Steam cannot start after 23rd Feb Update due to missing "steam-launcher" package

steamclosed duplicate

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#1978 · opened 2013-02-23 by ghost · updated 2013-02-24 · 14 comments · github

?ghost 2013-02-23 github

Since the update released 23 February, the Steam client is unable to start as it attempts to make the user install a package that is not present in the Steam or Ubuntu repositories.

Steam needs to install these additional packages: 
    steam-launcher
[sudo] password for mel: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package steam-launcher
Press return to continue:

Linux distribution: Linux Mint 14 Nadia, based on Ubuntu 12.10, Quantal Quetzal.
Ubuntu and Steam repos are active and up-to-date. ( A note to the Steam for Linux developers: Run "sudo apt-get update" before trying to install packages as the package info cache stored on the computer may be out of date. )

MMajkl578 2013-02-23 github

Duplicate of #1977.

Ddebianmain1 2013-02-23 github

Having the same problem using LMDE 64bit.

Ssrikanth-kadiyala 2013-02-23 github

I was able to get steam running by deleting ~/.steam and everything in ~/.local/share/steam except for the steam apps folder then reinstalling steam from the deb file.In the about menu, it says the version I'm running now was built on Feb 15th and there are no new updates.

edit: I realized this works because I'm no longer opted into the steam client beta. I'm guessing the beta still has this problem.

?ghost 2013-02-23 github

Not quite a duplicate, but rather a separate issue for this problem. Shished's issue is different from this one, his Steam installation crashes after starting. In our case, it just doesn't start at all because the bootstrapper can't install a package.

MMrSchism 2013-02-23 github

Read 1977 again. He restarted for the system to be able to be updated. During the update, it attempts to install the upgrade and it fails to install the package.

Direct quote:

then it tries to install upgrade
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file
[2013-02-23 20:57:51] Opted in to client beta 'publicbeta' via beta file

Ddebianmain1 2013-02-23 github

I can verify that srikad8's "fix" gets Steam back up.

Sslouken 2013-02-23 github

I see what's going on here, and we're working on a fix. Thanks everyone!

?ghost 2013-02-23 github

I'll close this issue now.
@MrSchism Yeah. The package installation stuff starts at that point if I cancel the first prompt, my bad.

Ggsarnold 2013-02-23 github

Screwing around, I got a message that steam-launcher has an unresolved dependency on curl.

I ran "apt-get -f install" to install it and now steam appears to be launching.

Sshawn-nmtc 2013-02-23 github

I just deleted the "beta" file and restarted.

Llzap 2013-02-23 github

Fedora - the same problem. I think Steam should not leverage OS package management and do its own.

Deletion of my steam folder did not help, it is insisting on the steam-launcher.

Llminiero 2013-02-24 github

On Fedora too and same issue...

Jjangxx 2013-02-24 github

I get the same message about it not finding the 'steam-launcher' package, but other than that it works fine for me. After pressing return steam starts like normal.

Sslouken 2013-02-24 github

steam --reset

Nothing extracted yet.