error with adept

[cj]

when i try to install a package (any package), i get an error saying:

there was an error commiting the changes. Possibly there
was a problem downloading some packages or the
commit would break packages

its been doing this since yesterday. I tried installing cutecom from the 
debian website (the ubuntu website didnt have what i wanted). i cant 
uninstall the ubuntu packages. what should i do????!???!?

--cj