Ubuntu
update-manager package

i can not run update manager on natty

Asked by abhishek on 2011-05-23

hey,
this is my first time using linux.
i have recently brought a new system and installed natty.
i was using it without any problem for 10 days or so.
yesterday, i installed some softwares(compiz config settings manager) in terminal and that
installation some how effected update manager.
i cant update anything from yesterday.
when i start it it flags

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/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

and when i try ubuntu tweek
it flashes

this module encountered an error while loding
and error msg is

Distribution: Ubuntu 11.04 natty
Application: Ubuntu Tweak 0.5.13
Desktop: gnome

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/mainwindow.py", line 502, in setup_notebook
    page = module()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/modules/updatemanager.py", line 44, in __init__
    self.update_list()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/modules/updatemanager.py", line 59, in update_list
    PACKAGE_WORKER.update_apt_cache(init=True)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/ubuntutweak/common/package.py", line 226, in update_apt_cache
    self.cache = apt.Cache()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apt/cache.py", line 89, in __init__
    self.open(progress)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apt/cache.py", line 127, in open
    self._cache = apt_pkg.Cache(progress)
SystemError: E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

and i cant flie bug report directly..it says not genuine version to submit bug report.
guys help me out.
thanks,

Question information

Language:: English Edit question

Status:: Solved

For:: Ubuntu update-manager Edit question

Assignee:: No assignee Edit question

Solved by:: abhishek

Solved:: 2011-05-25

Last query:: 2011-05-25

Last reply:: 2011-05-24

Link existing bug

Revision history for this message

Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said on 2011-05-23:

Open a terminal (ctrl-alt-t) and issue the following command:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages

Please enter your password when asked so, but note that you will not get any feedback when you enter it (no echo, not even '*' placeholders).

The try the update again.
If you get an error message again, please copy/paste it as new messsage in this question thread.

Revision history for this message

karen pulsifer (froggy1234) said on 2011-05-23:

rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages': No such file or directory
kpulaifer@kpulaifer-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message

abhishek (abhi4u46) said on 2011-05-23:

hey thanks for answering i ran command in terminal
it gave

abhishek@abhishek-desktop:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-amd64_Packages': No such file or directory
and update manager is still not working

it gives

Failed to download repository information
Check your Internet connection.
details
W:Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/pratikmsinha/freethinkers.packages/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/source/Sources 404 Not Found
, W:Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/pratikmsinha/freethinkers.packages/ubuntu/dists/natty/main/binary-amd64/Packages 404 Not Found
, E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

and i even got one more prob manfred,
menu icons started flickering.......and windows borders are going darker shadow

Revision history for this message

Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said on 2011-05-24:

@karen:
I assume you receive an error message that is similar to abishkek's?

If that is so, and if you want to correct that, you have to adapt your "sudo rm" command and add the exact file name that is shown in your error message (an that file name most probably will be slightly different).

Meanwhile there is a FAQ for that problem, please see https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+faq/1591

Revision history for this message

Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said on 2011-05-24:

@abishkek:

The ppa that you use does not contain versions for natty, you should check if the software that you use from that ppa is provided in a naytt version elsewhere; if not you should remove that ppa from your software sources.

Revision history for this message

abhishek (abhi4u46-rediffmail) said on 2011-05-24:

i can not delete files in that folder.(/var/lib/apt/lists/)
there is no move to trash option.
it says root is the owner ......
hey if you want any additional info i will give you but please solve this

Revision history for this message

abhishek (abhi4u46-rediffmail) said on 2011-05-24:

Revision history for this message

Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said on 2011-05-24:

@abishkek: due to access restrictions you cannot delete the files in that folder using a normal natilus file explorer window.

To overcome that restriction I propose to use the command line mode.

You should now issue the three commands as given in this FAQ
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+faq/1591
and then try to update your system again - but you have to reload the package directory before you do that.

Revision history for this message

abhishek (abhi4u46) said on 2011-05-25:

hey manfred ,
i just changed settings in update manager..
in software sources,and in other softwares menu i unchecked those two links and this solved my problem.
updates are running fine now....

Revision history for this message

Kevin LaVergne (klavergne) said on 2011-05-30:

#10

I don't think this is solved. I can't run apt-get update from the command line or run the Update Manager. I get the following error:

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

I tried all the solutions above (deleting the file causing the problem and following the instructions at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+faq/1591), but I still have this error.

I can't even open the Update Manager to disable the check boxes that abhishek suggested.

Revision history for this message

Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said on 2011-05-30:

#11

@Kevin:
Can you please post the output that you receive when you execute the three commands from https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+faq/1591

(open a terminal, execute the commands, and then execute the menu commands 'edit - select all; edit - copy' and paste the output into a new message of this question thread)

Revision history for this message

abhishek (abhi4u46) said on 2011-07-24:

#12

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