[kubuntu] Authorisation failure - Muon - and other apps requiring elevated permissions topic

I'm running Kubuntu 14.10 64bit. Following some updates yesterday I am faced with this behaviour:

1. Muon Update will find updates but will not install them. It does not ask for a password but simply gives the message "This operation cannot continue since proper authorization was not provided". I can upgrade via terminal only.

2. Shutdown, reboot and logout buttons no longer work. I have to do this via terminal.

3. Ubuntu Tweak will launch but will not run any options to clean the cache, uninstall old kernels etc. Does not ask for authorisation, simply sits there looking pretty.

4. Muon Discover will not allow the installation of any software packages, giving the same error message as Muon Update.

I've searched the usual sources and tried various fixes, including checking that polkit-kde-1 is installed (it is) and reconfiguring PAM, but after rebooting and logging in and out the problem persists. Large quantities of virtual beer and kudos to anyone who can help me sort this annoyance.

Thanks guys!

Open Office installation failure topic

Back again for help I'm afraid.
I have just re-installed Xubuntu v.14.10 and am trying to install the latest version of Open Office. Everything seems to install OK but OO does not show up on the desktop or in the mouse menu.
I typed openoffice4 in terminal and the response was as shown " /usr/bin/openoffice4: 22: exec: /opt/openoffice4/program/soffice: not found". I have looked in the /opt folder and confirm there is no reference to OO. I have removed and re-installed OO three times without success
Any suggestions please as to what may have gone wrong. Just to confirm - Libre Office is not installed so there is no clash with OO.

[ubuntu] Kernel image error causing FTP install failure topic

So I'm new to Ubuntu and trying to install vsftpd on my web server. However, whenever I use the

Code:

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sudo apt-get install vsftpd

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command, I get this error:

Code:

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E: The package linux-image-3.8.0-41-generic needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.

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Has anyone else seen this error before? How did you fix it? It comes up trying to install virtually anything right now, and is also preventing me from doing an upgrade. I've been able to find some other forums where people have a similar error, but none with a useable solution.