update manager doesn't run "an unresolvable problem.."

Can you give the output of:

gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Thanks

just noticed that ubuntu software center doesn't open, either.

I have Ubuntu 10.10. installed..

sorry actionparsnip, just saw your post, thanks :))
here is the output:

# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 10.10 _Maverick Meerkat_ - Release i386 (20101007)]/ maverick main restricted
deb-src ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick main restricted #Added by software-properties
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick main restricted
deb-src ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-updates main restricted
deb-src ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-updates restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick universe
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick multiverse
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu maverick partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu maverick partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu maverick main

deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-security main restricted
deb-src ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-security restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-security universe
deb ftp://ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de/pub/mirror/linux/ubuntu maverick-security multiverse
deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main
deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main

also when I tried from the terminal:

~$ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Error!
W: Duplicate sources.list entry http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org/ lucid/main i386 Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/deb.torproject.org_torproject.org_dists_lucid_main_binary-i386_Packages)
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_user_ppa-name_ubuntu_dists_maverick_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Ok then run:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

If you go to the VERY bottom you have:

deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main
deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main

This is your duplicate. If you change it to:

deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main
deb-src http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org lucid main

Save the new file, close gedit you will no longer have a duplcate and all will be well,

Run:

sudo apt-get update

Should be smooth now

regret to say that it remained the same.

I changed source.list accordingly, did update and upgrade, restarted the computer, and the terminal delivered the same:
sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_user_ppa-name_ubuntu_dists_maverick_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

also the red stop sign on tray is there, and synaptic doesn't open:

an error occured
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_user_ppa-name_ubuntu_dists_maverick_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

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
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

nothing happens. the cursor just keeps blinking.

no, sorry, sorry!!!

it proceeded now, it just hadn't seemed in progress!

synaptic opens, red sign gone, thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you add repos badly, you will make issues. Try to be more careful

Glad you got the gold.

=D

probably so! can't say what caused it..maybe miro that I installed lately, as it keeps freezing while playing..or the ttf-mscore install that I excluded while updating (I wanted to steer clear of any Microsoft EULA before knowing what it is about..meanwhile updates failed a couple of times)..still, thank you heaps again :))