Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

This it might be useful to share this info with people in my similar situaion (new N800 and no WiFi network around)

I just received a new N800 device so I proceeded to install xterm and SSH on it so that I can get root access.

However, my company prohibits WiFi, so I needed to download the packages into the internal flash memory, and then install the .deb files manually using Application Manager. For my N800, I figured the following sequence of .deb files should be installed (in the order listed below)

http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...sso1_armel.deb
http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...sso1_armel.deb
http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...3osso2_all.deb
http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...sso2_armel.deb
http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...0.13_armel.deb
http://repository.maemo.org/pool/bor...sso7_armel.deb

However, when I try to install any of these .deb files, Application Manager simply gives a cryptic error message: "Incompatible Package" and refuses to install it. After poking around for a while, I found the Log screen of the Application Manager shows the output of "dpkg -i xxx.deb", which says something like:

Package must have "Section: user/FOO" to be considered compatible.

Not sure why dpkg complains this way -- I have another N800 already configured by someone else, and if I log in as root, I can run "dpkg -i" to install these deb files without any issues. Probably it had something to do with the fact that on my "virgin" N800, I am running Application Manager not as root.

Anyway, I wrote a script to fix the .deb files:

#-------------------------------------------------
rm -rf tmp
mkdir tmp
cd tmp
ar x ../$1
mkdir con
cd con
tar zxf ../control.tar.gz
sed -e 's/Section: .*/Section: user\/Foo/g' < control > control.tmp
mv control.tmp control
tar zcf ../control.tar.gz .
cd ..
X=`echo $1 | sed -e 's/.deb/.fixed.deb/g'`
rm -f ../$X
ar cq ../$X debian-binary control.tar.gz data.tar.gz
cd ..
ls -l $1 $X
#--------------------------------------------------------------

Just save it as fix.sh and run "sh fix.sh foo.deb", and it will generate a file called foo.fixed.deb

After that, install the .fixed.deb files in the order specified about, then, launch xterm, and run

ssh root@localhost <-- password = rootme

Then you will have root!

Enjoy!

Re: Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

They could have been installed in red pill mode

Re: Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

They could. But it's still a useful script, as this problem has come up several times lately -- someone creates a new package but unfortunately with an incompatible Section:, and those wanting to test it can't get it installed. Now they can, if they adapt the script provided by tomei.ningen.

Re: Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

Most of the times it may be easiest to just sudo gainroot and install packages via 'dpkg -i package.deb' than messing with the packages. IMO it needs same skills (i.e. ability to open xterm and type commands) and is faster.

Re: Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

Well yeah, agreed. The script could still be used by lazy package makers to fix their own packages before (re-)sending them out to market though! ;) ;)

Re: Incompatible package, Section: user/FOO
 

luca, thanks for the info about red pill mode.

I am wondering if any of the packages on the "bora" version of http://repository.maemo.org/ can be installed on a virgin N800 at all, without red pill mode, using the web browser. I didn't try that myself as I did not have a WiFi connection.

If not, maybe the folks at maemo.org should somehow make the information about red-pill mode more obvious? I wasted a few hours because of this ....