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I have just installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and while updating (upgrading) I received an error message:

Error: BrokenCount>0.

I was searching and trying everything I found here, but the package linux-image-3.13.0-43-generic can't be installed.

I also tried deleting the package with the description 'Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0 on 32bitX86SMP' but couldn't reinstall it. Reinstalling the OS didn't solve it.

It seems like the problem is, whatever I try this (after typing apt-get clean):

E: Could not open lock file /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the download directory

I just want to get rid of the red warning sign, please help!

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  • First run fuser /var/cache/apt/archives/lock to see whether any process still claims this file. If none does, remove the lockfile: sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock. Then run sudo apt-get install -f && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade. Report whether the warning sign persists.
    – s3lph
    Jan 2, 2015 at 14:20
  • Didn't work, but the problem is (don't know how did I forget): 'This kernel doesn't support a non PAE cpu' I can't even access Ubuntu Software Center or install anything now. Is there a way just to remove the sign?
    – Toltek
    Jan 2, 2015 at 20:20
  • Do you, by chance, have an Intel Pentium M CPU?
    – s3lph
    Jan 3, 2015 at 2:08
  • Ouch! some Pentium M processors are not supported by Linux any more... You might get lucky and add the following boot option to your grub.cfg: forcePAE (after quiet splash). Some Pentium M processors have PAE extensions, but don't advertise them... If that doesn't help, try buying a Pentium M with PAE extensions (or dismantling one from another PC you find on a scrap heap)
    – Fabby
    Jan 3, 2015 at 16:27
  • I couldn't even install Ubuntu without using forcepae, but I don't understand why doesn't it work then?
    – Toltek
    Jan 4, 2015 at 11:43

1 Answer 1

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Some CPUs of the Intel Pentium M series are a bit strange when it comes to PAE (Physical Address Extension). They don't report their PAE support to the kernel, so the installer may ask you to install the non-PAE version of Ubuntu.

This can be "fixed" (circumvented) by telling the kernel to assume that PAE is supported, even if it can't see it. To do so, you need to add the forcepae argument to the boot parameters, which forces the kernel to assume PAE is present and use it.

Open the file /etc/default/grub in a root text editor and change the line

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" # May contain other values

to

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash forcepae"

Then save, exit and run sudo update-grub to include this into the boot loader. Afterwards reboot.

After a reboot, you should be able to install the kernel update, since the current kernel now reports the presence of PAE, and thus APT now allows the installation of the kernel update.

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