Was using dselect under Ubuntu linux to install some stuff over an ssh connection. While the install was underway the network connection died. When the network came up again I could not continue using dselect without getting the following error:
dselect: the access method area is already locked
After much fiddling, I found the lock file and deleting it fixed the problem:
sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/methlock
While I was messing around I found out how to disable the annoying help messages that dselect keeps popping up. Just edit the file /etc/dpkg/dselect.cfg and add the line:
expert
Peter's Moblog
