unable to update or install packages

Are you sure that you're connected to the internet?
And put the following to Terminal and post the output here:
ping google.com

I am surfing the net right now.

Are you trying to use what program to do this?
apt-get update on command line?
adept?

This does not answer my question. Whatever program I use, Synaptic, Terminal, or the Update Manager, which used to do it automatically, it is not connecting or finding the server, but I am connected to the internet.

Do you have a firewall blocking this, perhaps?
Often firewalls detect programs like Firefox and automaticly grants them access to Internet, but other programs may need manual interference to get access.

No. I have had Firestarter installed from the beginning and it has not interfered to this point.
111 (Connection refused)

Your output is:

localhost:4001(127.0.0.1).-CONNECT(111Connection refused)

Why is it trying to connect to your localhost and not to a server?

Please post your sources.list

2007/9/13, John Kitsantas <email address hidden>:
> Question #13253 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/13253
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> John Kitsantas requested for more information:
> Your output is:
>
> localhost:4001(127.0.0.1).-CONNECT(111Connection refused)
>
> Why is it trying to connect to your localhost and not to a server?
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are a direct
> subscriber of the question.
>

Thanks!!!

How did you solve this? I have installed Gutsy. I installed Trac on it. I am not able to connect to the server from within the same machine. However, I am able to connect and use the application from the network. Here is the ping results:

PING localhost (127.0.0.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
--- localhost ping statistics ---
14 packets transmitted, 0 received, 100% packet loss, time 13009ms

Under Administration, I selected Software Sources and changed where to download from. This seemed to
resolve my issue.