UBUNtU APT PROBLEMS AND FIXES

Ubuntu overall is a good distribution, but like all things has its quirks that can crop up from time to time. Most of my issues come from apt being very reminiscent of how RPM was back in 2000-2003, with issues that crop up and can be a royal nightmare to troubleshoot and finally repair. Here are my issues that I have found thru my time as an admin and occasional user of Ubuntu. This is a WIP, and is subject to me having time to collate the code/commands/steps to remedy into a coherent manual. Best of luck!

APT HAS A STALE LOCKFILE

    sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
    sudo dpkg --configure -a
    sudo apt update

APT HANGS ON KERNEL UPGRADE

Use a virtual terminal (important, gnome-terminal or the like will not work correctly) by pressing CTL+ALT+F3

Issue the following commands

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update

Press ALT+F2 to return to GUI desktop

APT HANGS ON KERNEL UPGRADE ON SYSTEM NVIDIA HYBRID GRAPHICS

Open up a terminal
Run the following command:
```
sudo prime-switch intel
```
Reboot

Issue the following commands:

sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo prime-switch nvidia

Reboot

APT RECONFIGURE FAILS DUE TO A BAD UPDATE METADATA FILE

This occurs after an attemt to dpkg --configure -a with the following error:

    dpkg: error: parsing file '/var/lib/dpkg/updates/1234' near line 0:
    newline in field name `#padding'

The exact file in error may vary, but will be at the same path (/var/lib/dpkg/updates/XXXX). The resolution is simply to delete that file.

APT BROKE NVIDIA

Switch to a virtual terminal (CTL+ALT+F3)
Run the following command:
```
sudo apt-get purge nvidia-*
```
When completed, return to your GUI desktop (ALT+F2)
Run the program Software & Updates
Navigate to the Additional Drivers tab
Reselect NVIDIA when the system finishes scanning and click apply changes
When the system finishes downloading and installing the drivers, reboot.