update ubuntu package problem (10.04.2 LTS)

[Peng Yu]

On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 4:47 PM, NoOp <glgxg at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> On 05/10/2011 01:56 PM, Peng Yu wrote:
>> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 3:49 PM, NoOp <glgxg at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>> On 05/10/2011 01:18 PM, Peng Yu wrote:
>>>> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 1:40 PM, NoOp <glgxg at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>>>> On 05/10/2011 08:44 AM, Peng Yu wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 6:27 PM, NoOp <glgxg at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> On 05/09/2011 12:12 PM, Peng Yu wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I try to update my ubuntu. But I got the following error. Could you
>>>>>>>> please let me know what the problem is and how to fix it?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Have you tried:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> $ sudo dpkg --configure -a
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> $ sudo apt-get install -f
>>>>>>> yet?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Here are the screen output.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> $ sudo dpkg --configure -a
>>>>>> Setting up dbus (1.2.16-2ubuntu4.2) ...
>>>>>> The system user `messagebus' already exists. Exiting.
>>>>>> chown: invalid group: `root:messagebus'
>>>>>> dpkg: error processing dbus (--configure):
>>>>>>  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
>>>>> ...
>>>>> In the future, when you have lengthy output to post, please post at
>>>>> http://paste.ubuntu.com and then provide a link to the pastebin: example:
>>>>> http://paste.ubuntu.com/605802/
>>>>
>>>> Sure.
>>>>
>>>>> What is the result of the following:
>>>>>
>>>>> $ groups root
>>>>> $ groups messagebus
>>>>> $ cat /etc/group
>>>>> (only the root and messagebus output please or the entire on pastebin)
>>>>
>>>> See below.
>>>>
>>>> $ groups root
>>>> root : root
>>>> $ groups messagebus
>>>> messagebus : mlocate
>>>> $ grep root /etc/group
>>>> root:x:0:
>>>> $ grep messagebus /etc/group
>>>
>>> Interesting... I wonder why mlocate is part of the messagebus group.
>>> Mine from my lucid test machine:
>>>
>>> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ groups root
>>> root : root
>>> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ groups messagebus
>>> messagebus : messagebus
>>> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ grep messagebus /etc/group
>>> messagebus:x:107:
>>> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$
>>>
>>> And yes, I do have mlocate installed:
>>> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ apt-cache policy mlocate
>>> mlocate:
>>>  Installed: 0.22.2-1ubuntu1
>>>  Candidate: 0.22.2-1ubuntu1
>>>  Version table:
>>>  *** 0.22.2-1ubuntu1 0
>>>        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages
>>>        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
>>
>> I checked another lucid machine that I saw the same thing as you show.
>> I'm not sure why it mess up in the lucid machine that has the problem.
>> Do you see a way to fix the problem?
>>
>
> Is this a desktop or server? You could try modifying/changing via:
> groupadd  groupdel  groupmod
> or System|Administration|Users...|Manage Groups

It is a server. Does it matter whether it is a server or desktop?

I'm not at physically at the machine now so I can't use
System|Administration|Users...|Manage Groups.

I'm not familar with the commands (groupadd  groupdel  groupmod). And
I don't want to mess up with my system. The following is from passwd
file. Would you please tell me the exact commands (w/ command
arguments to use)? Thanks.

$ grep messagebus /etc/passwd
messagebus:x:105:108::/var/run/dbus:/bin/false

> You'll need to ensure it has a gid: it should match the gid in /etc/passwd.
>
> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ grep messagebus /etc/passwd
> messagebus:x:102:107::/var/run/dbus:/bin/false
> lucid at lucid-desktop:~$ grep 107 /etc/group
> messagebus:x:107:




-- 
Regards,
Peng