Do you mean the cache on disk (/var/cache/apt/archives)? If so did you check that the package actually is there on your disk? I tried to reinstall vim-tiny which was in my cache and saw the following:
$ sudo apt-get install --reinstall vim-tiny [sudo] password for bdmurray: Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: linux-headers-4.4.0-2 linux-headers-4.4.0-2-generic linux-image-4.4.0-2-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-2-generic linux-tools-4.4.0-2 linux-tools-4.4.0-2-generic Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them. 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded. Need to get 0 B/428 kB of archives. After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used. Sorry, your system lacks support for the snapshot feature (Reading database ... 910537 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to unpack .../vim-tiny_2%3a7.4.963-1ubuntu4_amd64.deb ... Unpacking vim-tiny (2:7.4.963-1ubuntu4) over (2:7.4.963-1ubuntu4) ... Setting up vim-tiny (2:7.4.963-1ubuntu4) ... ** Tags added: xenial ** Changed in: apt (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1547983 Title: Cache isn't always used To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/1547983/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs