Upgrading to Ubuntu 9.10 using terminal

I can not help you to solve this one,but you will not be able to upgrade if system is not up-to-date.Don't try it because you need to fix this.Keep question open and someone will help you.

Hi,

First please make sure to close all open programs, including all package managers like Synaptic, Add/remove programs, etc ...

Then please try this procedure:

Step 1: Open Terminal from "Applications->Accessories->
Terminal"

Step 2: Run the following command:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

# ------> in this file, please replace all references to jaunty with karmic, then save the changes to the file /etc/apt/sources.list

Step 3: Then please COPY-PASTE each line below into the Terminal then hit <enter> after each line)

sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
LANG=C;sudo aptitude clean
LANG=C;sudo aptitude autoclean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
LANG=C;sudo aptitude install -f
LANG=C;sudo aptitude update
LANG=C;sudo aptitude dist-upgrade

Step 3: Please post results (copy/paste terminal output from each command) on this thread

Hope it helps,

Regards,

Mark

your computer dont have a problem the database is. there's a lot of people
try to get 9.10 and big traffic. just make an order by mail.

On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 7:37 AM, ChrisCS <<email address hidden>
> wrote:

> New question #88857 on Ubuntu:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/88857
>
> Hello,
>
> I was going to upgrade Ubuntu from version 9.04 to version 9.10 by using
> Update Manager but got the following error message:
>
> "Could not initialise the package information"
>
> this was followed by:
>
> "An unresolvable problem occurred while initialising the package
> information.
>
> E:unable to parse package file
> /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty_restricted_i18n_Translation-en%5fGB
> (1)
> E:Problem opening
> /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty_universe_binary-i386_packages
> E:The package lists or ststus file could not be parsed or opened"
>
> I am not sure what all that means or whether, as it is unresolvable, I
> could upgrade by using a terminal.
>
> Is this problem really not resolvable and does it mean re-installing
> Ubuntu from scratch?
>
> I should mention that I have had a bit of trouble starting Ubuntu today. It
> would not boot and I had to use recovery mode which found something wrong
> with E: which it corrected and I was able to boot Ubuntu. Unfortunately I
> can't remember what the problem was but I had to run fschk which found a
> setting of 1 which should have been 2 and found another that was 2 and
> should have been 1 on E: After it corrected them I was able to boot but I
> cant use Update Manager.
>
> HELP!!
>
>
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Ubuntu.
>

I had the same problem. I made the changes and got the following response:

jeff@Gort:~$ gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo aptitude clean
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo aptitude autoclean
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic Release.gpg
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic Release
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Get:1 http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release.gpg [189B]
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg [189B]
Get:3 http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release [9347B]
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release [37.1kB]
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic Release
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
Get:5 http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages [1968B]
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
Get:6 http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources [1053B]
Err http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
  404 Not Found [IP: 81.171.111.247 80]
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages [7942B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages [14B]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources [3302B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources [14B]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages [4329B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Sources [793B]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages [14B]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Sources [14B]
Get:15 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg [189B]
Get:16 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg [189B]
Get:17 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release [65.9kB]
Get:18 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release [44.1kB]
Get:19 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages [1353kB]
Get:20 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages [7971B]
Get:21 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources [640kB]
Get:22 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources [3270B]
Get:23 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages [5133kB]
Get:24 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Sources [2795kB]
Get:25 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages [190kB]
Get:26 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Sources [116kB]
Get:27 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages [28.9kB]
Get:28 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages [14B]
Get:29 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources [10.3kB]
Get:30 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources [14B]
Get:31 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages [14.9kB]
Get:32 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Sources [1244B]
Get:33 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages [14B]
Get:34 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Sources [14B]
Fetched 10.5MB in 37s (281kB/s)
W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1)/dists/karmic/main/binary-i386/Packages Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1)/dists/karmic/restricted/binary-i386/Packages Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

W: Failed to fetch http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/dists/karmic/main/binary-i386/Packages 404 Not Found [IP: 81.171.111.247 80]

E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo dpkg --clear-avail
jeff@Gort:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 1018 package `libavutil49':
 newline in field name `Installed-Size00p0001e0000-e0,1,k74,ramlsfw'
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo aptitude install -f
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo aptitude update
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic Release.gpg
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic Release
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/main Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 9.04 _karmic Jackalope_ - Release i386 (20090420.1) karmic/restricted Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Sources
Ign http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Sources
Err http://wine.budgetdedicated.com karmic/main Packages
  404 Not Found [IP: 81.171.111.247 80]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: Couldn't rebuild package cache
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jeff@Gort:~$ LANG=C;sudo aptitude dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jeff@Gort:~$

I don't think it worked, it said in several places that it encountered a section with no Package: header. What next?????

Idlespur

Hi gene bandelaria and Mark Rijckenberg,

First of all, gene bandelaria, thanks for your suggestion. However, I tried to do a normal update before I tried to do the upgrade and still got that message. I read somewhere that before doing an upgrade, one should always make sure that the current installation is up to date. I don't know why this should be if one is going to over write the installation with a new one, but I do it anyway. Thanks again for taking the trouble to reply

Mark, thanks for your suggestions. You will be pleased to know that they worked and I am very grateful to you. Unfortunately, I was concentrating on entering those commands to the extent that I forgot to save the output to paste here. Sorry!

Regards,

Chris