Ubuntu Software Center does not proceed from applying changes

Question

I have a problem with Ubuntu software center. It is "Searching" and "applying changes" for long period of time. I tired to cancel by clicking cross(X) mark. However, it is now stuck at "cancelling". It won't let me download any new application even from terminal i guess.

neal@neal-G50VT:~$ sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
neal@neal-G50VT:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: error: dpkg status database is locked by another process

There are similar question here, but with no answers:

Software Center stuck for Dropbox

Software Center freezes during “applying changes

Answer 1

I had the same issue too. However, I tried the following. Ran

sudo lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock

From there I identified the PID of the process causing my dpkg to lock. Then I did

sudo kill -TERM <PID>

Next, I did a

 sudo dpkg --configure -a

and waited for the result... after that i did a regular

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Hope it will work for you too.

Answer 2

For a similar problem, I removed and reinstalled the software-center and killed dpkg, then ran sudo apt-get update. After that I upgraded the packages.

Answer 3

Make sure there isn't a dialog window somewhere that needs your input to allow the installation to proceed.

In a similar situation, you see, kill -9 worked for me. But then when I started Ubuntu Software Center again it was still stuck in the same spot. Until I closed all the open windows and saw that it was waiting for me to enter an answer. Duh. Software then finished installing.

Answer 4

Try to search for and terminate the /usr/bin/dpkg process:

Gabriel@UMWC:~$ ps ax | grep dpkg
 2058 pts/0    SNs+   0:00 /usr/bin/dpkg --status-fd 14 --configure -a --force-confdef --force-confold
 2061 pts/0    SN+    0:00 /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/nautilus-dropbox.postinst configure 
 2275 pts/2    S+     0:00 grep --color=auto dpkg
Gabriel@UMWC:~$ sudo kill 2058

Answer 5

You could try a reboot.

It would solve your problem.