update manager not working

[Billie Walsh]

On 02/28/2015 02:51 AM, Thomas wrote:
> Good evening
> I have kubuntu 14.04, 64-bit version, installed on Dell Inspirion 1545.
> This is an "experimental machine", not for production.
>
> I have not used the computer for a few weeks, so I thought, it might 
> be time for some "updates".
> * The update manager does NOT automatically notifiy me of the presence 
> of available updates.
> * Started manually (once) it ran for a while and then closed down with 
> some error which I could not take notes of quickly enough.
> * Restarted update manager -> it "runs" forever without doing anything.
>     -> ANY attempts of stopping it, logging out or shutting down using 
> keyboard or mouse failed.
>     -> the ONLY way out was to cut the power supply.
>
> After a few hours I tried again.
> Now it tells me, the last update check is more than a week ago and I 
> should click on "Check for updates".
> However, there is no such button; at least I cannot find it anywhere.
>
> Is there any chance of making kubuntu do what it is supposed to do?
> I mean WITHOUT all the extremely high-level computer skills that are 
> usually suggested and way beyong my capabilities ...
>
> Thank you.
> Thomas
>
KDE package handler and update manager work somewhat. At least update 
manager does tell me updates are available. Whether it will actually do 
them is questionable. The Muon package  manager is a joke. It can't find 
half what's available on the repos. SO, the first thing I do when 
installing Kubuntu from scratch is install Synaptic package handler.

My system has been reverted to the old style menu so if you wish to do 
the same right click on the big blue "K" button and click old style. If 
your using the new menu you will have to search the menu's for "Konsole".

Click the big blue button
scroll down to System - click
look for "Konsole(Terminal)" - click

"Copy" the line below and "paste" into the resulting window

sudo apt-get install synaptic

hit enter or return key
type in password - enter

I believe it asks something - type "y" [ without the quotes ] and hit enter

Lots of stuff scrolls past and then stops at prompt - close window

You will now find Synaptic in your menu. At the top left of Synaptic 
window it has "Reload", "Mark All Upgrades" and "Apply". Click in that 
order. If you want some kind of software you can use the "Quick Filter" 
to search for whatever by keywords.