software center returns an error

Can you give the output of:

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get -y upgrade; sudo apt-get --reinstall install nano

Thanks

Ok well this is going to be a bit much but I don't know how to send this to you any other way

every thing below this line is directly copied from the terminal:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get update
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com/ maverick/partner Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en_US
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release [31.4kB]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com/ maverick/partner Translation-en_US
Get:4 http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release [5,925B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en_US
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release
Get:6 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release [31.4kB]
Get:7 http://archive.canonical.com maverick/partner amd64 Packages [6,694B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main Sources [31.0kB]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/universe amd64 Packages
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted Sources [14B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main amd64 Packages [106kB]
Get:11 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main Sources [90.4kB]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted amd64 Packages [14B]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/universe amd64 Packages [50.4kB]
Get:14 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted Sources [778B]
Get:15 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main amd64 Packages [246kB]
Get:16 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted amd64 Packages [1,802B]
Get:17 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/universe amd64 Packages [108kB]
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/restricted Translation-en_US
Fetched 711kB in 1min 15s (9,447B/s)
Reading package lists... Done

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get -y upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
  cups evolution-plugins linux-generic linux-headers-generic
  linux-image-generic
The following packages will be upgraded:
  alsa-utils app-install-data-partner apparmor apparmor-utils apport
  apport-gtk aptdaemon avahi-autoipd avahi-daemon avahi-utils bash-completion
  bind9-host brasero brasero-cdrkit brasero-common bsdutils casper compiz
  compiz-core compiz-gnome compiz-plugins computer-janitor
  computer-janitor-gtk cups-bsd cups-client cups-common dbus dbus-x11 dkms
  dnsutils dpkg empathy empathy-common evince evince-common evolution
  evolution-common evolution-data-server evolution-data-server-common
  evolution-exchange firefox firefox-branding firefox-gnome-support fuse-utils
  gcalctool gconf-defaults-service gconf2 gconf2-common gdb gdm-guest-session
  gnome-keyring gnome-settings-daemon gnome-system-tools gparted gvfs
  gvfs-backends gvfs-fuse gwibber gwibber-service hpijs hplip hplip-cups
  hplip-data humanity-icon-theme ibus ibus-gtk ifupdown indicator-sound
  initscripts jockey-common jockey-gtk language-pack-en language-pack-es
  language-pack-gnome-en language-pack-gnome-es language-pack-gnome-pt
  language-pack-gnome-xh language-pack-pt language-pack-xh libapparmor-perl
  libapparmor1 libasound2 libavahi-client3 libavahi-common-data
  libavahi-common3 libavahi-core7 libavahi-glib1 libavahi-gobject0
  libavahi-ui0 libbind9-60 libblkid1 libbrasero-media1 libc-bin libc-dev-bin
  libc6 libc6-dev libcairo2 libcamel1.2-14 libcups2 libcupscgi1 libcupsdriver1
  libcupsimage2 libcupsmime1 libcupsppdc1 libdbus-1-3 libdecoration0 libdns66
  libdrm-intel1 libdrm-nouveau1 libdrm-radeon1 libdrm2 libebackend1.2-0
  libebook1.2-9 libecal1.2-7 libedata-book1.2-2 libedata-cal1.2-7
  libedataserver1.2-13 libedataserverui1.2-8 libegroupwise1.2-13
  libevdocument3 libevolution libevview3 libfreetype6 libfuse2 libgconf2-4
  libgcr0 libgdata-google1.2-1 libgdata1.2-1 libgexiv2-0 libglib2.0-0
  libglib2.0-data libgp11-0 libgpod-common libgpod4 libgssapi-krb5-2
  libgudev-1.0-0 libgvfscommon0 libhpmud0 libibus2 libisc60 libisccc60
  libisccfg60 libk5crypto3 libkrb5-3 libkrb5support0 liblcms1 libldap-2.4-2
  liblwres60 libmagickcore3 libmagickwand3 libnautilus-extension1 libnss3-1d
  libpam-gnome-keyring libpam-modules libpam-runtime libpam0g libpango1.0-0
  libpango1.0-common libparted0debian1 libplymouth2 libpoppler-glib5
  libpoppler7 libpulse-browse0 libpulse-mainloop-glib0 libpulse0 libpurple-bin
  libpurple0 libsane-hpaio libsmbclient libsqlite3-0 libssl0.9.8
  libsyncdaemon-1.0-1 libtiff4 libudev0 libutouch-grail1 libuuid1
  libvte-common libvte9 libwbclient0 libwebkit-1.0-2 libwebkit-1.0-common
  libxml2 libxml2-utils light-themes linux-firmware linux-headers-2.6.35-22
  linux-headers-2.6.35-22-generic linux-image-2.6.35-22-generic linux-libc-dev
  login media-player-info mount nautilus nautilus-data nautilus-sendto-empathy
  nautilus-share nvidia-96-modaliases openoffice.org-base-core
  openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core
  openoffice.org-draw openoffice.org-emailmerge openoffice.org-gnome
  openoffice.org-gtk openoffice.org-impress openoffice.org-math
  openoffice.org-style-human openoffice.org-writer openssh-client openssl
  parted passwd pitivi plymouth plymouth-label plymouth-theme-ubuntu-logo
  plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text poppler-utils pulseaudio pulseaudio-esound-compat
  pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pulseaudio-module-gconf pulseaudio-module-x11
  pulseaudio-utils python python-apport python-apt python-aptdaemon
  python-aptdaemon-gtk python-avahi python-cupshelpers python-ibus
  python-libxml2 python-minimal python-papyon python-problem-report
  python-ubuntuone-client python-uno python-vte rhythmbox
  rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder rhythmbox-plugins
  rhythmbox-ubuntuone-music-store samba-common samba-common-bin simple-scan
  smbclient software-center ssh-askpass-gnome sudo
  system-config-printer-common system-config-printer-gnome
  system-config-printer-udev sysv-rc sysvinit-utils tar telepathy-gabble
  telepathy-haze tomboy ttf-opensymbol ttf-ubuntu-font-family tzdata
  ubiquity-casper ubufox ubuntu-docs ubuntu-sso-client ubuntuone-client
  ubuntuone-client-gnome udev uno-libs3 update-inetd update-manager
  update-manager-core upstart ure util-linux uuid-runtime vino xdg-utils
  xkb-data xserver-common xserver-xorg-core xserver-xorg-input-evdev
  xserver-xorg-video-intel xul-ext-ubufox xulrunner-1.9.2
287 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 5 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 24.0MB/278MB of archives.
After this operation, 31.9MB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main avahi-autoipd amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [51.5kB]
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-common-data amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [35.7kB]
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-common3 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [25.1kB]
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-core7 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [124kB]
Get:5 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main avahi-daemon amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [68.4kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-client3 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [56.9kB]
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main avahi-utils amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [29.5kB]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-glib1 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [35.6kB]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libtiff4 amd64 3.9.4-2ubuntu0.1 [149kB]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main firefox-gnome-support amd64 3.6.15+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.10.1 [83.8kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main firefox-branding amd64 3.6.15+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.10.1 [216kB]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main firefox amd64 3.6.15+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.10.1 [12.7MB]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-gobject0 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [20.1kB]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main libavahi-ui0 amd64 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [22.7kB]
Get:15 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main python-avahi all 0.6.27-2ubuntu3.1 [35.8kB]
Get:16 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main xulrunner-1.9.2 amd64 1.9.2.15+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.10.1 [10.4MB]
Fetched 24.0MB in 35s (672kB/s)
Extracting templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: failed to open package info file `/var/lib/dpkg/available' for reading: Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get --reinstall install nano
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 292 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 222kB of archives.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main nano amd64 2.2.4-1 [222kB]
Fetched 222kB in 1s (182kB/s)
dpkg: failed to open package info file `/var/lib/dpkg/available' for reading: Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

I hope this tells you something. I was on windows when i wrote this question or i would have included more info. the second to last line shows up every time i try to install anything new. "dpkg: failed to open package info file `/var/lib/dpkg/available' for reading: Input/output error".

Try:

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 apt-get clean; LANG=C;sudo apt-get autoclean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
sudo dpkg --clear-avail; sudo dpkg --configure -a
LANG=C;sudo apt-get install -f
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
LANG=C;sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

I'm assuming that you wanted me to enter each command separately, so I did and I got error messages for almost all of them and some returned nothing at all.... do you want me to post all of it?

Yes, one line at a time. Each line is a command

Ok so I entered each line and this is what i got. Thanks a lot for your help!

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
cp: cannot stat `/var/lib/dpkg/available': Input/output error
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
cp: accessing `/var/lib/dpkg/available': Input/output error
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*; sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists; sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get clean; LANG=C;sudo apt-get autocleanReading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick Release.gpg
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en
Get:2 http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://archive.canonical.com/ maverick/partner Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release [31.4kB]
Get:4 http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release [5925B]
Get:5 http://archive.canonical.com maverick/partner amd64 Packages [6694B]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main Sources [31.0kB]
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted Sources [14B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main amd64 Packages [105kB]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted amd64 Packages [14B]
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/universe amd64 Packages [51.3kB]
Get:11 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en
Get:12 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en
Get:13 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release [39.8kB]
Get:14 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release [31.4kB]
Get:15 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main Sources [829kB]
Get:16 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted Sources [4370B]
Get:17 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main amd64 Packages [1491kB]
Get:18 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted amd64 Packages [6002B]
Get:19 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/universe amd64 Packages [5771kB]
Get:20 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main Sources [90.4kB]
Get:21 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted Sources [778B]
Get:22 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main amd64 Packages [246kB]
Get:23 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted amd64 Packages [1802B]
Get:24 http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/universe amd64 Packages [108kB]
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick Release
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 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 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Fetched 8853kB in 46s (189kB/s)
W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/dists/maverick/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz 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 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/dists/maverick/restricted/binary-amd64/Packages.gz Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo dpkg --clear-avail; sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: failed to link '/var/lib/dpkg/available' to '/var/lib/dpkg/available-old' for backup of available database: Input/output error
dpkg: cannot scan updates directory `/var/lib/dpkg/updates/': No such file or directory
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 292 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
dpkg: cannot scan updates directory `/var/lib/dpkg/updates/': No such file or directory
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.canonical.com/ maverick/partner Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/main Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://archive.canonical.com maverick Release
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security Release
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/main Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com maverick/partner amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com maverick-security/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com maverick-updates/universe amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/ maverick/restricted Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick Release
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 Packages
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 Packages
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/main amd64 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 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007) maverick/restricted amd64 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 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/dists/maverick/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz 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 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/dists/maverick/restricted/binary-amd64/Packages.gz Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ LANG=C;sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?

Ok if you have software centre open, let it finish it's business or let updates finish. If neither are running then run:

sudo fuser -vki /var/lib/dpkg/lock;sudo dpkg --configure -a

Should help

I don'thave anything running other than firefox. I have launchpad and gmail open. Nothing is downloading or updating.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fuser -vki /var/lib/dpkg/lock;sudo dpkg --configure -a
Cannot stat file /proc/3768/fd/22: Stale NFS file handle
Cannot stat file /proc/3768/fd/38: Stale NFS file handle
Cannot stat file /proc/3985/fd/21: Stale NFS file handle
Cannot stat file /proc/3988/fd/21: Stale NFS file handle
dpkg: cannot scan updates directory `/var/lib/dpkg/updates/': No such file or directory

I'm sorry that this is such a hassle

Are you using a network disk ?

No. I'm running ubuntu live on a sandisk cruzer pen drive. My laptop is not integrated in a network.

"Stale NFS file handle" is an error message for disk mounted via network.
Could you run command:
     ls -l /var/lib/dpkg

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls -l /var/lib/dpkg
ls: cannot access /var/lib/dpkg/available: Input/output error
total 2734
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2011-03-04 15:09 alternatives
-????????? ? ? ? ? ? available
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2011-03-07 20:39 available-new
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8 2010-10-07 11:57 cmethopt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1156 2011-03-04 15:05 diversions
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1092 2011-03-04 15:05 diversions-old
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2011-03-04 21:06 info
-rw-r----- 1 root root 0 2011-03-07 20:57 lock
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 3 2010-09-08 05:50 parts
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 135 2010-10-07 12:17 statoverride
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 105 2010-10-07 12:14 statoverride-old
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1381730 2011-03-07 20:34 status
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1381730 2011-03-04 21:13 status-old
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2011-03-04 21:16 triggers
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

"dpkg: failed to open package info file `/var/lib/dpkg/available' for reading: Input/output error
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)"

I think this is telling you that dpkg is not reading since it wants to open the file in read/write mode and is unable. Common in a read-only livecd environment (aka booting from cd and 'trying').

"W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release amd64 (20101007)/dists/maverick/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs"

This is certainly telling you that it cannot properly read packages from the cd and suggests the correct tool to use for this purpose. Irrelevant, but again convincing me that it is trying to use packages from a CD-ROM.

"ubuntu@ubuntu:~$"

This is the default user in a livecd environment.

So if this is any help to y'all, it's going to be hard to upgrade a CD-ROM. Now you mentioned a SD card, perhaps its not mounted correctly or has a write-protect tab/lock on it.

Did you use Startup Disk Creator to make this?
Did you create reserved extra space on this device?

Sorry to step in, but thought this might help.

Cheers.

Thank you for the comment jeruvy, I'm running the ubuntu 10.10 live from a a usb drive. I allocated as much of the drive for persistent storage but it is a small one, only 2 GB. I installed the Distro on the drive with Universal-USB-Installer-1.8.3.4.exe. Since I'm running windows now, I'm a little nervous to completely install the full version of Ubuntu on my machine since i don't have the factory vista discs any more. I really wanted to make sure everything will run smoothly before making the leap. I had a hell of a time getting the wireless card working.

"ls: cannot access /var/lib/dpkg/available: Input/output error" probably means your USB stick is corrupted. I'm afraid you will have at least to reformat and reinstall, at worts you will have to throw it. If you want to do a backup of Vista on an external media , a solution could be to shrink partition and use software Clonezilla. It is also possible to copy a partition with Gparted, but Clonezilla should be smarter.
Could you boot form Ubuntu USB installer key, choose "Try" instead of "Install", System->Administration->Gparted, select your defective USB key and check the file system of its Ubuntu partition.