Ubuntu
firefox-3.5 package

How to recover from: E: Encountered a section with no package: header, E: Problem with Mergelist /var/lib/apt/lists/ archive.ubuntu.com_ubunti_dists_karmic_universe_binary-i386_pavkages, E: The package list or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Asked by Chris

how to recover from: E: Encountered a section with no package: header, E: Problem with Mergelist /var/lib/apt/lists/ archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_karmic_universe_binary-i386_packages, E: The package list or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Problem reporting, Apport / Crash / Error reporting, all not functioning normally.

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu firefox-3.5 Edit question
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Solved by:
Mark Rijckenberg
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Revision history for this message
Best Mark Rijckenberg (markrijckenberg) said : 		#1

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 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 /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo aptitude clean
sudo aptitude autoclean
sudo apt-get update
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

Hope it helps,

Regards,

Mark

Revision history for this message
Chris (bodiwarrior) said : 		#2

Hello Mark, your a genius...not sure if ok...have not restarted ubuntu...will advise...here is the output...thanks...Chris

g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
[sudo] password for g0phd:

sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/partial': Is a directory
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
mkdir: cannot create directory `/var/lib/apt/lists/partial': File exists
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude clean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initialising package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude autoclean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done
Freed 0B of disk space
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get update
Get: 1 http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release.gpg [189B]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Translation-en_GB
Get: 2 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg [189B]
Get: 3 http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release [7862B]
Get: 4 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_GB [50.1kB]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources
Get: 5 http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages [1174B]
Get: 6 http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources [610B]
Get: 7 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Translation-en_GB [3402B]
Get: 8 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Translation-en_GB [33.2kB]
Get: 9 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Translation-en_GB [44.0kB]
Get: 10 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg [189B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Get: 11 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg [189B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Get: 12 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed Release.gpg [189B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/universe Translation-en_GB
Get: 13 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release [65.9kB]
Get: 14 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release [41.7kB]
Get: 15 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release [41.7kB]
Get: 16 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed Release [41.7kB]
Get: 17 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages [1352kB]
Get: 18 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages [7311B]
Get: 19 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources [635kB]
Get: 20 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources [2892B]
Get: 21 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages [5134kB]
Get: 22 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Sources [2772kB]
Get: 23 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages [198kB]
Get: 24 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Sources [117kB]
Get: 25 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages [14B]
Get: 26 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages [14B]
Get: 27 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources [14B]
Get: 28 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources [14B]
Get: 29 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages [14B]
Get: 30 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Sources [14B]
Get: 31 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages [14B]
Get: 32 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Sources [14B]
Get: 33 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages [14B]
Get: 34 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages [14B]
Get: 35 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources [14B]
Get: 36 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources [14B]
Get: 37 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages [14B]
Get: 38 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Sources [14B]
Get: 39 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages [14B]
Get: 40 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Sources [14B]
Get: 41 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/restricted Packages [14B]
Get: 42 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/main Packages [14B]
Get: 43 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/multiverse Packages [14B]
Get: 44 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/universe Packages [14B]
Fetched 10.5MB in 29s (354kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg --clear-avail
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 15 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done

g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude update
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-proposed/universe Packages
Reading package lists... Done

g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$ sudo aptitude dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  apparmor apparmor-utils devicekit-disks fglrx-amdcccle
  fglrx-kernel-source fglrx-modaliases gdb gnome-disk-utility
  libapparmor-perl libapparmor1 libept0 libgdu-gtk0 libgdu0
  xorg-driver-fglrx xserver-xorg-video-geode
15 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 29.8MB of archives. After unpacking 2798kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
Writing extended state information... Done
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libept0 0.5.26ubuntu1 [200kB]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main apparmor 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20 [338kB]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libapparmor1 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20 [35.0kB]
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libapparmor-perl 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20 [37.9kB]
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main apparmor-utils 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20 [99.2kB]
Get:6 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libgdu-gtk0 2.28.0-0ubuntu1 [63.7kB]
Get:7 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libgdu0 2.28.0-0ubuntu1 [61.9kB]
Get:8 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main devicekit-disks 007-0ubuntu1 [173kB]
Get:9 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted fglrx-kernel-source 2:8.660-0ubuntu2 [1458kB]
Get:10 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted xorg-driver-fglrx 2:8.660-0ubuntu2 [17.0MB]
Get:11 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted fglrx-amdcccle 2:8.660-0ubuntu2 [7752kB]
Get:12 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main gdb 6.8.90.20090918-0ubuntu1 [1989kB]
Get:13 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main gnome-disk-utility 2.28.0-0ubuntu1 [436kB]
Get:14 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main xserver-xorg-video-geode 2.11.4.1-2 [160kB]
Get:15 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main fglrx-modaliases 2:8.660-0ubuntu2 [13.0kB]
Fetched 29.8MB in 35s (831kB/s)
(Reading database ... 134199 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libept0 0.5.26build1 (using .../libept0_0.5.26ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libept0 ...
Preparing to replace apparmor 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu19 (using .../apparmor_2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement apparmor ...
Preparing to replace libapparmor1 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu19 (using .../libapparmor1_2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libapparmor1 ...
Preparing to replace libapparmor-perl 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu19 (using .../libapparmor-perl_2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libapparmor-perl ...
Preparing to replace apparmor-utils 2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu19 (using .../apparmor-utils_2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement apparmor-utils ...
Preparing to replace libgdu-gtk0 0.5-0ubuntu3 (using .../libgdu-gtk0_2.28.0-0ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libgdu-gtk0 ...
Preparing to replace libgdu0 0.5-0ubuntu3 (using .../libgdu0_2.28.0-0ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libgdu0 ...
Preparing to replace devicekit-disks 006-0ubuntu4 (using .../devicekit-disks_007-0ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement devicekit-disks ...
Preparing to replace fglrx-kernel-source 2:8.660-0ubuntu1 (using .../fglrx-kernel-source_2%3a8.660-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Removing all DKMS Modules
Done.
Unpacking replacement fglrx-kernel-source ...
Preparing to replace xorg-driver-fglrx 2:8.660-0ubuntu1 (using .../xorg-driver-fglrx_2%3a8.660-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xorg-driver-fglrx ...
Preparing to replace fglrx-amdcccle 2:8.660-0ubuntu1 (using .../fglrx-amdcccle_2%3a8.660-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement fglrx-amdcccle ...
Preparing to replace gdb 6.8.50.20090628-1ubuntu3 (using .../gdb_6.8.90.20090918-0ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement gdb ...
Preparing to replace gnome-disk-utility 0.5-0ubuntu3 (using .../gnome-disk-utility_2.28.0-0ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement gnome-disk-utility ...
Preparing to replace xserver-xorg-video-geode 2.11.4.1-1 (using .../xserver-xorg-video-geode_2.11.4.1-2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xserver-xorg-video-geode ...
Preparing to replace fglrx-modaliases 2:8.660-0ubuntu1 (using .../fglrx-modaliases_2%3a8.660-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement fglrx-modaliases ...
Processing triggers for sreadahead ...
sreadahead will be reprofiled on next reboot
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme ...
Setting up libept0 (0.5.26ubuntu1) ...

Setting up apparmor (2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20) ...
update-rc.d: warning: apparmor start runlevel arguments (S) do not match LSB Default-Start values (3 4 5)
update-rc.d: warning: apparmor stop runlevel arguments (none) do not match LSB Default-Stop values (0 1 2 6)
 * Starting AppArmor profiles Skipped: /etc/apparmor.d/disable/usr.bin.firefox-3.5
                                                                         [ OK ]
 * Reloading AppArmor profiles Skipped: /etc/apparmor.d/disable/usr.bin.firefox-3.5
                                                                         [ OK ]

Setting up libapparmor1 (2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20) ...

Setting up libapparmor-perl (2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20) ...
Setting up apparmor-utils (2.3.1+1403-0ubuntu20) ...
Setting up libgdu-gtk0 (2.28.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up libgdu0 (2.28.0-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up devicekit-disks (007-0ubuntu1) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/dbus-1/system.d/org.freedesktop.DeviceKit.Disks.conf ...

Setting up fglrx-kernel-source (2:8.660-0ubuntu2) ...
Loading new fglrx-8.660 DKMS files...
Building initial module for 2.6.31-10-generic, architecture -a i686
Done.

fglrx.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - No original module exists within this kernel
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/2.6.31-10-generic/updates/dkms/

depmod.....

DKMS: install Completed.

Setting up xorg-driver-fglrx (2:8.660-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up fglrx-amdcccle (2:8.660-0ubuntu2) ...
Setting up gdb (6.8.90.20090918-0ubuntu1) ...

Setting up gnome-disk-utility (2.28.0-0ubuntu1) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/xdg/autostart/gdu-notification-daemon.desktop ...
Setting up xserver-xorg-video-geode (2.11.4.1-2) ...
Setting up fglrx-modaliases (2:8.660-0ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done

Current status: 0 updates [-15].
g0phd@g0phd-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message
Chris (bodiwarrior) said : 		#3

Thanks Mark Rijckenberg, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Mark Rijckenberg (markrijckenberg) said : 		#4

Good job. Looks fine to me. :-)

Revision history for this message
Chris (bodiwarrior) said : 		#5

Thank you Mark...everything look good on restart...the usual minor bugs only....look forward to the final release of Karmic "the best yet" fully solved...Chris.