E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

This happens sometimes when a program cannot be configured for some reason. It wants you to do this to fix it:-

Applications --> Accessories --> Terminal
sudo dpkg --configure -a

Which means "configure the outstanding packages".

Try that and paste the results here.

oem@freekbox:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Password:
Setting up libltdl3 (1.5.22-2) ...

Setting up odbcinst1debian1 (2.2.11-11build1) ...

Setting up unixodbc (2.2.11-11build1) ...

oem@freekbox:~$
When i try to use synaptic package i get:
E: Type 'wget' is not known on line 47 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialog to correct the problem.
//i have 6 other error messages.

Ok, first thing, the dpkg seems to have worked okay.

The wget in your sources.list is a slight concern. Did you edit that file, to add a repository in or something?

Can you get your /etc/apt/sources.list open in a text editor (applications --> accessories --> text editor) and then paste it all in http://pastebin.ubuntu-uk.org/ ?

We can then edit it and tell you how to fix it.

error:
E: Type 'wget' is not known on line 47 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list
E: Unable to lock the list directory
//
error:
Could not upgrade the system! Fix broken packages first.
error:
E: Type 'wget' is not known on line 47 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialog to correct the problem.

ok, wait, i didnt get a chance to respond to your last mess

how do i get my "/etc/apt/sources.list open ?

which page am i supposed to talk to u ?

Open the text editor (applications --> accessories --> text editor) then do File -> Open, and type /etc/apt/sources.list in the box.

Select all the text and paste it into the website I gave.

I've been up all night, i'm going to have to crash

ok, wait

ok i did it

all i can say in defense of what i did is that i'm trying to learn and i make too many mistakes, oh well!

Ok, you had some rubbish in there at the bottom.

I have edited the rubbish out and you can get a copy here http://pastebin.ubuntu-uk.org/pastebin.php?dl=71

You need to do this:-

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Paste the contents of the http://pastebin.ubuntu-uk.org/pastebin.php?dl=71 file into the editor and save it
exit the editor
sudo apt-get update

All should be fine.

 This is what i got:
E: Type 'sudo' is not known on line 1 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list
oem@freekbox:~$

wait. i did it over and i think it worked. let me check.

ok, this is what i got and i'm back to the prompt flashing:

oem@freekbox:~$ sudo apt-get update
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper Release.gpg [189B]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security Release.gpg [191B]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-updates Release.gpg [191B]
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports Release.gpg [191B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-security/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com dapper-backports/universe Sources
Ign http://theli.free.fr dapper Release.gpg
Ign http://theli.free.fr dapper Release
Ign http://theli.free.fr dapper/listen Packages
Err http://theli.free.fr dapper/listen Packages
  301 Moved Permanently
Get:5 http://archive.canonical.com dapper-commercial Release.gpg [191B]
Hit http://archive.canonical.com dapper-commercial Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com dapper-commercial/main Packages
Get:6 http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release.gpg [189B]
Hit http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release
Err http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release

Get:7 http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release [8412B]
Ign http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release
Hit http://www.getautomatix.com dapper/main Packages
Get:8 http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release.gpg [191B]
Hit http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release
Err http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release

Get:9 http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release [745B]
Ign http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release
Ign http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper/main Packages
Hit http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper/main Packages
Fetched 9542B in 2m14s (71B/s)
Failed to fetch http://theli.free.fr/packages/dists/dapper/listen/binary-i386/Packages.gz 301 Moved Permanently
Reading package lists... Done
W: GPG error: http://www.getautomatix.com dapper Release: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY CC919A31E23C5FC3
W: GPG error: http://wine.lowvoice.nl dapper Release: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY 58403026387EE263
W: You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems
E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
oem@freekbox:~$

Looks good except for the line with "theli.free.fr" in it.

now i get error:
The following problems were found on your system:
E: The package sun-java5-bin needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.
E: Internal error opening cache (1). Please report.

Looks like you are missing the multiverse repository.

Check these wiki pages:-

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories

i copied the whole error mess.:

when i place curser over the update icon at top, it says, :an error has occured pls run Package Manager from the right-click menu or apt-get on a terminal to see what is wrong.
The error message was: 'Unknown Error':
'exceptions.SystemError (E: The package sun-java5-bin needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.)
/////////

The Sun-Java5 came up to be reinstalled so i clicked ok and now i guess it's being installed.

I went to the repositories and corrected the multiverse thing.

now the update icon is gone so? i guess all is well?

No problem, any time, go get some sleep :)

I'm having the same problem, but when i run the command on the terminal it hangs up and froze up the screen; what can i do to fix this?

Jason, you should start a new string on this. Sorry i can't help you, i'm still learning. Good luck.

Ubuntu sucks ass. I have been trying to fix the same problem that the above member has, but I keep getting this error message.

This file should owned by root.root and be copied to /tmp.

How do I fix this?

Thanks....my problem was resolved!!!!

just type in your terminal sudo dpkg --continue -a
then;
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
that's it!!! :-)