software update not working since last update, how doI get round it??

Asked by Michael Collins

software update not working since last update, how do I get round it?? from the initial software center , you select what you're looking for but it fails to load any information for some reason?? help

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
John Shortland
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
mycae (mycae) said :
#1

I am not sure what is going wrong from your description, can you open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and provide the output of

sudo apt-get update

?

If you are stuck, you can use the more advanced "synaptic" interface instead of the software centre.

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#2

Control alt t opens the terminal, yes, shows the following,
mike@mike-DIXONSXP:~$
when I put the sudo apt-get update, come the following
[sudo] password for mike:

so not resolved as yet
                                     Mike

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#3

I have this error report when trying to load update manager

E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_main_i18n_Translation-en
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

Any one a scooby do on how to get over the issues?

Revision history for this message
Caleb Callaway (enlightened-despot) said :
#4

You have to enter your user's password at the [sudo] prompt to actually run the apt-get update command. This is because apt-get update is a system command that requires elevated (root) privileges.

If apt-get update doesn't work, try running "sudo apt-get clean" from the terminal. You'll have to enter your password as before. Then do "sudo apt-get update" and finally re-run Update Manager.

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#5

I did as suggested , this is what came up

E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_main_i18n_Translation-en
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

unresolved

Revision history for this message
Best John Shortland (jshortland) said :
#6

Try the following and see if it helps:

sudo apt-get autoremove

And then run:

sudo apt-get autoclean

The first command will remove packages no longer needed and the second will clear apt's cache of files. If this doesn't work could you post your sources.list file. Let me know if you need help locating the file.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said :
#7
Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#8

No didn't work chaps, came back with the following error code

E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
mike@mike-DIXONSXP:~$

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#9

With Manfred's idea, I get the following fault code

mkdir: cannot create directory `/var/lib/apt/lists/partial': File exists

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#10

Fixed, Many thanks to you all who have assisted me trying to resolve the issue, much appreciated lads , Thanks once again
                                                                                                                                                     With regards Mike

Revision history for this message
Michael Collins (mkcollins) said :
#11

Thanks John Shortland, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
John Shortland (jshortland) said :
#12

Your Welcome Michael.