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when trying to install or uninstall from Ubuntu Software Center (14.04). I'm getting the error message

**Software can't be installed or removed because the authentication service is not available. (org.freedesktop.PolicyKit.Error.Failed: ('system-bus-name', {'name': ':1.85'}): org.debian.apt.install-or-remove-packages**

when I try to install or uninstall anything from the Center.

I'm running this through Crouton on a Chromebook. Is there anything I can do to fix this issue?

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possible duplicate of "Software can't be installed or removed because the authentication service is not available. " – karel Jun 4 '14 at 7:18
up vote 11 down vote

I was faced with the same problem and the following solution fixed my case:

  1. check whether you have policykit-1-gnome installed. (I only had policykit-1 installed before). If not, install it using apt-get.

  2. run /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1. Now try to start software center from launcher and software should be able to be installed successfully.

  3. add /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 to your startup applications. press super key and search "startup applications" in all programs. Open it and click "add" to add this command line.

Good luck.

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Hi, Winter and @hmayag, you have clearly nailed the issue. It helped to resolve the issue. Thanks. – Vinod Tigadi May 28 '15 at 6:14
    
Thanx. It fix me. Who knows how it happened and how to fix without adding to "startup applications"? – ArcherGodson Jul 30 '15 at 9:09

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