E:malformed entry 46 in list file / etc/ apt / sources.list

It seems that you created a wrong entry in one of the configuration files of the package management system.

What is the output of the commands (to be executed in a terminal window)

uname -a
lsb_release -crid
cat -n /etc/apt/sources.list

E: Command line option 'a' [from -a] is not understood in combination with
the other options.
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$

On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 10:47 AM, Manfred Hampl <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #295461 on update-manager in Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> It seems that you created a wrong entry in one of the configuration
> files of the package management system.
>
> What is the output of the commands (to be executed in a terminal window)
>
> uname -a
> lsb_release -crid
> cat -n /etc/apt/sources.list
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

What command did you give to receive this error message?

 I can't remember what it was I'm sorry .. I typed in the command you gave
. i hope this screenshot may help

[image: Inline image 1]

On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 12:22 PM, Manfred Hampl <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #295461 on update-manager in Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> What command did you give to receive this error message?
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Adding screenshots for Launchpad questions does not work.
Please re-try the commands as given (better use copy and paste than retyping), and copy/paste all text in your terminal window back into the Launchpad question document.

 I typed this command in the terminal :uname -a
lsb_release -crid
cat -n /etc/apt/sources.list

This is what came up in the terminal: E: Command line option 'a' [from -a] is not understood in combination with
the other options.
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$

 I'm so sorry I can't be of more help to you .. I'm a novice , I appreciate what
must be frustrating for you in trying to help me..

That should be three commands, with pressing the 'enter' or 'return' key after each of them. Please re-try.

 I retried the three commands .. A list with 47 items came up and it's
waiting for another command ..

On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 12:51 PM, Manfred Hampl <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #295461 on update-manager in Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> That should be three commands, with pressing the 'enter' or 'return' key
> after each of them. Please re-try.
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Use the terminal window's menu entries "edit - select all" and "edit - copy", and paste all output into this question document that we can see the results.

 I typed this command in the terminal :uname -a
lsb_release -crid
cat -n /etc/apt/sources.list

This is what came up in the terminal: E: Command line option 'a' [from -a] is not understood in combination with
the other options.
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$

 I'm so sorry I can't be of more help to you .. I'm a novice , I appreciate what
must be frustrating for you in trying to help me..

lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ uname -a
Linux lewis-Satellite-L75D-A 4.4.0-23-generic #41-Ubuntu SMP Mon May 16 23:04:25 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ lsb_release -crid
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ cat -n /etc/apt/sources.list
     1 # deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 14.10 _Utopic Unicorn_ - Release amd64 (20141022.1)]/ utopic main restricted
     2
     3 # See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
     4 # newer versions of the distribution.
     5 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial main restricted multiverse
     6 deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial multiverse main universe restricted #Added by software-properties
     7
     8 ## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
     9 ## distribution.
    10 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-updates main restricted multiverse
    11 deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-updates multiverse main universe restricted #Added by software-properties
    12
    13 ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    14 ## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
    15 ## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    16 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial universe
    17 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-updates universe
    18
    19 ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    20 ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
    21 ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
    22 ## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
    23 ## security team.
    24
    25 ## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
    26 ## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
    27 ## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
    28 ## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
    29 ## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    30 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    31 deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse #Added by software-properties
    32
    33 deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security main restricted multiverse
    34 deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security multiverse main universe restricted #Added by software-properties
    35 deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security universe
    36
    37 ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
    38 ## 'partner' repository.
    39 ## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
    40 ## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
    41 deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial partner
    42 deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial partner
    43
    44 deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-proposed main universe restricted multiverse
    45 deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-proposed main universe restricted multiverse #Added by software-properties
    46 deb http://archive.canonical.com/ partner
    47 # deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ partner

      This was what came up when I entered the three commands..

   When i entered : lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ "edit - select all" and "edit -
> copy"
edit - select all: command not found
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$

  The above came up in the terminal

Run:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Remove the last 2 lines. Save the new file. Close gedit and run:

sudo apt-get update

Is it now smoother?

  I did as you have instructed .. The software updater came up and asked if
I wanted to download updates.. I clicked on install and this appeared

On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 2:57 PM, actionparsnip <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #295461 on update-manager in Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> actionparsnip proposed the following answer:
> Run:
>
> sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
>
> Remove the last 2 lines. Save the new file. Close gedit and run:
>
> sudo apt-get update
>
> Is it now smoother?
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
> know that it is solved:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461/+confirm?answer_id=11
>
> If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
> following page to enter your feedback:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

What appeared? Attaching a screen shot to a reply to the automated email doesn't work.

If you close the software centre and run:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

What is the output please?

lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for lewis:
Hit:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease
Ign:3 http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb stable InRelease
Hit:4 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease
Hit:5 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease
Ign:6 http://dl.google.com/linux/talkplugin/deb stable InRelease
Hit:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/noobslab/apps/ubuntu xenial InRelease
Hit:9 http://dl.google.com/linux/talkplugin/deb stable Release
Get:8 http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb stable Release [1,338 B]
Get:10 http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb stable Release.gpg [198 B]
Fetched 1,536 B in 1s (875 B/s)
W: http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/dists/stable/Release.gpg: Signature by key 4CCA1EAF950CEE4AB83976DCA040830F7FAC5991 uses weak digest algorithm (SHA1)
E: Failed to fetch http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/dists/stable/Release No Hash entry in Release file /var/lib/apt/lists/partial/dl.google.com_linux_earth_deb_dists_stable_Release which is considered strong enough for security purposes
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
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?
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$ sudo apt-get 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?
lewis@lewis-Satellite-L75D-A:~$

I sent a screenshot of the output to launchpad

On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 3:52 PM, actionparsnip <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #295461 on update-manager in Ubuntu changed:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> What appeared? Attaching a screen shot to a reply to the automated email
> doesn't work.
>
> If you close the software centre and run:
>
> sudo apt-get update
> sudo apt-get upgrade
>
> What is the output please?
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
>
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/295461
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

You need to use a service like Imageshack or Dropbox to make a URL of the image, then post that.

If you reboot, does that help. If not then run:

cd $HOME
wget https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8850924/fixpackage
chmod +x ./fixpackage
sudo ./fixpackage

hope that helps.

   i think the problem has been solved .. I want to thank Manfred Haml and
actionparsnip for their diligent efforts at helping me, a novice ubuntu user
 who I'm sure was a pain in the butt and frustrating because of my lack of
 knowledge and ability to give concise answers and info .. I can't thank you both enough for your help and tolerance of my ignorance..