Linux Mint Forums

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 9:01 am

Well. since yesterday in order to paste a new repository, reading and getting confused by multiple tutorials, I messed up with the sources list, and deleted the original list in gedit. Further trying to remake the list from the listings things have further broken down. Now neither 'synaptic' is able to load nor "apt-get update" is working. Please Guide me to remake the Sources.list for the latest LMDE 64 (12.04) installation. Will I able to restore the original configuration, how to make it! also how to make the preferences list. Hope you will be able to help me out!

by **zerozero** on Fri May 11, 2012 9:05 am

let's start with checking how big is the damage :mrgreen:

post back, please, the output of

Code: Select all: inxi -Sr

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 9:12 am

zerozero wrote:let's start with checking how big is the damage
post back, please, the output of
Code: Select all
inxi -Sr

Here is the output, I had added the repo's from internet, let me know what to keep, what to delete, or go for a new one if possible!

ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ inxi -Sr
System: Host naktasher Kernel 3.2.0-2-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit) Distro Linux Mint Xfce Edition
Repos: Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia testing main non-free
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main import backport romeo upstream
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing-proposed-updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing-proposed-updates main contrib non-free
Testing Security http://secure-testing-master.debian.net/
deb http://security.debian.org wheezy/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org wheezy/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
Debian experimental http://wiki.debian.org/DebianExperimental
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free
Stable Sources
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non-free
Security Updates http://www.debian.org/security/
deb http://security.debian.org/ squeeze/updates main contrib non-free

by **zerozero** on Fri May 11, 2012 9:31 am

well that's an impressive mess, if i may say so :mrgreen:

i assume (but that's the best i can do: assumptions) that you installed the last iso available http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1979 if so, your default repos should look like this

Code: Select all: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia testing main non-free

if the above assumptions are true, just delete everything and copy&past these in.

regarding the preferences file, check with

Code: Select all: cat /etc/apt/preferences

you should have there this

Code: Select all: Package: * Pin: release o=linuxmint Pin-Priority: 700 Package: * Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com Pin-Priority: 700 Package: * Pin: release o=Debian Pin-Priority: 500

tells us how it goes

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 10:29 am

zerozero wrote::shock: well that's an impressive mess, if i may say so
i assume (but that's the best i can do: assumptions) that you installed the last iso available http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=1979 if so, your default repos should look like this
Code: Select all
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia testing main non-free

if the above assumptions are true, just delete everything and copy&past these in.

regarding the preferences file, check with
Code: Select all
cat /etc/apt/preferences

you should have there this
Code: Select all
Package: * Pin: release o=linuxmint Pin-Priority: 700 Package: * Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com Pin-Priority: 700 Package: * Pin: release o=Debian Pin-Priority: 500

tells us how it goes

Yeah did paste as displayed, in source list as well as preferences, than when tried to update, I got this:
ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for ashfaq:
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian InRelease
Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing InRelease
Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates InRelease
E: Release file for http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/dist ... /InRelease is expired (invalid since 45d 0h 6min 4s). Updates for this repository will not be applied.
ashfaq@naktasher ~ $

by **zerozero** on Fri May 11, 2012 10:33 am

no problem, you're close. check here viewtopic.php?f=187&t=76556 (in the known issues) there's the fix for that error.

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 10:38 am

I do remember, what has been given by you are the original repositories, than why I am not able to update, in terminal or synaptic, if their is a way synaptic recognizes these entries, by re-installing it through terminal or any way, apt is able to update it! here is the pasting of latest output:

Code: Select all: ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ inxi -Sr System: Host naktasher Kernel 3.2.0-2-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit) Distro Linux Mint Xfce Edition Repos: Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia testing main non-free ashfaq@naktasher ~ $

by **zerozero** on Fri May 11, 2012 10:44 am

ashfaq, the sources.list are fine now, don't mess with them anymore.
the error you are getting it's different, in the page i linked above scroll to the end of the first post (mine) and you will see that error

Code: Select all: Release file for http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/dist ... /InRelease is expired (invalid since 45d 0h 6min 4s).

and the fix for it. there's no point copy it here if it's there

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 10:51 am

zerozero wrote::D no problem, you're close. check here viewtopic.php?f=187&t=76556 (in the known issues) there's the fix for that error.

Thanks a lot Dear,

That fix of yours did work, and now I can go for more adventures, with people like you around !! Guide me to move ahead from here! I got the update but I think it did not checked all the files, as it was quick; and how to remove the cache file already accumulated in the system due to my adventure, and get the system clean, help me with that.

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 11:05 am

Dear 'zerozero' Just checked 'Synaptic' I am able to open it, Reload it, but when I click on repositories, it telss me, the repositories have changed, click the reload' again after re-loading the same message! I am not able to see the repositories in synaptic? how to go about for that!

by **craigevil** on Fri May 11, 2012 12:32 pm

Lets clean things up a bit. Explanation of commands is listed after the commands.

apt-get autoclean

Like clean, autoclean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. The difference is that it
only removes package files that can no longer be downloaded, and are largely useless. This allows a cache to
be maintained over a long period without it growing out of control. The configuration option
APT::Clean-Installed will prevent installed packages from being erased if it is set to off.

apt-get clean

clean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. It removes everything but the lock file from
/var/cache/apt/archives/ and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/. When APT is used as a dselect(1) method, clean
is run automatically. Those who do not use dselect will likely want to run apt-get clean from time to time to
free up disk space

apt-get check

check is a diagnostic tool; it updates the package cache and checks for broken dependencies.

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade

Post any errors you may get for the last 3 commands.

by **ashfaq** on Fri May 11, 2012 11:54 pm

craigevil wrote:Lets clean things up a bit. Explanation of commands is listed after the commands.

apt-get autoclean
Like clean, autoclean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. The difference is that it
only removes package files that can no longer be downloaded, and are largely useless. This allows a cache to
be maintained over a long period without it growing out of control. The configuration option
APT::Clean-Installed will prevent installed packages from being erased if it is set to off.

apt-get clean
clean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files. It removes everything but the lock file from
/var/cache/apt/archives/ and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/. When APT is used as a dselect(1) method, clean
is run automatically. Those who do not use dselect will likely want to run apt-get clean from time to time to
free up disk space

apt-get check
check is a diagnostic tool; it updates the package cache and checks for broken dependencies.

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade

Post any errors you may get for the last 3 commands.

Did as instructed, but, still problem with synaptic, when you click 'Repositories' in synaptic, nothing happens now! Here is the out put from above commands.

Code: Select all: ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ apt-get autoclean E: Could not open lock file /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (13: Permission denied) E: Unable to lock the download directory ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get autoclean [sudo] password for ashfaq: Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get clean ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get check Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get update Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian InRelease Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing InRelease Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates InRelease Get:1 http://packages.linuxmint.com debian Release.gpg [197 B] Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing InRelease Get:2 http://packages.linuxmint.com debian Release [12.2 kB] Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main amd64 Packages/DiffIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/contrib amd64 Packages/DiffIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free amd64 Packages/DiffIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/contrib TranslationIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main TranslationIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free TranslationIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/main amd64 Packages Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/contrib amd64 Packages Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/non-free amd64 Packages Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/contrib TranslationIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/main TranslationIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/non-free TranslationIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing Release.gpg Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/contrib Translation-en Get:3 http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/main amd64 Packages [13.9 kB] Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main Translation-en Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free Translation-en Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing Release Get:4 http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/upstream amd64 Packages [8,656 B] Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main amd64 Packages/DiffIndex Hit http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free amd64 Packages/DiffIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main TranslationIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free TranslationIndex Get:5 http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/import amd64 Packages [55.3 kB] Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/contrib Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/contrib Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/contrib Translation-en Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/main Translation-en_IN Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/import TranslationIndex Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/main TranslationIndex Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/upstream TranslationIndex Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/main Translation-en Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/non-free Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/updates/non-free Translation-en Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/main Translation-en Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free Translation-en_IN Ign http://debian.linuxmint.com testing/non-free Translation-en Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/import Translation-en_IN Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/import Translation-en Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/main Translation-en_IN Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/main Translation-en Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/upstream Translation-en_IN Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com debian/upstream Translation-en Fetched 90.3 kB in 23s (3,768 B/s) Reading package lists... Done ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get upgrade Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded. ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done Calculating upgrade... Done 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded. ashfaq@naktasher ~ $

by **ashfaq** on Sat May 12, 2012 12:23 am

After messing up with sources.list, I was helped by this forum to restore the original list, and get the update through 'apt-get update' Now the problem is 'Synaptic' still does not register this change, I tried, Re-install, purge and all. What happens is Synaptic opens shows file, even Reloads the information. But, when you click to check the repositories, nothing happens. Also a lot of files from previous editing in sources.list are still in the system, I want to correct that problem as well. Also I want that synaptic shows me, the list of sources.list in the repositories as it was showing before.

Please help me out in taming the synaptic, to work as it should!

by **proxima_centauri** on Sat May 12, 2012 12:31 am

Post your current /etc/sources.list please, in Code tags.

by **ashfaq** on Sat May 12, 2012 1:21 am

proxima_centauri wrote:Post your current /etc/sources.list please, in Code tags.

you wanted it this way, or let me have the command, as to how you can get the output you are looking for, please I am new to the command structure and technical language.

Code: Select all: ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ cat gedit /etc/apt/sources.list cat: gedit: No such file or directory deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest testing main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free deb http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/multimedia testing main non-free ashfaq@naktasher ~ $

by **zerozero** on Sat May 12, 2012 6:52 am

[topics merged]

ashfaq,
- during the period you were using the wrong sources.list did you update the system (though synaptic, mintupdate or the terminal?)
- give us the output of this command (it's only going to check the version n. of these app in your system)

Code: Select all: apt policy synaptic software-properties-gtk software-properties-common python-software-properties

by **ashfaq** on Sat May 12, 2012 3:38 pm

zerozero wrote:[topics merged]

ashfaq,
- during the period you were using the wrong sources.list did you update the system (though synaptic, mintupdate or the terminal?)
- give us the output of this command (it's only going to check the version n. of these app in your system)
Code: Select all
apt policy synaptic software-properties-gtk software-properties-common python-software-properties

here is the output:

Code: Select all: ashfaq@naktasher ~ $ apt policy synaptic software-properties-gtk software-properties-common python-software-properties software-properties-gtk: Installed: 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 Candidate: 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 Version table: *** 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 0 500 http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/ testing/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status synaptic: Installed: 0.75.4 Candidate: 0.75.4 Version table: *** 0.75.4 0 500 http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/ testing/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status python-software-properties: Installed: 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 Candidate: 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 Version table: *** 0.76.7debian2+nmu2 0 500 http://debian.linuxmint.com/latest/ testing/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status ashfaq@naktasher ~ $

by **zerozero** on Sat May 12, 2012 8:05 pm

ok, first try, let's see if this does it or not:

Code: Select all: apt install software-properties-common

and let us know

by **ashfaq** on Sat May 12, 2012 11:20 pm

zerozero wrote:ok, first try, let's see if this does it or not:
Code: Select all
apt install software-properties-common
and let us know

Well, pasted that command, 'properties installed' but no change in synaptic behavior! I wonder what has caused it 'Not to display the Repositories" No way we can re-install it to take up the present configuration!

by **ashfaq** on Mon May 14, 2012 5:07 am

I expected, someone having idea's of taming synaptic! How about purging it completely going for an apt-get update and Re-Starting the machine, will that help! Before trying I wanted some input, if that will make any change as such.

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Messed up with Sources.list and preference list!

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