How do I get rid of "broken packages", that seem to block all downloads???

Start telling us what are the error messages you are getting.
For instance, open a terminal, give this command:

sudo apt-get check

and paste here the result.

Sorry, but I really AM new to Ubuntu: Pleas tell me HOW to "open a terminal"!

This is what happened:
I clicked "Edit" and then "Fix Broken Packages". Then I got two answers, the first one in Swedish. I quote them both here:
"E: Fel, pkgProblemResolver:: Resolve genererade avbrott; detta kan bero på hållna paket."
"E Unable to correct dependencies."

But please tell me how to open a terminal! :)

Hi:

to open a terminal you can do in the main menu:
accessories -> Terminal
or:
press ALT + F2, then type gnome-terminal
then try typing:
sudo apt-get install -f

tell me how it goes

Läser paketlistor... Färdig
Bygger beroendeträd... Färdig
Du kan möjligen rätta dessa genom att köra "apt-get -f install".
Följande paket har beroenden som inte kan tillfredsställas:
  libc6: Beror: tzdata men det kan inte installeras
  libc6-i686: Beror i förväg: libc6 (= 2.3.6-0ubuntu20.5) men 2.3.6.ds1-13etch2 är installerat
E: Otillfredsställda beroenden. Försök med -f.

Thanks Rodrigo! It's a start, anyhow :)
 I typed Cesares suggestion: sudo apt-get check, and got the answer above.
Tried typing sudo apt-get install -f. Got the anwer below.

E: Fel, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve genererade avbrott; detta kan bero på hållna paket.
E: Kunde inte rätta beroenden

Sorry it's in Swedish, but it is easy to see, that the problem remains: How can I get rid of these packages?

Hi:

try removing the packages that are causing trouble.
sudo apt-get remove libc6

tell me how it goes. sorry I dont know any Swedish, if you could translate at least a little bit, it would help.

Used the above command. Got a long list of files like this one

"libparted1.6-13: Beror: libc6 (>= 2.3.4-1) men det kommer inte att installeras, etc."

My translation: (Beror) depends: ....... (men den kommer inte att installeras) but it will not be installed

At the end of the long list: "Unsatisfied dependencies. Try "apt-get -f install" without packages."
Isn't that what I did before?

Hi:

ok try to remove all the dependencies that are not met, that is because since you can not install libc6.
but before, why don't you try to install it manually.
download it from one of this servers:
http://packages.ubuntu.com/cgi-bin/download.pl?arch=i386&file=pool%2Fmain%2Fg%2Fglibc%2Flibc6_2.5-0ubuntu14_i386.deb&md5sum=93f5e50c41abfaeac5963a448b9881e0&arch=i386&type=main
then do:
sudo dpkg -i libc6_2.5-0ubuntu14_i386.deb
if it installs fine then do
sudo apt-get install -f
again
tell me how it goes

Tried "apt-get -f install"
Got 2 messages, the 1st one translated from Swedish:
"E: could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 Permission denied)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

Just in case you wonder: I DO have the Administrators rights, or whatever it is called.

- - -
Tried to download from the link you gave me above. When I was asked if I wanted to open it (with Debi package installer) or save to disk I answered that I wanted to open it. Was that wrong?
Because the next message was: "Error: Failed satisfy all dependencies (broken cache).

Should I download again and save to disk instead?

hi:

try:
sudo apt-get -f install
but do it after you installed the other package.
and you only have root priviledges when you name is like:
XXXX@YYYY:~#
not:
XXXX@YYYY:~$
or when you use the command sudo
maybe that is way

I am really sorry, but I don't understand HOW I can INSTALL! That has been my main problem from the start!
I downloaded and "saved to disk". Then I wrote the above command "sudo dpkg -i libc6_2.5-Qubuntu14_i386.deb". In Terminal.
Got the answer: "Error: Failed satisfy all dependencies (broken cache)"

You said "try sudo apt-get -f install but do it after you installed the other package".

BUT I CANNOT INSTALL ANYTHING! So there is nothing I can do "after" installing..
I just want to get rid of everything I happened to put into my computer without wanting to, because I knew too little about to do it right.

Ok:

just don't despair, I will try to help.
first do this:
sudo apt-get remove libc6
as you said above it tells you many packages that are not going to be installed
"libparted1.6-13: Beror: libc6 (>= 2.3.4-1) men det kommer inte att installeras, etc."
remove them too
and then do step one once again.
do that till you don't have any packages that depend on the one you don't have.
one more thing can you please copy what you have in your /etc/apt/sources.list
I can't understand why you are not able to install libc6 when is in the main repository

I won't despair, thanks to your patient help :). But it sure isn't easy going from being the "big-know-how-and-helper" on Windows, to being a baby-trying-to-learn-how-to-walk on Linux ;)

Pls tell me where to find /etc/apt/sources.list! I have tried to find it before, but couldn't. Then I will send you the requested data.

In the meantime I'll start according to your instructions. :)

rabbix:
do you have any kind of messenger, called hotmail, gmail or simmilar?
my email is:
<email address hidden>
send it to my email if you dont want it to apear here

type
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
and copy what you get, but think about the IM, that way is faster

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r1 _Etch_ - Official i386 CD Binary-1 20070819-11:52]/ etch contrib main
deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 6.06 _Dapper Drake_ - Release i386 (20060531)]/ dapper main restricted
deb-src http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted
deb-src http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe main restricted multiverse
# deb-src http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://se.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-security universe main restricted
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe

Ok, here it is!

I am trying to remove files the way you said, but so far I don't seem to make any difference. But i keep trying .

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Thanks Rodrigo Donado, that solved my question.

Hello I am new also. Can some one help me with a similar problem?

Kevin Jones, I think it's best to start a new question where you discribe your problem

I got the error massage..

Läser paketlistor... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty-security_restricted_binary-i386_Packages
E: Paketlistan eller statusfilen kunde inte tolkas eller öppnas.

PLS Help !! <3