Program perpetually stuck in install

While installing a software program, my computer got accidentally shut off. Now the program just says "installing" forever in the software manager. Because it's always "installing", it doesn't show any option to uninstall it - so I can't start again fresh. Now what should I do? Thanks.

Okay, what for a Progam is it? And what Version: Flatpak, Snap or APT?

It's a program called telegram desktop. The source says: dl.flathub.org

It always says "Installing" 0%", but the install line in the software manager doesn't move. The thing is, I can actually start the program despite this. But it always says "installing..." in the software manager - so I don't think it can get any updates if needed. This problem started when my computer accidentally got shut down in the middle of an update.

You could try opening a terminal and doing flatpak repair. That scans all flatpaks and verifies them.

Okay, a Flatpak. Please open the Terminal and type flatpak list to show a List of all installed Flatpak's and then post it here.

Ok. here's the list:

Name Application ID Version Branch Origin Installation
GPU… …creen_recorder 4.1.11 stable flathub system
Sio… …ub.ahrm.sioyek 2.0.0 stable flathub system
Boo… …luboy.bookworm 1.1.2 stable flathub system
Rem… …inel.reminduck 1.6.2 stable flathub system
Wel… …m.pulseeffects 4.8.7 stable flathub system
Val… …software.Steam 1.0.0.79 stable flathub system
Viv… …ivaldi.Vivaldi 6.9.3447.48 stable flathub system
SMP… …layer.SMPlayer 24.5.0 stable flathub system
Koo… …o.koodo-reader 1.6.7 stable flathub system
Voi… …ngolf.voicegen 2.1.0 stable flathub system
mpv io.mpv.Mpv v0.39.0 stable flathub system
PyS… …ysolfc.PySolFC 3.0.0 stable flathub system
Anki …t.ankiweb.Anki 24.06.3 stable flathub system
Mas… …asterPDFEditor 5.9.85 stable flathub system
slo… …ow.slowmovideo v0.6 stable flathub system
Lut… ….lutris.Lutris 0.5.17 stable flathub system
Spe… …iol.SpeechNote 4.6.1 stable flathub system
LBr… …es.LBreakoutHD 1.1.3 stable flathub system
Aud… …yteam.Audacity 3.6.3 stable flathub system
Cod… …udacity.Codecs stable flathub system
Cor… …ocore.CoreHunt 4.5.0 stable flathub system
SWH …io.Plugins.swh 0.4.17 22.08 flathub system
Fre… …sktop.Platform 21.08.22 21.08 flathub system
Fre… …sktop.Platform freedesktop-sdk-22.08.27 22.08 flathub system
Fre… …sktop.Platform freedesktop-sdk-23.08.23 23.08 flathub system
i386 …rm.Compat.i386 23.08 flathub system
Mesa …orm.GL.default 21.3.9 21.08 flathub system
Mesa …orm.GL.default 24.0.9 22.08 flathub system
Mes… …orm.GL.default 24.0.9 22.08-extra flathub system
Mesa …orm.GL.default 24.2.3 23.08 flathub system
Mes… …orm.GL.default 24.2.3 23.08-extra flathub system
Mesa …m.GL32.default 24.0.9 22.08 flathub system
Mesa …m.GL32.default 24.2.3 23.08 flathub system
Mes… …m.GL32.default 24.2.3 23.08-extra flathub system
Int… …rm.VAAPI.Intel 21.08 flathub system
Int… …rm.VAAPI.Intel 22.08 flathub system
Int… …rm.VAAPI.Intel 23.08 flathub system
i386 …API.Intel.i386 23.08 flathub system
ffm… …rm.ffmpeg-full 22.08 flathub system
ffm… …rm.ffmpeg-full 23.08 flathub system
i386 …mpeg_full.i386 22.08 flathub system
i386 …mpeg_full.i386 23.08 flathub system
ope… …tform.openh264 2.1.0 2.0 flathub system
ope… …tform.openh264 2.1.0 2.2.0 flathub system
ope… …tform.openh264 2.4.1 2.4.1 flathub system
GNO… …gnome.Platform 42 flathub system
GNO… …gnome.Platform 44 flathub system
GNO… …gnome.Platform 45 flathub system
GNO… …gnome.Platform 46 flathub system
i386 …rm.Compat.i386 44 flathub system
i386 …rm.Compat.i386 45 flathub system
Zor… …ZorinBlue-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …orinBlue-Light 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …orinGreen-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …rinGreen-Light 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …ZorinGrey-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …orinGrey-Light 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …rinOrange-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …inOrange-Light 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …rinPurple-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …inPurple-Light 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… ….ZorinRed-Dark 3.22 zorinos system
Zor… …ZorinRed-Light 3.22 zorinos system
KDE… …g.kde.Platform 5.15-21.08 flathub system
KDE… …g.kde.Platform 5.15-22.08 flathub system
KDE… …g.kde.Platform 5.15-23.08 flathub system
KDE… …g.kde.Platform 6.6 flathub system
KDE… …g.kde.Platform 6.7 flathub system
KBr… ….kde.kbreakout 24.08.1 stable flathub system
Sho… …hotcut.Shotcut 24.09.13 stable flathub system
Tel… …legram.desktop 5.5.5 stable flathub system
Tel… …esktop.webview 2.46.0 stable flathub system
VLC …g.videolan.VLC 3.0.21 stable flathub system
DXVK …Wine.DLLs.dxvk 2.3.1 stable-22.08 flathub system
DXVK …Wine.DLLs.dxvk 2.4.1 stable-23.08 flathub system
Gec… …ehq.Wine.gecko stable-22.08 flathub system
Gec… …ehq.Wine.gecko stable-23.08 flathub system
Mono …nehq.Wine.mono stable-22.08 flathub system
Mono …nehq.Wine.mono stable-23.08 flathub system

Okay, it is listed. So it is installed. Let's try it with the Terminal. First You uninstall it and after this You install it in the Terminal again. To uninstall it, type in the Terminal flatpak uninstall telegram --delete-data

Then it should show You the Entries in the List and it could be that You have to choose which one You want to have deleted. Take the first one (without the webview in the Name). After that type again flatpak list to check if the second entry is still there. If Yes type again flatpak uninstall telegram --delete-data and then check again if the Packages are gone.

After that make a Reboot of the System - only to let all load fresh. Then open the Terminal again and type flatpak install telegramand then you should get the 2 Entries shown. Choose the first One and install it. After that look if it works. If not type again flatpak install telegram and install the other Option, too.

If you should get any Error Messages in this Processes, post them here.

2 Likes

Ok. But I didn't understand what you meant by "...it could be that You have to choose which one You want to have deleted. Take the first one (without the webview in the Name)."

This is what I got:

~$ flatpak uninstall telegram --delete-data
Similar installed refs found for ‘telegram’:

  1. app/org.telegram.desktop/x86_64/stable (system)
  2. runtime/org.telegram.desktop.webview/x86_64/stable (system)
  3. All of the above

Which do you want to use (0 to abort)? [0-3]:

I didn't know what you meant by, "...Take the first one (without the webview in the Name)."

Yes, sorry. My fault. It was only for the Case, that You shouldn't get Option 3. I didn't explained that good. Sorry again. So use Option 3 ''All of the above''.

1 Like

Hi. I just want to get back to you on this. I forgot about the project because my mom had a sudden serious accident and that diverted my attention away from other things. But I just got to return to this project and I was able to uninstall the program successfully following your directions. So thanks.

2 Likes

Are you able to identify the post that helped you and then mark it as :ballot_box_with_check: Solution.
(Click on 3 dots under the post to expand marking options if needed).

Solution:

I followed Ponce-De-Leon's instruction:

type in the Terminal: flatpak uninstall telegram --delete-data

Then (after pressing 'enter'), at the prompt I selected option '3', (then enter again) which uninstalled everything - leaving it clear to reinstall again (should I so choose).

Note: the program I uninstalled was called "telegram" - so replace that term to match whatever fits for your unique circumstance.

1 Like