is a directory)'

[Johan]

Binary package hint: update-manager

I'm using maverick Ubuntu 10.10 . Here's the full description I get when starting update manager "Could not initialize the package information

An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:Read error - read (21: Is a directory)'. I am stuck, couldn't find any thing on web, would be grateful for any help. Just Remember please I am not a fundy so Please explain slowly.

[Johan (oortjies)]

Desktop environment ;- GNOME 2.32.0
Kernel :- Linux 2.6.35-28 generic
Platform :- x86_64

[Johan (oortjies)]

When I try to open synaptic I get This
E: Read error - read (21: Is a directory)
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

[Johan (oortjies)]

Maybe this can help: I tried Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.11 and got this message:
Distribution: Ubuntu 10.10 maverick
Application: Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.11
Desktop: gnome

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/mainwindow.py", line 502, in setup_notebook
    page = module()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/modules/updatemanager.py", line 44, in __init__
    self.update_list()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/modules/updatemanager.py", line 59, in update_list
    PACKAGE_WORKER.update_apt_cache(init=True)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/common/package.py", line 216, in update_apt_cache
    self.cache = apt.Cache()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/apt/cache.py", line 88, in __init__
    self.open(progress)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/apt/cache.py", line 126, in open
    self._cache = apt_pkg.Cache(progress)
SystemError: E:Read error - read (21: Is a directory)

[RedSingularity (redsingularity)]

What message do you get from running update-manager in a terminal?

[Johan (oortjies)]

On Mon, 2011-03-14 at 23:50 +0000, RedSingularity wrote:
> What message do you get from running update-manager in a terminal?
>
> ** Changed in: update-manager (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
Thank You for reply. There is no message when running in terminal.

[Johan (oortjies)]

When opening senaptic this report

E: Read error - read (21: Is a directory)
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

[RedSingularity (redsingularity)]

Moving package to synaptic. It may even be better off in aptitude. To help the ones who take on this bug in synaptic, please run:

apport-collect 734729

To gather your system info.

[Johan (oortjies)]

On Tue, 2011-03-15 at 12:46 +0000, RedSingularity wrote:
> apport-collect 734729
Have done what you asked, hope I have done it correctly !!

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello Johan,
Thank you for submitting this bug and reporting a problem with synaptic. You made this bug report some time ago and Ubuntu has been updated since then.

Could you confirm that this is no longer a problem and that we can close the ticket?
If it is still a problem, are you still interested in finding a solution to this bug?
If you are, could you let us know, and in the current version, run the following (only once):
apport-collect BUGNUMBER
and upload the updated logs and and any other logs that are relevant for this particular issue.

Thank you again for helping make Ubuntu better.
G

[Johan (oortjies)]

This may be closed thanks as I no longer experience this problem.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for the update, Johan. I will close the report now.
Have a great day!
:)
G

Closed per reporter’s feedback.