Error installing/updating Cygwin on Windows 10

Discussion:

Maarten Jacobs

2016-01-24 19:30:34 UTC

Hello,

I have been getting the following error when I update/install packages in Cygwin (32-bit) on Windows 10:

Package: _/Unknown package
base-files-mketc.sh exit code 1

When I look at /var/log/setup.log.full, it gives me the following cryptic error message:

2016/01/24 14:21:35 running: C:\cygwin\bin\bash.exe --norc --noprofile "/etc/postinstall/base-files-mketc.sh"
Directory /cygdrive/c/Windows/SysWOW64/drivers/etc does not exist; exiting
If directory name is garbage you need to update your cygwin package
2016/01/24 14:21:35 abnormal exit: exit code=1

I think that "SysWOW64" is "garbage" but I'm not sure what it is supposed to be.

Also the comments "update your cygwin package" leaves something to be desired as it's not clear which package needs to be updated.

I am running the following version of setup.exe:

setup.exe 2.873 32-bit

I'll try and see if there is a later version of setup.exe that does not have this issue.

Incidentally, on the same system, a 64-bit install of Cygwin does not have this problem.

Thanks,

Maarten Jacobs
--
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple

Duncan Roe

2016-01-24 22:02:07 UTC

Permalink

Post by Maarten Jacobs
Hello,
Package: _/Unknown package
base-files-mketc.sh exit code 1
2016/01/24 14:21:35 running: C:\cygwin\bin\bash.exe --norc --noprofile "/etc/postinstall/base-files-mketc.sh"
Directory /cygdrive/c/Windows/SysWOW64/drivers/etc does not exist; exiting
If directory name is garbage you need to update your cygwin package
2016/01/24 14:21:35 abnormal exit: exit code=1

Hi Martin,

I got that message yesterday. It went away when I created the etc directory
(from an Admin CMD window), suggest you do likewise.

Cheers ... Duncan.

--
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple

Duncan Roe

2016-01-24 22:31:55 UTC

Permalink

----------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:02:07 +1100
Subject: Re: FW: Error installing/updating Cygwin on Windows 10

Hi Martin,
I got that message yesterday. It went away when I created the etc directory
(from an Admin CMD window), suggest you do likewise.
Cheers ... Duncan.

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for the suggestion, but this is not a solution for me as /etc (/cygwin/etc) already exists and has been populated with the packages that I have installed so far.
I omitted to mention in my original email that even though the error is presented every time I make a change to my Cygwin installation, it does not appear to affect the operation of Cygwin in any way - at least I have not run into any unexpected behavior yet.
Thanks,
Maarten

Hi Maarten.

I meant you need to create C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers\etc i.e. (in DOS / CMD

cd C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers
mkdir etc

I agree there seem to be no ill effects from the error except the nuisance of
having an error popup.

Cheers ... Duncan.

--
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple

Maarten Jacobs

2016-01-25 01:53:59 UTC

Permalink

Duncan - thanks for the suggestion!

Larry - I'm not sure what you mean by " If you use the latest Cygwin package, you won't see this error.". This error started when I installed Cygwin from scratch, using the latest setup.exe from the website. Presumably using the setup.exe from the website, and starting with a clean install should ensure I have the "latest Cygwin package" - whichever package this maye be?

----------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Error installing/updating Cygwin on Windows 10
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 20:14:39 -0500

Post by Duncan Roe

----------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2016 09:02:07 +1100
Subject: Re: FW: Error installing/updating Cygwin on Windows 10

Post by Maarten Jacobs
Hello,
I have been getting the following error when I update/install
Package: _/Unknown package
base-files-mketc.sh exit code 1
When I look at /var/log/setup.log.full, it gives me the following
2016/01/24 14:21:35 running: C:\cygwin\bin\bash.exe --norc --noprofile "/etc/postinstall/base-files-mketc.sh"
Directory /cygdrive/c/Windows/SysWOW64/drivers/etc does not exist; exiting
If directory name is garbage you need to update your cygwin package
2016/01/24 14:21:35 abnormal exit: exit code=1

Hi Martin,
I got that message yesterday. It went away when I created the etc directory
(from an Admin CMD window), suggest you do likewise.
Cheers ... Duncan.

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for the suggestion, but this is not a solution for me as /etc
(/cygwin/etc) already exists and has been populated with the packages that I
have installed so far.
I omitted to mention in my original email that even though the error
is presented every time I make a change to my Cygwin installation, it does not
appear to affect the operation of Cygwin in any way - at least I have not
run into any unexpected behavior yet.
Thanks,
Maarten

Hi Maarten.
I meant you need to create C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers\etc i.e. (in DOS / CMD

cd C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers
mkdir etc

I agree there seem to be no ill effects from the error except the nuisance of
having an error popup.

The nuisance and the error itself should no longer occur. If you use the
latest Cygwin package, you won't see this error. You don't need to create
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\drivers\etc. If you're seeing this error, please follow
the problem reporting guidelines from the link below to report the problem.
<http://cygwin.com/problems.html>
--
Larry
_____________________________________________________________________
A: Yes.

Post by Duncan Roe
Q: Are you sure?

A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.

Q: Why is top posting annoying in email?

--
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple

Maarten Jacobs

2016-01-25 14:58:42 UTC

Permalink

Hi Larry,

My apologies - I now see the email that indicates the package was updated to address this specific issue!

Problem's solved.

Thanks,

Maarten

----------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Error installing/updating Cygwin on Windows 10
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 21:54:48 -0500

Post by Maarten Jacobs
Duncan - thanks for the suggestion!
Larry - I'm not sure what you mean by " If you use the latest Cygwin
package, you won't see this error.". This error started when I installed
Cygwin from scratch, using the latest setup.exe from the website.
Presumably using the setup.exe from the website, and starting with a
clean install should ensure I have the "latest Cygwin package" -
whichever package this maye be?

the Cygwin distribution is a rolling release so at any point in time,
you're installing the latest packages, assuming you don't specify other
available versions. But, since you installed, the Cygwin package itself has
been updated to address the specific issue you're seeing. If you want the
benefits of that, you should upgrade (or reinstall). If you don't, that's
fine. But my response was as much for others that may see this thread as
for you. In other words, regardless of whether you find Duncan's
information helpful, others should not need to use it. If someone finds
that's not true, the problem should be reported to the list using the
<http://cygwin.com/problems.html>
--
Larry
_____________________________________________________________________
A: Yes.

Post by Maarten Jacobs
Q: Are you sure?

A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.

Q: Why is top posting annoying in email?

--
Problem reports: http://cygwin.com/problems.html
FAQ: http://cygwin.com/faq/
Documentation: http://cygwin.com/docs.html
Unsubscribe info: http://cygwin.com/ml/#unsubscribe-simple