Wow, you exceeded the number of versions this APT can handle.

Asked by kenorb

Wow, how can I fix it?
It happen after upgrading apt to 'apt 0.7.20.2 for i386 compiled on May 12 2010 20:23:50'
Distro: Ubuntu 9.04
Increased cache to:
apt.conf.d/30cache:APT::Cache-Limit "325829120";
Done apt-get clean and plenty of times apt-get update

# apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Wow, you exceeded the number of versions this APT can handle.
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ftp.uk.debian.org_debian_dists_lenny_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Tried to remove ftp.uk.debian.org_debian_dists_lenny_main_binary-i386_Packages dir couple of times, tried to remove all the directories there, tried to change it to different ftp (ftp.de.debian.org, ftp2.de.debian.org, ftp.uk.debian.org, etc.)
# ls -al /var/lib/apt/lists/ | wc -l
101

No lots of issues like that on Google. None from the past year.
Found this source: http://www.google.com/codesearch?q=file%3Apkgcachegen.cc+you+exceeded+the+number+of+versions+this+APT+can+handle&hl=en
But I don't know how I can increase this limit.

# cat /var/lib/apt/lists/ftp.uk.debian.org_debian_dists_lenny_main_binary-i386_Packages | wc -l
560641
# cat /var/lib/apt/lists/ftp.uk.debian.org_debian_dists_lenny_main_binary-i386_Packages | grep Package | wc -l
22547
F/hell.
Help!!!

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actionparsnip
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Mark Rijckenberg (markrijckenberg) said :
#1

I suggest performing a clean install of Ubuntu 10.04.

It would also be wise to avoid mixing Debian (lenny) and Ubuntu repositories in your /etc/apt/sources.list file.

Mixing repo's from Debian into your /etc/apt/sources.list file in Ubuntu can and WILL break your Ubuntu install...

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kenorb (kenorb) said :
#2

Unfortunately I can't re-install it, it's PC at work. So from where I can download proper sources.list file for my Ubuntu which does work and start apt from scratch or try to do the distro upgrade.
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-upgrade-ubuntu9.04-jaunty-jackalope-to-9.10-karmic-koala-desktop-and-server

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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#3

Why are you adding Debian stuff to an Ubuntu system!!!!? You have added a PPA / repo from a different distro which is most likely why you are getting issues. I suggest you use software sources and remove the repository.

DO NOT MIX DEBIAN AND UBUNTU PACKAGES

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kenorb (kenorb) said :
#4

I don't know, probably it was by mistake.
I've removed those lines related to Debian and it worked.
Then I found out that I had some missing system files (/usr/share, some gnome* files, it just disappeared), so I've copied those files from similar machine through scp and I was able to do-then release-upgrade. After that I had some another problems with booting, because of the bug with booting the encrypted partition, but it's another long story.
This one is done, thank you.

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kenorb (kenorb) said :
#5

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.