Ubuntu
apt package

Sources.list and dpkg status problems.... (Xubuntu 9.10)

Asked by Lord Solrac

Hello, (your Name Here(lol)) I'm and Ubuntu NOOB
I have 384 mb ram HAD Ubuntu 9.04 but it frezes (every time..) i used the comand line of Ubuntu2Xubuntu and then a few days later I get this error
terminal comand line used.,... (to install zsnes and wine)
solrac@solrac-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install wine zsnes
sudo apt-get install zsnes wine
[sudo] password for solrac:
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Read error - read (21 Is a directory)
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

I followed the instroctions of the following
dpkg --cnfigure -a
result:
solrac@solrac-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: failed in buffer_read(fd): copy info file `/var/lib/dpkg/status': Is a directory

i've tried also to renew the sources.list via Software Sources and result (it freezes yet with xubuntu 9.04... odd)
E: Read error - read (21 Is a directory)
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

please I pre-orded ubuntu 9.10 live cd
I am thinking of COMPLETELY RE INBSTALING Ubuntu (format hdd)
or DO saomething about this...

please HELP me...
pretty plz... remember...
(I'm a experianced noob...)

singed:
TL
Solrac
tlsolrac 12//11/2k9

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Revision history for this message
Lord Solrac (lord-solrac2) said : 		#1

PS: THe cd just arrived when i post it.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

I'll steal Mark Rijckenberg's fix for this ;D

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: 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 rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/*
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo aptitude clean
sudo aptitude autoclean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get purge msttcorefonts
sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo aptitude install -f
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude dist-upgrade

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

Revision history for this message
Mark Rijckenberg (markrijckenberg) said : 		#3

@actionparsnip: you can steal as much as you want. I put the GPL license on the procedure. It's open-source anyway ;-)

@Lord Solrac:

Please try this updated procedure::

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

Step 2: 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

Can you help with this problem?

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