That kind of lock file message usually means you have App Mgr loaded and you have opened a terminal to do the apt-get update. You have to close App Mgr before you do the apt-get update.
Hopefully, when you can successfully do apt-get update (which also requires that you be in root mode) you will get more meaningful error messages and maybe even solve the problem.
Try rebooting and then don't open anything else before you run the upgrade again.
Sometimes disabling the repo's rebooting and then re-enabling them fixes some internal broken stuff.
I actually start to use another application to deal with the installation/upgrade/removal of apps called "faster application manager", and i found it to be very good and does not break the build in software. In fact this third party provides more meaningful diagnostics when there is issues.
the main problem that i have is that i can't install anything on my mobile it always showing the error message unable to install (programe name) eg i have tried several time instaling fire fox but always the same message
app manager was not open when i typed in apt-get update in x terminal .i did this for some sort of updates because no updates have been given me since a week from when i have bought it.
nicolai what do you mean by open the app manager protocol pleas ebecause i'm not an expert about these things.
Thanks
I'm echoing exactly the same problems Nicolai. How do you open protocol in apps manager? Mine doesn't have the option in that menu. And then where to from there?
Below is a sample of one of many a failed installation. Tried putting rootsh on via bluetooth but Apps manager still hits me with "Unable to install".
I chose you so I could add to your 874 'thank you' crowd since you seem experienced with linux, and mac. I'm a beginner in every way but bought the N900 for a challenge-drowning already!
Installing guitar-chords 1.0-1
apt-worker: free space (/) = 78430208
apt-worker: free space (/home/user/MyDocs/.apt-archive-cache/) = 28162129920
apt-worker: free space (/home/) = 1870516224
apt-worker: total space (/home/) = 2113748992
required disk space: 29944
result code = 0
apt-worker: free space (/) = 78430208
dpkg: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 442 package `n900-locales-ppchinese':
EOF during value of field `Maemo-Icon-26' (missing final newline)
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
apt-worker: Ignoring version from wrong domain: libsdl-mixer1.2 1:1.2.6-5+0m5+ogg+mp3
apt-worker: /var/lib/apt/lists/repository.maemo.org_extras-devel_dists_fremantle_free_binary-armel_Packages
@humvee
$ sudo apt-get -f install
Looks like the package n900-locales-ppchinese has a typo in packaging control file which seems to be screwing up apt-get. apt-get -f install should offer to uninstall the problem packages.