files list file for package `docbook-xml' is missing final newline

Asked by Brian Currid

I have a new install of Ubuntu and it tells me there are 283 updates to install. However, when I attempt to install them (or anything else, for that matter) I get the following error.............

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/dash_0.5.4-9ubuntu1.1_i386.deb: files list file for package `docbook-xml' is missing final newline

............ I looked around here and couldn't find anyone with the same problem. I tried a few fixes from people having similiar problems but with a diff package or something and they didn't help.

Any ideas???

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Brian Currid
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Rolando Blanco (rolando) said :
#1

follow this steps:

open a terminal
type: sudo aptitude clean
type: sudo aptitude update
type: sudo aptitude safe-upgrade

let me know if all works

cheers

Rolando F. Blanco C:.
Este correo ha sido enviado desde un iPhone Liberado!

El abr 4, 2009, a las 5:46 a.m., Brian Currid <<email address hidden>
 > escribió:

> New question #66437 on Ubuntu:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/66437
>
> I have a new install of Ubuntu and it tells me there are 283 updates
> to install. However, when I attempt to install them (or anything
> else, for that matter) I get the following error.............
>
> E: /var/cache/apt/archives/dash_0.5.4-9ubuntu1.1_i386.deb: files
> list file for package `docbook-xml' is missing final newline
>
> ............ I looked around here and couldn't find anyone with the
> same problem. I tried a few fixes from people having similiar
> problems but with a diff package or something and they didn't help.
>
> Any ideas???
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Ubuntu.

Revision history for this message
Brian Currid (bc-emt) said :
#2

Thank you,
I thought it was going to work, but... it didn't.

Here's the bug report...

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/355460

Revision history for this message
Mohamed Zaian (mzaian) said :
#3

try deleting debian packages in /var/cache/apt/archives/
rm -rf /var/cache/apt/archives/*.deb
then run
apt-get update
apt-get install -f

Revision history for this message
Brian Currid (bc-emt) said :
#4

That didn't work either.

I do appreciate everyone's help. Thank you!

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#5

Options:

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade
sudo aptitude install -f

###

sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo aptitude install -f
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade

Revision history for this message
Brian Currid (bc-emt) said :
#6

Those suggestions generated the following errors...................

brian@laptop:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
[sudo] password for brian:
brian@laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure-a
dpkg: unknown option --configure-a

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg --license for copyright license and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
brian@laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude update
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.

brian@laptop:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
brian@laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude update
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.

brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude upgrade
W: The "upgrade" command is deprecated; use "safe-upgrade" instead.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Internal error: couldn't generate list of packages to download
brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Internal error: couldn't generate list of packages to download
brian@laptop:~$ ###
brian@laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --clear-avail
brian@laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Internal error: couldn't generate list of packages to download
brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude update
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.

brian@laptop:~$ sudo aptitude upgrade
W: The "upgrade" command is deprecated; use "safe-upgrade" instead.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
No packages will be installed, upgraded, or removed.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Lists directory /var/lib/apt/lists/partial is missing.
E: Internal error: couldn't generate list of packages to download
brian@laptop:~$

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#7

Usually apt is recreating this directory, if not please create it manually:
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/apt/lists/partial

##in case of interest about the mkdir command please note:
man mkdir

then:
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install -f

Revision history for this message
Brian Currid (bc-emt) said :
#8

Stilll getting error............

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/dash_0.5.4-9ubuntu1.1_i386.deb: files list file for package `docbook-xml' is missing final newline

Revision history for this message
Sam_ (and-sam) said :
#9

Unfortunately this really is a stubborn issue.
Workarounds are available but sure not trivial.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+bug/108189

Trivial would be to search for this package in Synaptic and try a reinstall. There is also a section 'broken packages' in the tree on the left side.

If it is as you mentioned a new installation you may consider this procedure once again.
In case concerning hardware(failure) you may check the filesystem with fsck.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SystemAdministration/Fsck

Revision history for this message
Brian Currid (bc-emt) said :
#10

A fresh install solved my problem but after I upgraded (installed 287 updates) I can no longer connect to the internet. Opened a new question here.............

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/67406

Thank you all for your help!