The “E:Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages” is a common issue that you might encounter when using the Update Manager in Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linux distributions. This error indicates that there are held packages on your system, which are causing conflicts and preventing the upgrade process.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of resolving this error, step-by-step.
To fix the "pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks" error in Update Manager, you can start by checking for held packages using the apt-mark showhold command. If there are held packages, you can remove the hold using sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>. If that doesn’t work, try fixing broken dependencies with sudo apt-get install -f. If all else fails, you may need to manually remove conflicting packages using sudo apt-get remove <package-name>. If none of these solutions work, it’s recommended to report the issue to the package maintainers.
Understanding the Error
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s important to understand what the error message means. Held packages are packages that have been manually marked to be kept at a specific version, usually to avoid conflicts or issues with newer versions. The error message indicates that these held packages are causing conflicts and preventing the upgrade process.
Checking for Held Packages
The first step to resolving this error is to check if there are any held packages on your system. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:
apt-mark showholdThis command will display a list of held packages on your system. If there are no held packages, the command will not return any output.
Removing Held Packages
If there are held packages on your system, you can try removing the hold on those packages. This can be done using the following command:
sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>In this command, <package-name> should be replaced with the name of the held package. This command will remove the hold on the specified package, allowing it to be upgraded.
Fixing Broken Packages
If removing the held packages does not resolve the error, the next step is to fix any broken dependencies and resolve conflicts. This can be done using the following command:
sudo apt-get install -fThis command will attempt to correct any issues with package dependencies and ensure that all packages are in a consistent state.
Removing Conflicting Packages
If the above solutions do not resolve the error, you may need to manually remove the conflicting packages. This can be done using the following command:
sudo apt-get remove <package-name>In this command, <package-name> should be replaced with the name of the package causing the conflict. Be cautious when removing packages, as it may affect the functionality of other software.
Reporting the Bug
If none of the above solutions work, you can report the issue to the ‘update-manager’ package maintainers. Provide them with the error message and any relevant details about your system configuration. They may be able to provide further assistance or bug fixes.
Conclusion
Resolving the “pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks” error in the Update Manager involves checking for held packages, removing held packages, fixing broken packages, and removing conflicting packages. If all else fails, reporting the bug to the package maintainers may provide further assistance.
Remember, before making any changes to your system, it’s recommended to create a backup or snapshot of your system to avoid any potential data loss or system instability.
We hope this guide has been helpful in resolving this error. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
To access the terminal in Ubuntu, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T. Alternatively, you can search for "Terminal" in the application launcher and click on the terminal icon to open it.
You can check for held packages on your system by running the command apt-mark showhold in the terminal. If there are no held packages, the command will not return any output.
To remove the hold on a package, you can use the command sudo apt-mark unhold <package-name>, where <package-name> should be replaced with the name of the held package.
If removing held packages doesn’t resolve the error, you can try fixing broken packages by running the command sudo apt-get install -f in the terminal. This command will attempt to correct any issues with package dependencies.
Yes, if the previous solutions don’t work, you may need to manually remove the conflicting packages. You can use the command sudo apt-get remove <package-name> to remove a specific package causing the conflict. However, be cautious when removing packages, as it may affect the functionality of other software.
If none of the solutions work, you can report the issue to the ‘update-manager’ package maintainers. Provide them with the error message and any relevant details about your system configuration. They may be able to provide further assistance or bug fixes.
