Problems installing software and/or updates. Heron version 8.04

[Rashkae]

Derek Broughton wrote:
> Glenn wrote:
> 
>> Hello friends,
>>
>> When trying to install software using "update manager" or "add/remove" I
>> get the following error:
>>
>> E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a" to
>> correct the problem.
>> E: _cache->open()failed, please report.
>>
>> Any help is much appreciated.
> 
> Why do we get this question so often?  Why don't people just follow the
> instruction?
> 

If I were to hazard a guess, I would say, the instructions are obviously
not complete enough for people to understand what needs to be done.
(Ie, Open Applications -> Accessories -> terminal and type 'sudo dpgk
--configure -a')


> [and why, for that matter, doesn't update-manager run the command itself
> when it knows it's necessary]

Now that's a far more interesting question. I would say that update
manager doesn't know what needs to be done, but is only spitting out
stderr from dpkg verbatim.  However, since the error does happen so
frequently, and has a rather simple solution, I think Update manager
*should* catch this one and fix it.