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The machine was pretty slow already. However I decided to execute sudo apt-get update.

However the update stopped at 90% updating some trigger.

So I decided to log out and re login with user. However the system didn't let me log on any more.

So I decided to log on with an alternative user and triggered the update again, same message: 

Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/) is another process using it?

Then I tried a shutdown. Now I just see the Ubuntu logo and white/red dots moving from left to right.

This machine is important for me, what's the best thing to do for me now?

Should I just switch off power and reboot?

Your help is very much appreciated!

Zanna
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ssssstut
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  • Did you do apt-get update or apt-get upgrade? The update shouldn't modify anything that could broke your system, it just updates apt/dpkg indices and caches. – Daniele Santi Nov 26 '18 at 11:55
  • apt-get update. Is there a possibility to switch from splash screen to comand line to see shutdown? Or should I just turn off? (Shutdown now already takes many many minutes) – ssssstut Nov 26 '18 at 11:59

1 Answers1

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1) List apt process

ps -A | grep apt

this show like output:

12421 pts/1 00:00:00 apt
12445 pts/1 00:00:00 apt

2) Kill this process: The process ID (PID) is found in the first column from the output above.

sudo kill -SIGKILL <PID>

3) Remove Lock

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
Carlos Dagorret
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  • Because ctrl alt F1/F2 didn't let me log in I decided to switch off power. When I rebooted Luckily after reboot everything was fine. And btw: the command I executed was 'sudo apt upgrade' (I wanted to do updates but without any new kernels etc.) – ssssstut Nov 26 '18 at 12:50