Page 1 of 1

Cannot Update Mint14 [Solved]

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:46 pm
by InkKnife
My software update utility is failing. I get the following errors:
ERROR###ERROR###ERROR###ERROR###ERROR###ERROR###ERROR
E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_quantal_main_i18n_Translation-en, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
What happened and more importantly, how to I fix this? I haven't been doing anything risky or exotic.

Re: Cannot Update Mint14

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:47 pm
by viking777
So try this, open a terminal and type (or copy):

Code: Select all

sudo mv /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_quantal_main_i18n_Translation-en /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_quantal_main_i18n_Translation-en.old
Then try and update again. If it makes things worse you can revert to the original situation with:

Code: Select all

sudo mv /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_quantal_main_i18n_Translation-en.old  /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_quantal_main_i18n_Translation-en
Reverting to the original situation won't make things work of course, it just means we have to think again.

Re: Cannot Update Mint14

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:13 pm
by InkKnife
No go on that. The first command id not make anything worse, I just get the same errors.

Re: Cannot Update Mint14

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:26 pm
by viking777
So reset things with the second command I gave and then run:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
From a terminal and post the result here.

Re: Cannot Update Mint14

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:29 pm
by InkKnife
Found the solution over in Ubuntu's forums. I used this command and it fixed my problem:

Code: Select all

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf && sudo apt-get update
Thank you very much for you willingness to help :)

Re: Cannot Update Mint14

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:39 pm
by InkKnife
Looks like this was caused by my turning off my modem but not turning off my WiFi base station. Apparently if Update Manager looks for updates while connected to a wifi base station that is not connected to the Internet bad things happen. It is a known bug.
http://osdir.com/ml/ubuntu-bugs/2012-12/msg01738.html