Version: 0.4.2-0ubuntu3 (using KDE 4.3.3) Compiler: 4.4.2-2ubuntu1 OS: Linux Installed from: Ubuntu Packages In case of an dpkg-interruption KPackageKit tells me about a different packagemanager already running, which is not the case -- error messages should at least point to the correct problem, if at all. Therefore I could not fix this problem via the GUI, which forced me to switch to the command line. There was no lock file in /var/lock to be seen, "sudo aptitude update" gave: $ sudo aptitude update E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem. After following this instruction I could use KPackageKit for updating packages again. Please consider handling this case within a userfriendly dialog, thanks! This bug was originally reported as: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kpackagekit/+bug/483788
That's not a KPackageKit bug, even on Synaptic it will tell you to do the same. If you want a better handling you should start by asking the backend developer what can be done which afaik there is nothing.
Reassigning this bug to the developer you mentioned - I forgot his name somehow - would do it, IGNORING this bug can cause a support center / neighbour / local geek to earn some money / words of thankfulness but it will in any case leave an impression of a unrealiable system which one could find harmful to some goal (for example "making Linux ready for the desktop"). As I don't use KPackageKit myself I am not interested helping to improve this software or it's stack, so I won't bother finding the source of mistake myself. I just hope no one else is hit by this bug again.
you can be sure there will be lots of ppl hit by this which is not actually a bug, aptitude/apt-get both suggests you to issue dpkg -reconfigure -a
Then I hope apt-get/aptitude get a decent GUI someday which can resolve those problems via the GUI saving the regular user time for a commandline course ;)