Arch Linux

zapyourit

Member

Registered: 2008-05-12

Posts: 46

pacman tells me I need to update updated packages

Recently, I updated my system using the -Syu switch. However, when I run a full system upgrade now, I am told that I still need to install the programs that were installed previously.

Example A:

[matt@myhost ~]$ sudo pacman -Syu
Password: 
:: Synchronizing package databases...
 core is up to date
 extra is up to date
 community is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
resolving dependencies...
looking for inter-conflicts...

Targets: bzip2-1.0.5-2  coreutils-6.11-1  dialog-1.1_20080316-3  file-4.24-1  
         gpm-1.20.3-1  libldap-2.3.40-1  libtool-2.2.4-1  licenses-2.4-1  
         links-2.1pre36-1  m4-1.4.11-1  pcre-7.7-1  texinfo-4.12-2  

Total Download Size:    0.00 MB
Total Installed Size:   19.42 MB

Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
checking package integrity...
(12/12) checking for file conflicts                 [#####################] 100%
( 1/12) upgrading bzip2                             [#####################] 100%
( 2/12) upgrading coreutils                         [#####################] 100%
( 3/12) upgrading dialog                            [#####################] 100%
( 4/12) upgrading file                              [#####################] 100%
( 5/12) upgrading gpm                               [#####################] 100%
( 6/12) upgrading libldap                           [#####################] 100%
( 7/12) upgrading libtool                           [#####################] 100%
( 8/12) upgrading licenses                          [#####################] 100%
( 9/12) upgrading links                             [#####################] 100%
(10/12) upgrading m4                                [#####################] 100%
(11/12) upgrading pcre                              [#####################] 100%
(12/12) upgrading texinfo                           [#####################] 100%
[matt@myhost ~]$ sudo pacman -Su
:: Starting full system upgrade...
resolving dependencies...
looking for inter-conflicts...

Targets: bzip2-1.0.5-2  coreutils-6.11-1  dialog-1.1_20080316-3  file-4.24-1  
         gpm-1.20.3-1  libldap-2.3.40-1  libtool-2.2.4-1  licenses-2.4-1  
         links-2.1pre36-1  m4-1.4.11-1  pcre-7.7-1  texinfo-4.12-2  

Total Download Size:    0.00 MB
Total Installed Size:   19.42 MB

When I query the system, I get the following problems:

[matt@myhost ~]$ pacman -Qe
915resolution 0.5.3-1
...
bzip2 1.0.5-2
bzip2 1.0.4-3
...
coreutils 6.11-1
coreutils 6.10-2
...
dialog 1.1_20080316-3
dialog 1.1_20071028-1
...
file 4.24-1
file 4.23-1
...
gpm 1.20.3-1
gpm 1.20.1-7
...
libldap 2.3.40-1
libldap 2.3.39-2
...
licenses 2.4-1
licenses 2.3-1
...
links 2.1pre36-1
links 2.1pre33-1
...
m4 1.4.11-1
m4 1.4.10-3
...
pcre 7.7-1
pcre 7.6-3
...
texinfo 4.12-2
texinfo 4.11-2

When I try to remove the older listed, pacman tells me that they are required by other programs and therefore not removable. If I add the old version number when I use the -R switch, pacman says that the packages do not exist or cant be found.

Any help in the matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Matt

dyscoria

Member

Registered: 2008-01-10

Posts: 1,007

Re: pacman tells me I need to update updated packages

A longshot but maybe a "pacman -Syyu".
I can't imagine how you have two versions of the same package! Looks like some sort of weird pacman bug where it's refusing to acknowledge the upgrade.

---

flack 2.0.6: menu-driven BASH script to easily tag FLAC files (AUR)
knock-once 1.2: BASH script to easily create/send one-time sequences for knockd (forum/AUR)

zapyourit

Member

Registered: 2008-05-12

Posts: 46

Re: pacman tells me I need to update updated packages

yeah thats exactly what i thought and i cant figure out how to change it. i might need to go into the pacman cache? im not sure. ill try -Syyu though. thanks.

UPDATE: there was no change using the -Syyu switch. no dice.

zapyourit

Member

Registered: 2008-05-12

Posts: 46

Re: pacman tells me I need to update updated packages

SECONDARY UPDATE

I fixed the problem. In /var/lib/pacman, there is a "local" folder, storing what pacman knows about your system. Generally, when a package is updated, pacman deletes the previous versions folder. I found that in the local folder, there were duplicate program entries for bzip2, coreutils, etc etc. Deleting the older versions folders, when I run an update now, it works perfectly, telling me that my system is up to date.

For those that find at some point that they have a similar problem:
/var/lib/pacman/local >> delete folders of older versions >> run another system update >> solved.

As a precaution, I've re-installed the duplicated programs to make sure that I still have them and haven't broken anything.

Have a good day and thank you dyscoria. You pointed me in the right direction. Using the double 'y' switch reminded me of the cache, which gave me the directories I needed to find.

Hope this will help,
Matt