Libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3 is up to date but /var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc: missing

Hi,

My last Discover update rally did a number on Pacman. Now I can’t start LibreOffice. I get the following error message. I was about to Remove /var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc but wanted to seek wise council before.

warning: libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3 is up to date -- reinstalling
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...
error: could not open file /var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc: No such file or directory
warning: could not fully load metadata for package libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3
error: failed to prepare transaction (invalid or corrupted package)
 -> error installing repo packages

Thanks for any help you can give!

Try creating the missing file manually and then reinstall the package:

sudo touch /var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc

sudo pacman -S libreoffice-fresh

The use of any package manager using packagekit is not recommended on Arch (-based distros) since it would obfuscate the install/update process and no opportunity is given to the user if/when there is a need for manual intervention.

Did it but still giving me the error message.The desc file is there. I see it.

I always update the system at the command prompt. I noticed that Discover updates ancillary, like cursors, etc. even after -Syu doesn’t.

I’m going to try to manually remove the file but it’s locked.

Thanks

Try removing the package first, update your system and reinstall it:

sudo pacman -R libreoffice-fresh

sudo pacman -Syu

sudo pacman -S libreoffice-fresh

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Thanks,

It uninstalled it but after reinstalling it, it gave me so many error messages concluding with packages already exist.

I did have a corrupted pacman database a few days ago.

Weird.

Could you post the error messages?
If it is a long one, you could use a pastebin service and post the url.

Sure, I’m not sure what pastebin but I’ll look it up in the meantime.

You could use

or some other of your choice.

Ah, I understand better now. I’m not sure how it’s used. The terminal doesn’t list everything. I guess I need to redirect it to pastebin or privatebin. I’m just not sure how that works. I’m trying to look it up.

Thanks

@pebcak
If the OP is only having an issue with installing libreoffice wouldn’t removing pacman cache be the answer? It is most likely the cached package that is corrupted? :thinking:

:man_shrugging:

I think it might be a “file already exists” case but since they formulate it

I wanted to see the error messages to be sure.

1 Like

I’ve been having issues with pacman all week, starting last week.

I’ll look into refreshing the database again. Last I tried was this:

sudo rm /var/lib/pacman/db.lck

Make sure libreoffice is uninstalled and then try.

sudo pacman -Sc

Then do an update

sudo pacman -Syu

Then try reinstalling libreoffice.

Thanks, it seems like it is:

sudo touch /var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc
[sudo] password for suoni: 
touch: cannot touch '/var/lib/pacman/local/libreoffice-fresh-7.4.3-3/desc': No such file or directory
[xxx]$ sudo rm /var/lib/pacman/db.lck
rm: cannot remove '/var/lib/pacman/db.lck': No such file or directory

After doing -Sc and -SYyu still same problem.

Should I flush out the pacman database again? Would that help?

Sorry if I don’t understand much.

Please post the terminal output when you try reinstalling the package.
Without that, there is no way of telling what might be wrong.

Why are you using this command? Or is this a typo?

Sry, yes, typo. I meant -Syu

Does the update command run normally without error?

I don’t know what the command is for pastebin or privatebin. I’m looking it up and can’t make sense of it. Thanks

You can copy the terminal output and paste it into your reply, highlight it and press Ctrl-E to format.