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dpkg: failed in buffer_read(fd): copy info file `/var/lib/dpkg/available': Input/output error

Looks like a hardware error to me.

GUI Application to check your hard drives:
http://gsmartcontrol.berlios.de/home/index.php/en/Home

Download for Jaunty / Gloria :
http://download.opensuse.org/repositori ... 1_i386.deb

Disclaimer : I'm a far sight from being an expert on repairing apt. When I've experienced goofiness in the package management in the past, the following code usually resolved things for me:
Hope this is the quick fix.

-DataMan