dpkg: error: dpkg status database is locked by another process

Question

I just wondered if somebody could tell me what this means:

E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
reidsr@ubuntu:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: error: dpkg status database is locked by another process
reidsr@ubuntu:~$ 

How do I run sudo dpkg --configure -a manually?

Answer 1

First run:

lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Then make sure that process isn't running:

ps cax | grep PID

If it is running:

kill PID
#wait
kill -9 PID

Make sure process is done:

ps cax | grep PID

Then remove the lock file:

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock

Let dpkg fix itself:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

You should be fine afterwards :)

Answer 2

You can not run several packages applications/commands/tools at the same time. Sometimes, it means that synaptic, apt-get or the package update tool are running in the backgroung. Just close other package tools, or wait for them to be finished. And dpkg will run.

Answer 3

One could also try:

sudo apt-get install -f

To fix any broken packages:

Fix; attempt to correct a system with broken dependencies in place. This option, when used with install/remove, can omit any packages to permit APT to deduce a likely solution. If packages are specified, these have to completely correct the problem. The option is sometimes necessary when running APT for the first time; APT itself does not allow broken package dependencies to exist on a system. It is possible that a system's dependency structure can be so corrupt as to require manual intervention (which usually means using dselect(1) or dpkg --remove to eliminate some of the offending packages). Use of this option together with -m may produce an error in some situations. Configuration Item: APT::Get::Fix-Broken.