apt 1.1~exp4 fixes this issue (see also debbug #762898) in git commit 43acd01979039b248cb7f033b82e36d778d0ebec, so try that version then it appears in Ubuntu. Using of the root cache (if available) is at least supposed to happen in that version as well (but also in the version you have… I will give it a spin later… can't be hard,right? ;) )
** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu) Status: New => Fix Committed -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to apt in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1425662 Title: "apt-get download" fails if /var/cache/apt/archives/partial is not accessible Status in apt package in Ubuntu: Fix Committed Bug description: I'm using Ubuntu 15.04 dev with apt 1.0.9.3ubuntu1 and if /var/cache/apt/archives/partial is not accessible "apt-get download" doesn't download the requested package. Here are 2 examples (missing directory and insufficient permissions because the user permissions (which are restrictive in this case) got inherited with sudo): sworddragon@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm -fr /var/cache/apt sworddragon@ubuntu:~$ apt-get download nvidia-settings E: Archives directory /var/cache/apt/archives/partial is missing. - Acquire (2: No such file or directory) sworddragon@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get download nvidia-settings Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ vivid/main nvidia-settings amd64 346.35-0ubuntu1 [936 kB] Fetched 936 kB in 2s (392 kB/s) sworddragon@ubuntu:~$ apt-get download nvidia-settings E: Archives directory /var/cache/apt/archives/partial is missing. - Acquire (13: Permission denied) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/1425662/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp