Error: Cannot find module '../../package.json' - node.js

Question

So, I've seen other similar issues. There are a lot, but I can't seem to find a solution for this.
I've already deleted node_modules folder and package-lock.json file from /{username} , where my package.json file is. However, every time I install something globally, it does not update the package.json file, but does install it in /usr/local/lib/node_modules.
This happens every time I run ncu.
Any ideas?
node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:936
throw err;
^
Error: Cannot find module '../../package.json'
Require stack:
- /usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm-check-updates/build/src/bin/cli.js
at Function.Module._resolveFilename (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:933:15)
at Function.Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:778:27)
at Module.require (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:999:19)
at require (node:internal/modules/cjs/helpers:102:18)
at Object.<anonymous> (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm-check-updates/build/src/bin/cli.js:11:40)
at Module._compile (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1095:14)
at Object.Module._extensions..js (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:1147:10)
at Module.load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:975:32)
at Function.Module._load (node:internal/modules/cjs/loader:822:12)
at Function.executeUserEntryPoint [as runMain] (node:internal/modules/run_main:81:12) {
code: 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND',
requireStack: [
'/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm-check-updates/build/src/bin/cli.js'
]
}
Node.js v17.0.1

Answer 1

I have just experienced the same. I think it's a bug in the latest version of NCU (12.0.1, released 5 hours ago at the time of writing).
If I run
npm install npm-check-updates#12.0.0 -g
then ncu runs fine.
If I run
npm install npm-check-updates#12.0.1 -g
then it barfs with this error.
I just checked the Github page and found that the issue has already been raised as https://github.com/raineorshine/npm-check-updates/issues/990.
So I guess, follow that issue for any other workarounds and the eventual fix.

Answer 2

I solved this to removing the node_modules folder, package-lock.json file and executing:
npm install

Answer 3

I've been scratching my head over this for an hour and the answer by #Alberto Manuel helped me find the solution. I, too, cleared the node_modules, package-lock.json and tried npm install but that didn't work.
Then I did npm install --legacy-peer-deps after clearing both the node_modules, package-lock.json. That finally fixed my issue.
Looks like npm install was overriding the legacy versions of dependencies with higher versions or skipping them altogether.