Python not importing correctly after upgrade to 14.04

Question

I can't import import modules from the standard library with c extensions. This happened after I upgraded to Ubuntu 14.04 from 12.04. I've tried reinstall python, python-dev, but its not helping. I've noticed other people with similar posts, but they all use virtualenv, whereas I am not using it all.

Python 2.7.3 (default, Aug  1 2012, 05:16:07) 
[GCC 4.6.3] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import pickle, email, json, readline, socket, turtle
>>> import ctypes
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/ctypes/__init__.py", line 10, in <module>
    from _ctypes import Union, Structure, Array
ImportError: No module named _ctypes
>>> import io
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/io.py", line 51, in <module>
    import _io
ImportError: No module named _io
>>> import datetime
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named datetime

`/usr/local/lib/python` `sudo apt-get install --reinstall python` — john, Jul 27 '14 at 21:33
Alright, that did it! I am not sure how to accept your answer since its in the comments. If you leave an answer below, I can accept it since you helped me in the comments so much. — john, Jul 27 '14 at 21:41
Well, /usr/local/lib/python is where it was before, I just removed it and started using the one in /usr/bin/python. But your comments helped me figure out what to do. — john, Jul 27 '14 at 21:44
good, I was going to tell you to remove it, it can get messy when you have two installs, although I do actually have that myself! — Padraic Cunningham, Jul 27 '14 at 21:45

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 27 '14 at 22:01

3

from which -a python we see there are two installs of python 2 in /usr/local/lib/python and /usr/bin/python/ so removing /usr/local/lib/python will sort the issue.

answered Jul 27 '14 at 22:01

Padraic Cunningham

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 26 '15 at 07:28

1

If you are working in virtualenv, it may have broken during upgrade. You can repair it by simply running

virtualenv /PATH/TO/EXISTING/ENVIRONMENT

or

virtualenv --system-site-packages /PATH/TO/EXISTING/ENVIRONMENT

answered Feb 26 '15 at 07:28

Zahid

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 06 '17 at 11:33

1

For No module named _ctypes Error You can try this:

apt-get install libffi-dev

I hope this helps.

edited Nov 06 '17 at 11:33

Sankumarsingh

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answered Nov 06 '17 at 11:10

Aditya Pawaskar

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 27 '14 at 21:29

Maybe your paths are not correctly setted.

Try looking at:

import sys
sys.path

maybe the python path is not there, and then is not importing the modules.

If there is not there, add the path like a new element in the list.

sys.path.append(new path)

I hope this helps

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 27 '14 at 21:37

Based on your comment, that which python returns /usr/local/lib/python, it looks like you have a local installation of Python which is different than your distribution's installation. Distribution packages are never installed into /usr/local on Ubuntu. Mixing a custom-installed Python with your distribution supplied libraries (as the /usr/lib paths in your errors indicate) can lead to a variety of problems.

I would recommend deleting the Python installed in /usr/local/lib (which is an odd place to install a binary), or removing it from your PATH, so that you can access your distribution installed Python instead.

Python not importing correctly after upgrade to 14.04

5 Answers5

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