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When I try to install something from the Ubuntu Software Center, the program doesn't install. it only starts the installation, but nothing else happens. I typed the password correctly, but nothing happens. Even after waiting for hours, nothing is installing.

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Open a terminal and run "aptdcon --install package_you_want", please attach the output if you get any error. – João Pinto May 16 '11 at 16:18
/usr/bin/apt-get: /usr/bin/apt-get: cannot execute binary file This is the output from the console – asdss May 16 '11 at 20:20
Someone/something changed the apt-get binary permissions breaking one of the software installer core componentes. – João Pinto May 16 '11 at 20:44

closed as too localized by Luis Alvarado♦ Mar 14 at 15:19

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2 Answers

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Make sure you don't have Synaptic or any other package manager open.

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Based on your "apt-get" error someone/something broke one of the software installer componentes by changing the apt-get permissions. If only the apt-get binary was changed you can fix it with:

chmod 755 /usr/bin/apt-get
chown root:root /usr/bin/apt-get

It is likely that the change on apt-get is the result of an accidental chown/chmod which affected more permisions that should not be changed, if you did a recursive chmod I strongly recommend to reinstall or restore from backups (if available).

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