Ubuntu
update-manager package

Received error message against update manager

Asked by Phil Zulueta

Could not initialize the package information

An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted_binary-i386_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

I cannot show, install or check for updates without receiving above message. What can I do to fix?

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
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Solved by:
actionparsnip
Solved:
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Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

sudo fuser -vvv /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
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 rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
LANG=C;sudo apt-get clean -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
LANG=C;sudo apt-get autoclean -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --purge autoremove -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
LANG=C;sudo apt-get -f install -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --fix-missing install -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824 && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Revision history for this message
Phil Zulueta (phillipzulueta) said : 		#2

Thank you for this answer. I had problems with above terminal input and finally reinstalled 12.04 LTS against my better judgement. However, everything seems to work now.