Cannot Open "Software & Updates" program in Debian 11

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Hello, how are you there? I am using Debian 11 and I have a problem that occurred after do some actions on “Software & Updates”. The issue is that I cannot open this system program no more. I would like to have your help to solve this issue please.
 


I have a problem that occurred after do some actions on “Software & Updates”.
Good morning,
more information please, what actions did you take [what method did you use for the updates, update manager or terminal]
The issue is that I cannot open this system program no more.
can you still open a terminal ? CTRL + ALT + T
 
I
Good morning,
more information please, what actions did you take [what method did you use for the updates, update manager or terminal]

can you still open a terminal ? CTRL + ALT + T
I usually use terminal to do updates through command “apt update”, I can not do update of the packages on "Software" because always has some error. First, I run the command “apt updates” and some warnings were sent to me, I think was related to packages or repositories, so I went to "Software & Updates" and uncheck those options that appear on the warnings after that I just click in the left button (the right button I think is close, my operating system is in Portuguese). After these action, I cannot open "Software & Updates" no more.

Yes, I can open terminal with no problem
 
If you do not have a desktop but do have a terminal then try.. $ startx

It sounds like you may have downloaded a broken package run sudo apt-get update --fix-missing if the report end XXX number of packages to be installed [or similar] run sudo apt-get install -f
 
Sorry, I forgot to refer my machine. I am using:
Hewlett-Packard HP ProBook 450 G2
Ram: 12Gb
CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-5200U × 4
SSD: 1,0 TB
SO: Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid
 
If you do not have a desktop but do have a terminal then try.. $ startx

It sounds like you may have downloaded a broken package run sudo apt-get update --fix-missing if the report end XXX number of packages to be installed [or similar] run sudo apt-get install -f
I try but still can not open it
 
some warnings were sent to me, I think was related to packages or repositories

Can you tell us EXACTLY what those errors/warnings were? Can you copy and paste them here?

Bookworm/Sid is not Debian 11. It is Testing
 
Can you tell us EXACTLY what those errors/warnings were? Can you copy and paste them here?

Bookworm/Sid is not Debian 11. It is Testing
Actually if it shows "Bookworm/Sid" the OP is running Debian Unstable. Testing should just show Bookworm. At least I am pretty sure of that, since I am on Sid and it shows Bookworm/Sid.
Distro: Raspberry Pi OS base: Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid

Without showing the errors, no one is going to be able to help you.
 
I have a problem that occurred after do some actions on “Software & Updates”
Did you, by any chance, enable a different Debian release to what you had, in order to get a newer version of a given program? Did you enable Ubuntu or Mint repositories?

If so, your system is lost. Beyond repair. You should reinstall it completely.

For the next time, check https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian
 
Can you tell us EXACTLY what those errors/warnings were? Can you copy and paste them here?

Bookworm/Sid is not Debian 11. It is Testing
Since I uncheck some options on “Software & Updates” related with I think repositories, the errors/warnings do not show when I do "apt update"...
 
Actually if it shows "Bookworm/Sid" the OP is running Debian Unstable. Testing should just show Bookworm. At least I am pretty sure of that, since I am on Sid and it shows Bookworm/Sid.
Distro: Raspberry Pi OS base: Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid

Without showing the errors, no one is going to be able to help you.
For me was strange because I did the download of Debian 11 a file of 3,9GB at official Debian website for some reason that I do not know when I start search about my SO information there show Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid. I had a problem a few weeks ago that did not able me to boot correctly, that a specify here: https://www.linux.org/threads/probl...-system-after-performing-system-update.39840/
 
Did you, by any chance, enable a different Debian release to what you had, in order to get a newer version of a given program? Did you enable Ubuntu or Mint repositories?

If so, your system is lost. Beyond repair. You should reinstall it completely.

For the next time, check https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian
Maybe Ubuntu! I'm not that experienced using debian
 
What is recommended install testing or stable Debian version?
For a newbie always choose the stable version, the daily updates in the testing versions can and do break the system occasionally so some prior knowledge of fixing broken packages etc is essential.
Maybe Ubuntu! I'm not that experienced using debian
Ubuntu is Debian stable under the blankets, you need to learn very little to jump from one Debian based distro to another
 
Does Software&Updates run if you type
Code:
sudo software-properties-gtk
from the terminal? If it does not it will show error please post back any errors displayed in the terminal then
try running
Code:
sudo journalctl -f
then try to launch the Software & Updates program
if neither of the above does not work then try
Code:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --reinstall python3-six python3-certifi
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What is recommended install testing or stable Debian version?
You should always install the stable version unless you are working for Debian (as a project member, to test next releases). If you want to work using Debian, meaning that if you are a Linux User, always stable. No exceptions.

The official and supported way to install newer package versions than the ones in the official Debian Stable repos, is to use backports over Debian Stable (check instructions here --> https://backports.debian.org/).

If you still need something newer, or anything that doesn’t get packaged in Debian, the safest way is to use container-based package systems like flatpak, AppImage or Snap.

(I’m not covering compiling from source and installing to a directory under your home today, it’s quite a bit more demanding)
 
Last edited:
Does Software&Updates run if you type
Code:
sudo software-properties-gtk
from the terminal? If it does not it will show error please post back any errors displayed in the terminal then
try running
Code:
sudo journalctl -f
then try to launch the Software & Updates program
if neither of the above does not work then try
Code:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --reinstall python3-six python3-certifi
When I try run software-properties-gtk as super user show the next error:

ERROR:root:Cannot import UbuntuDrivers: No module named 'UbuntuDrivers'
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/software-properties-gtk", line 101, in <module>
app = SoftwarePropertiesGtk(datadir=options.data_dir, options=options, file=file)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/gtk/SoftwarePropertiesGtk.py", line 109, in __init__
SoftwareProperties.__init__(self, options=options, datadir=datadir)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 109, in __init__
self.reload_sourceslist()
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 599, in reload_sourceslist
self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)
File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 91, in get_sources
raise NoDistroTemplateException(
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template for Debian/n/a

When I try run this command journalctl -f as Super User the terminal shows some many information and it seems me that will not stop and I still not be able to open it.

After run apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --reinstall python3-six python3-certifi command still cannot open it
 
You should always install the stable version unless you are working for Debian (as a project member, to test next releases). If you want to work using Debian, meaning that if you are a Linux User, always stable. No exceptions.

The official and supported way to install newer package versions than the ones in the official Debian Stable repos, is to use backports over Debian Stable (check instructions here --> https://backports.debian.org/).

If you still need something newer, or anything that doesn’t get packaged in Debian, the safest way is to use container-based package systems like flatpak, AppImage or Snap.

(I’m not covering compiling from source and installing to a directory under your home today, it’s quite a bit more demanding)
Thank you. Just to get sure, is this link https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/bt-dvd/ the correct to download the stable version?
 

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