I cant upgrade past Ubuntu 8.04

Have you tried going in system => administration => software sources and choosing another server ?

At this point I would recommend you wait until April when 10.04 comes out, otherwise you'll have to upgrade to 8.10, than to 9.04 than to 9.10 than to 10.04, you can't skip versions unless you jump directly to 10.04.

What server would I change too? I'm on a Dell Mini 9 and I'm computer illiterate. I can wait to upgrade, but I would like to know that I am ABLE to upgrade.

Julie

Never mind on my comments, look like LPIA is a seperate version of ubuntu that I am not familiar with.

Under system>admin>software sources>updates scroll at the bottom of ths window ans choose normal releases if you want to upgrade.Probably now is set to LTS.But if you are happy with your system maybe you should wait until 10.04 because that is next LTS release.

I've seen a post similar to this, but i don't have those options. When I go into software sources I have 3 boxes: Updates, third party software and authentication
Updates
     below updates in Bold is says "automatic Updates"
        Below that I have an option to check the box that says check for updates......I can choose daily, weekly etc. I have it checked with daily
         Then I have an option to check "download all updates in the background" (I do not have this box checked)
         The 3rd option is Only notify about available updates (this box is checked)

Under third party software tab all of them are checked

Under authentication there are 3 'things" listed under that tab

When I scroll to the bottom I have to boxes in the right hand corner: revert and close

I have no option for "choose normal release" I have no idea how/where to look if my system is LTS or not. (i don't even know what that means)

I am happy with my system, but I noticed the new releases are clear up to 9.1 and my system has never updated and I don't know why. I can wait to upgrade, but I want to know that I am ABLE to upgrade when I need too.

Julie

The LPIA-specific distro is being discontinued (too much work/storage for too little gain). http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NzczOA

Maybe this page will help with upgrading: http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/11/step-by-step-guide-to-upgrade-ubuntu-9-04-to-9-10-with-screenshots-%E2%80%93-jaunty-jackalope-to-karmic-koala/

If you've made it this far with Ubuntu 8.04, I would just wait for 10.04 and do a fresh install with that, as others have suggested.

julie,

about upgrade - the upgrade process means basically installing a new distribution/release of software over an existing installation in order to improve its function. it is basically done by correcting, adding, deleting etc major 'chunks' of code or in other words new features are added, other features are removed and other features may be corrected. the upgrade process is not a software update .
by its v nature, any upgrade exercise be it windows, linux or any software that work under these os's is a tricky process - it may be successful or a it may fail. just keep in mind that in the event that a decision is made to upgrade a good functioning system it is always recommended - no just by me but by the very good upgrade practice and past experiences - to have in hand, before the upgrade started, a good tested back-up (I would go as far as saying, loud and clear, mandatory) in case the upgrade failed.

personally, I never upgrade operating systems - I always do new/fresh installs.

now, if I may, I would leave alone the good functioning 804 currently installed (just enjoy working and updating it) and, if you say that you can wait until the new 1004 ubuntu lucid-linx release in april 2010 then I'd recommend to get as familiar as possible in the mean time with the procedure of fresh installation to new partitions.

if you decide/prefer a new ubuntu distribution/relese fresh install we'll help and direct you to web sites that describe and illustrate such. it's your decision.

regards.

Hey Peter,

So, am I getting my terminology wrong? As far as I can tell, I can't update or upgrade. I used the upDATE manager and got the message at the first post of the orignal message. As I was working on that, I saw that I still have 8.04 and the latest upGRADE is 9.1. Now, I am unable to figure out how to catch up with the latest and greatest.

If I understand you correctly, I should be updating and upgrading to keep my system "up to snuff".

In April when 10 something comes out, I can fresh install that one and I will be all caught up, correct? When I do that, when I click on the download button does it automatically remove the old, or will I need to do something else.

I have a Dell Mini and I use it for school, but because it is so small, I don't keep anything on it so I'm not worried about losing anything important.

julie,

re: ....'If I understand you correctly, I should be updating and upgrading to keep my system "up to snuff".'....yes and no in that order

- once a distribution/release - in your case 804 - is installed, the developer and/or the maintainer of that release will, from time to time, 'tune up' that particular release by means of upDATES made available to users by various means; ubuntu has many ways of doing that one of them is as you mentioned is the update manager, good tool and easy to use. you should always upDATE your system/release when prompted by the little update icons that pop up on the upper panel. these upDATES should be more than sufficient to keep that particular release performing 'up to snuff'. there are quite a few other issues related to updates; I won't enter into that at this time.

so, in summary, YES upDATE.

- once the user has a release installed, in good working order, is happy with its performance and keeps it upDATED as mentioned above, personally, I do not see reasons to upGRADE that release - pls note the difference - upGRADE versus NEW RELEASE FRESH INSTALL -. in the latter case THE SYSTEM (your pc in this case) is upGRADED with a new release while the existing installed release (804) is still present in good working order.

so, having also in mind ....'In April when 10 something comes out, I can fresh install that one and I will be all caught up, correct?'.... I'd say just leave 804 alone, DO NOT upGRADE it. in april next, do a NEW RELEASE FRESH INSTALL - you'll end up with 804 exactly as it is now in good working order and have the new 1004 installed to different partitions ready to go.

re: ......'When I do that, when I click on the download button does it automatically remove the old, or will I need to do something else.'....and .....'I have a Dell Mini and I use it for school, but because it is so small, I don't keep anything on it so I'm not worried about losing anything important.'.....

- if I understand correctly, this would be an upGRADE of existing (installed) 804 release. if that is the case your existing 804 will pure and simple be replaced with the new release. pls see the caveats of doing this in my prev post before pressing that upgrade button on the update manager.

no, once that button is pressed there is no need to do anything else - unless the upGRADE fails for any reason.

regards.

.