How to install python2.7 in Ubuntu 16.04

Question

I'm trying to install Python 2.7 on Ubuntu 16.04. When I trype python or python2 or python2.7, I get the following message:

 The program 'python' can be found in the following packages:
 * python-minimal
 * python3
 Try: sudo apt install <selected package>

After running sudo apt install python2.7, I get the following message but python is still unavailable when I type python.

Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state
information... Done You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to
correct these: The following packages have unmet dependencies: 
mongodb-compass : Depends: gvfs-bin
                  Depends: python but it is not going to be installed     
python2.7 : Depends: python2.7-minimal (= 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.3) but 
it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libpython2.7-stdlib (= 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.3) but   
it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. 
Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

I also tried:

• sudo apt install python
• sudo apt install python2.7
• sudo apt install python2
• sudo apt-get install python
• sudo apt-get install python 2.7
• sudo apt-get install python2

Nothing have worked till now.

I can access Python3.5 by just typing python3, but I need python2.7. I updated the repository before trying to install python. What am I doing wrong?

Update

Running cache policy for python:

python2.7:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.3
  Version table:
     2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.3 500
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages
     2.7.12-1ubuntu0~16.04.2 500
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main amd64 Packages
     2.7.11-7ubuntu1 500
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages

Running cache policy for mongodb:

mongodb-compass:
  Installed: 1.6.0-1
  Candidate: 1.6.0-1
  Version table:
 *** 1.6.0-1 100
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Solution 1

Try to remove mongodb-compass with

sudo apt-get purge mongodb-compass

Then check that everything is in place with

sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get check

Solution 2

Try this simple command and get python 2.7 installed, thanks

sudo apt install python-minimal

and check the version you will get 2.7.X version (python -V)

Comments

[N0rbert]

Please update your question with output of apt-cache policy python2.7. It seems that you have PPAs or third-party repositories. In Trusty python2.7 is packaged normally.

[N0rbert]

You tagged question with 14.04 tag, but have Xenial repositories. I do not understand this. What is the output of cat /etc/os-release (add to question)?

[Raven]

Sorry about that, I'm using ubuntu 16.04. I edited my question

[N0rbert]

What is the output of apt-cache policy mongodb-compass?

[N0rbert]

Try to remove it with sudo apt-get purge mongodb-compass. And retry python installation.

[user535733]

Need to find out why libpython2.7-stdlib won't be installed. Try installing it ans show us the error messages.

[Raven]

Does that mean I've to install mongodb-compass again?

[N0rbert]

You can install mongodb-compass if you need it. I do not know its source.