Ubuntu
dpkg package

failed in buffer_read(fd)

Asked by rendral

I have been happily using Ubuntu Linux 6.06LTS for approximately two years and right up and until this week I have never experienced any problems. However, just this week when I tried to install the latest updates (starting with locales 2.3.18.8) I keep getting the following error message “failed in buffer_read(fd).

Terminal reads:
Preconfiguring packages…..
(Reading database …dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/locales_2.3.18.8_all.deb
(--unpack):
failed in buffer_read(fd): files list for package ‘libmpeg2-4’: Input/output error
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/locales_2.3.18.8_all.deb
Processing was halted because there were too many errors.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:

I now, as of today (20th January 2008) 38 updates that will not install. I have even tried to reduce the number of updates to be installed, but same error occurs: “failed in buffer_read(fd), only the file name(s) is/are different.

I have been on the Internet for over two (2) days searching for an answer – alas I have been unsuccessful. Also, I have notice several other users have the same problem, but no one appears to have an answer or a solution to this problem.

I do however believe the solution to this problem may have something to do with the following line in the error message:
failed in buffer_read(fd): files list for package ‘libmpeg2-4’: Input/output error

Any assistance would be appreciated!

Ever so gratefully yours

Rendral

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Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

Please open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.

Hope this helps

Revision history for this message
rendral (ron-lardner) said : 		#2

The exact same problem has occurred - as per my original message, thanks for trying marcobra

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#3

Please check you have disk space type:

df -h

Thank you

Revision history for this message
rendral (ron-lardner) said : 		#4

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use%
Mounted on
/dev/hda 9.3G 3.4G 5.5G 38% /
varrun 252M 140K 252M 1% /var/run
varlock 252M 4.0K 252M 1% /var/lock
udev 252M 116K 252M 1% /dev
devshm 252M 0 252M 0% /dev/shm
lrm 252M 19M 234M 8%
/lib/modules/2.6.15.29-386/volatile

marcobra wrote:
> Your question #22587 on dpkg in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+question/22587
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> marcobra requested for more information:
> Please check you have disk space type:
>
> df -h
>
> Thank you
>
>

--
------------------------------------------
Ron Lardner Oberon CTC Volumteer
759 Duckmaloi Rd Oberon NSW Australia 2787
Te: 02) 6336-0648 Mobile: 0412 166 467
Email: <email address hidden>
------------------------------------------

Revision history for this message
rendral (ron-lardner) said : 		#5

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3 9.3G 3.4G 5.5G 38% /
varrun 252M 140K 252M 1% /var/run
varlock 252M 4.0K 252M 1% /var/lock
udev 252M 116K 252M 1% /dev
devshm 252M 0 252M 0% /dev/shm
lrm 252M 19M 234M 8% /lib/modules/2.6.15-29-386/volatile
ronl@ronl-desktop:~$

Sorry for the error in the previous message - I forgot whcih computer I was on:)

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#6

Please try

sudo apt-get -f install

Revision history for this message
rendral (ron-lardner) said : 		#7

Sorry for the delay, wife has been ill!
Once again, after doing as you suggested the same error persist!
Thank you for your on-going assistance.

On Sun, 2008-01-20 at 06:15 +0000, marcobra wrote:
> Your question #22587 on dpkg in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+question/22587
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> marcobra proposed the following answer:
> Please try
>
> sudo apt-get -f install
>

Revision history for this message
Shaolin Monkey (gmcclure) said : 		#8

I'm having a similar problem and I've been looking for an answer for months.

Error (after running sudo apt-get upgrade):

Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/e2fslibs_1.40.2-1ubuntu1.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
 failed in buffer_read(fd): files list for package `libmagick9': Input/output error
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/e2fslibs_1.40.2-1ubuntu1.1_i386.deb
Processing was halted because there were too many errors.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

This only began after I upgraded to Gutsy. Everything was fine before. I've found no answer in various searches, although a number of people seem to have similar problems.

I've also tried all the steps above, to no avail.

Revision history for this message
gil (gilbert-laycock) said : 		#9

This seems to indicate that the file list for package libmagick9 is corrupt in some way. Try

 cat /var/lib/dpkg/info/libmagick9.list

You should get a list of the files included in the libmagick9 package; instead you will get an empty list, or an error indicating that the file is not normal in some way.

The solution is to remove the offending list file:
  sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/libmagick9.list

and then rerun the suggested commands above to let apt/dpkg/etc sort themselves out:

  sudo apt-get -f install
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get upgrade

Revision history for this message
_Milk (wheresmichael) said : 		#10

Thanks, that worked for me.

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