Update problems-are Dell versions of Ubuntu incomplete?

Asked by Robert Hunt

I have been running Ubuntu 8.04.2, which came installed on a Dell inspiron notebook I bought 22 months ago. For the last few months I have been trying to upgrade to a later version and have run into a few problems. First, the Ubuntu website states that Update Manager - which I ran at least once a week - will automatically inform me when new versions are available, but no such announcements ever appeared. I have also read that I can upgrade to 9.04 with instructions that begin:
" Start System/Administration/Software Sources
On the Updates tab, set Show new distribution releases: to Long term support releases only, then press Close".

but in Dell's version, there are no such choices available in "Software Sources".
And now, as of last month, I can't run the Update Manager anyway, since 8.04 isn't supported anymore.
Have any other Dell users had these problems?
Is there an archive of earlier updates anywhere so i can run all of the various steps up to the latest version?
This has become so frustrating that I'm tempted to either run a clean installation of the latest version, at the risk of losing my current files, or just give up and buy a copy of Windows 7.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1
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Robert Hunt (rghunt57) said :
#2

That's where I got the instructions to open "Software Sources", as quoted
above..

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#3

If there is no "software sources" entry in your menu, you should either proceed as described in https://ubuntugenius.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/ubuntu-10-10-upgrade-how-to-re-enable-missing-software-sources-in-system-menu/ or start one of the update management programs (update-manager or synaptic or software-center or ...) and use the 'settings' function in this application which does the same.

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Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#4

As 8.04 is already end of life for the desktop version, you most probably have to use special techniques anyhow, please see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades/Hardy and https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades

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