http 404 "failed to fetch" error at upgrade from 11.10 to 12.04 LTS

The Natty release (Ubuntu 11.04) has been declared end of life by Oct 28, 2012 see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases
Consequently the software has been removed from the extras.ubuntu.com repository server.

My advice is to disable the extras.ubuntu.com server as source, do the release upgrade, and re-enable it for the new release afterwards.

Thanks, Manfred!

Can you walk me through how to disable the pointer to the source?

Thanks in advance for your time and considerable patience.

Gary Nelson

If you look at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu you see the different paths that lead to the configuration screen for the sources list, and screen shots how to enable/disable some of the source servers.

Another possibility is to manually edit the configuration file and commenting out the servers:
Open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and issue the command
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
This will ask for your password and then open an editor with your sources.list loaded.
Scroll down until you find lines that start with
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com or deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com
Insert a # character at the beginning of each of these lines
Save the file and close the editor.

Can you give the full output of:

sudo apt-get update; lsb_release -a

Thanks

Thanks, Manfred. That did the trick! I haven't done the upgrade yet as I won't have time to babysit the process until tomorrow afternoon, but everything configures properly, he checks his pointers, checks his available disk space and then asks me if I want to begin the download. Everything looks good. I think I should be able to close the problem out.

Andrew - I am including the diagnostic you requested. Please note that the output of the sudo apt-get update; lsb_release -a command will display the results after I have modified my /etc/apt/sources.list by commenting out the natty extras pointer. I notice a few certificate errors at the very bottom of the page; one for TOR and the other for a oneiric source pointer. If I have to manually reinstall TOR (or even just not install it) that's fine, I guess. Is this anything I need to be concerned with?

As always, I very much appreciate everyone's time and patience.

All the best,

Gary Nelson

Here you go, Andrew:

[sudo] password for nelson:
Ign http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com natty InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric InRelease
Ign http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates InRelease
Ign http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed InRelease
Ign http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports InRelease
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security InRelease
Get:1 http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric Release.gpg [489 B]
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric Release.gpg
Get:2 http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release.gpg [72 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release.gpg
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release.gpg
Get:3 http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric Release [2,603 B]
Hit http://archive.canonical.com natty Release.gpg
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release
Get:5 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:6 http://deb.torproject.org oneiric InRelease [3,483 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release.gpg
Get:7 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric Release.gpg
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release [40.8 kB]
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release

Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric InRelease
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com natty Release
Get:9 http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric/main i386 Packages [1,029 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric InRelease
Get:10 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates Release [40.8 kB]
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main Sources/DiffIndex
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric Release
Ign http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Get:11 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed Release [40.8 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com natty/partner Sources
Hit http://archive.canonical.com natty/partner i386 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com natty/partner TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports Release
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main i386 Packages/DiffIndex
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted i386 Packages [4,062 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main i386 Packages
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner i386 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/restricted Sources
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/free Sources
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main i386 Packages [223 kB]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main i386 Packages
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/multiverse Sources
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/non-free Sources
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/universe Sources
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse i386 Packages [3,380 B]
Get:15 http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe i386 Packages [60.5 kB]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/restricted i386 Packages
Ign http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric/main Translation-en_US
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://linux.dropbox.com oneiric/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/multiverse TranslationIndex
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Sources
  404 Not Found
Hit http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main Sources
Ign http://archive.canonical.com natty/partner Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/restricted TranslationIndex
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main i386 Packages
  404 Not Found
Ign http://archive.canonical.com natty/partner Translation-en
Hit http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/universe TranslationIndex
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.canonical.com oneiric/partner Translation-en
Get:16 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/restricted Sources [3,349 B]
Get:17 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/main Sources [163 kB]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net oneiric/main Translation-en
Get:18 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/multiverse Sources [3,688 B]
Get:19 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/universe Sources [64.0 kB]
Get:20 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/main i386 Packages [412 kB]
Ign http://deb.torproject.org oneiric/main Translation-en
Get:21 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/restricted i386 Packages [6,645 B]
Get:22 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/universe i386 Packages [138 kB]
Get:23 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [6,368 B]
Get:24 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/main TranslationIndex [74 B]
Get:25 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex [72 B]
Get:26 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/restricted TranslationIndex [72 B]
Get:27 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/universe TranslationIndex [73 B]
Get:28 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/restricted Sources [14 B]
Get:29 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/main Sources [59.3 kB]
Get:30 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/multiverse Sources [14 B]
Get:31 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/universe Sources [7,497 B]
Get:32 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/restricted i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:33 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/main i386 Packages [154 kB]
Get:34 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/multiverse i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:35 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/universe i386 Packages [13.0 kB]
Get:36 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/main TranslationIndex [73 B]
Get:37 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/multiverse TranslationIndex [70 B]
Get:38 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/restricted TranslationIndex [70 B]
Get:39 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/universe TranslationIndex [72 B]
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/main Sources
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/free i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/non-free i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/free TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric/universe Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/main Translation-en
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/non-free TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/restricted Translation-en
Get:40 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-updates/universe Translation-en [83.7 kB]
Get:41 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/main Translation-en [47.6 kB]
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/restricted Translation-en
Get:42 http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-proposed/universe Translation-en [8,870 B]
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/main Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://archive.linux.duke.edu oneiric-backports/universe Translation-en
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/free Translation-en_US
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/free Translation-en
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/non-free Translation-en_US
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org oneiric/non-free Translation-en
Fetched 1,593 kB in 14s (110 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
W: A error occurred during the signature verification. The repository is not updated and the previous index files will be used. GPG error: http://extras.ubuntu.com oneiric Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 16126D3A3E5C1192 Ubuntu Extras Archive Automatic Signing Key <email address hidden>

W: GPG error: http://deb.torproject.org oneiric InRelease: The following signatures were invalid: KEYEXPIRED 1346668560 KEYEXPIRED 1346668560 KEYEXPIRED 1346668560 KEYEXPIRED 1346668560
W: Failed to fetch http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/Release

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/lkjoel/fix404/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/main/source/Sources 404 Not Found

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/lkjoel/fix404/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/main/binary-i386/Packages 404 Not Found

W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 11.10
Release: 11.10
Codename: oneiric
nelson@ubuntu:~$

http://ppa.launchpad.net/lkjoel/fix404/ubuntu/dists/

PPA only supports Natty, you are using Oneiric so it should be removed.

Also run:

sudo apt-key adv --recv-key --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 16126D3A3E5C1192

To import the key you are missing