Update notifier question

[dougmack]

The update notifier appeared on my system, with the information:
"An error occured [sic] verifying upgrade;
"this may be caused by held packages.
"Do NOT upgrade!
"Check synaptic or try again later."
Then there are options, the first two being:
"Open Synaptic package manager
"Change settings"

I don't know what held packages are, or why I should care.
I opened Synaptic, but it just sat there, not informing me of anything, so I closed it again.
Change settings to what, please? And why?

Baffled!  --doug

[Old-Polack]

The update notifier appeared on my system, with the information:
"An error occured [sic] verifying upgrade;
"this may be caused by held packages.
"Do NOT upgrade!
"Check synaptic or try again later."
Then there are options, the first two being:
"Open Synaptic package manager
"Change settings"

I don't know what held packages are, or why I should care.
I opened Synaptic, but it just sat there, not informing me of anything, so I closed it again.
Change settings to what, please? And why?

Baffled!  --doug

With Synaptic open, Reload --> Mark All Upgrades --> Apply --> Apply. When done upgrading, close update-notifier, wait a bit, then restart update-notifier.

All the warning means is that update-notifier caught the mirror as it was syncing, so got some conflicting information. Nothing to worry about... it just happens occasionally.