SOLVED Can't fix broken packages to install KDE 4.8.3

[cyrwyn]

I installed the new apt-sources list, selected a repository, reloaded, marked all upgrades. There were 8 broken packages, all perl or PHP and darktable-plugins-experimental, except for one new KDE package, smaragd, that were not installed, so I installed all except smaragd because it wanted to remove all KDE 4.6.5. All these packages report still broken and Synaptic won't allow a fix. What am I doing wrong? I've not seen any reports of this problem on this forum. Should I let it install smaragd? If so, will it kill KDE when I'm installing?

[david1958]

Im no where a wiz at this guy, but I had a suggestion from a long time member to only have the first repo checked. the second one throws a checksum value out so I do not use that one. I am in question on the third one here on the forum so I dont want to say yes or know on that one. Also I had a member tell me that he only pulls ones that are dated 2011-2012 which will be beside the program in the synap.
Hope this helps some.
david1958

[JohnW_57]

All KDE 4.6.5 packages must be removed to get a clean KDE 4.8.3 desktop!

Remove all red marked packages and if you missing applications you can reinstall  after that ( without a login/out)
If the smaragd package removes all KDE 4.6.5 stuff then it is oke.

JohnW

[T6]

with the new sources.list i don't know what is the proper procedure

but i think that if you want to do it by hand, you have to remove all related to kde and then install from the new section kde 4.8.3, you might need to log out so packages are not loaded but if you don' have another desktop like xfce or gnome you will have to do it from console

all you have to do is call synaptic from console and install packages, i had to do this on netbook and was a fast process but since things changed with recent updated it could be a bit different

[Georgetoon]

I'm running into this slight challenge.  I plan on just removing the broken packages from the install, install the update and then reinstall whatever was listed as broken. 

Just make sure your repository sections is listing "KDE" and not "KDE4."

[Georgetoon]

BTW, this is what I plan on doing:  I'm going to do the manual update (changing the repo section to KDE, remove broken packages, etc.), then se what happens.  If it doesn't work, I'll simply do a clean install from the 2012.02 ISO, then upgrade once more. If 2012.06 becomes available, I'll do the install from that.

I hope to do this tomorrow (on deadline again...we'll see) 

[Archie]

Remove the broken packages. Reload Synaptic. Check whether the removed packages will install. If not, please report.

[Georgetoon]

Remove the broken packages. Reload Synaptic. Check whether the removed packages will install. If not, please report.

Okay, to help out, I did this just now.  I got the error saying packages being held, etc.  I unmarked the broken packages and then reloaded again and it did not work.  It reported:  "The repository might be no longer available or could not be contacted because of network problems. If available an older version of the failed index will be used. Otherwise the repository will be ignored. Check your network connection and the correct writing of the repository address in the preferences."  Then gave the error:  

E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Unable to lock the list directory

EDIT -- BUT, hitting "Apply" once more appears to allow it to o forward with the update and no broken packages listed.

[Archie]

What I meant by remove broken packages was mark those packages to be removed then click Apply. Only after that should Reload.   

[Georgetoon]

What I meant by remove broken packages was mark those packages to be removed then click Apply. Only after that should Reload.   

Yes.  That's what I did.  Sorry I wasn't clear.  I'll do again just to make sure.

[Georgetoon]

Okay, I hit apply and got the error again. the it came back up and I hit apply agaiin and the upgrade is starting.  So, I'll see how it goes.

[Georgetoon]

I'm back and all upgraded!  I'll comment and report in a new thread.

[plankton172]

I am having stubborn problems with "removing 4.6.5 packages" so that I could upgrade to 4.8.3.

What I've done some far (in Synaptic):

1. Went to Settings > Repositories ... and for all repos listed, I edited the Section(s) so that "kde4" became "kde"
2. Clicked Reload
3. Clicked Mark All Upgrades > Mark... and then the message "E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages" appears
4. When I click Apply, then the message "Could not apply changes! Fix broken packages first." appears
5. Clicked Edit > Unmark All
6. Clicked Settings > Preferences... and on the Files tab, clicked the "Delete Cached Package Files" button, then clicked OK
7. Clicked Edit > Fix Broken Packages
8. Clicked Reload again
9. Clicked Mark All Upgrades > Mark... and again the message "E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages" appears
10. Opened a terminal window and logged in as root
11. The result of the command apt-get dist-upgrade shows the following packages with unmet dependencies:

kde-runtime-nepomuk: Obsoletes: kdebase4-runtime
kdelibs: Obsoletes: kdelibs4 (<= 4.6.5)

12. Went back to Synaptic and searched for kdebase4-runtime (two results found: kdebase4-runtime and kdebase4-runtime-help)
13. Right-clicked on kdebase4-runtime and clicked Mark for Removal > Mark
14. Searched for kdelibs4
15. Two results found: kdelibs4 and kdelibs4-help. kdelibs4 was already marked for removal
16. Clicked Apply... but then the message  "Could not apply changes! Fix broken packages first." appears again
17. When I click Edit >Fix Broken Packages, this message appears:

E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages
E: Unable to correct dependencies
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages
E: Unable to correct dependencies

18. At this point, all I think I could do is Edit > Unmark All again and exit Synaptic

Looks like I can't remove some packages so that I can move forward with the upgrade (??).  

Appreciate your help please. Thank you.

-----------------

p.s.

I must mention that the above errors only happen in my netbook installation. In my desktop installs (two of them), I successfully upgraded to kde 4.8.3 using only steps 1-9 (that is, I got through step 9 without encountering the error message). Thank you.

[stealth]

Select only the broken packages for removal and nothing else for upgrade and click apply twice. Then reload and do the upgrade.

[plankton172]

Select only the broken packages for removal and nothing else for upgrade and click apply twice. Then reload and do the upgrade.

Thank you but I think I need more specific instructions. Based on the information I posted, which broken packages do I need to remove? I already mentioned that when I tried to remove kdebase4-runtime and kdelibs4, I get the message "Could not apply changes! Fix broken packages first." So which one(s) do I need to remove? What is the proper way to know which packages need to be removed?