Cannot Update Or Use Any Admin App Or Install <SOLVED>

[Rockisreal]

Hello,

My Update Manager is completely blank, showing no updates, and always on red X mark. All settings are correct. Refresh doesn't work. When I go to Software Sources to update repositories I get this message:

E: Malformed entry 2 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list (Component)
E: Unable to lock the list directory

and then this:

E: Malformed entry 2 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialog to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.


The second message pops up at any administration application, including Synaptic Package Manager and GDebi. I cannot install new software, nor update. Terminal commands "apt-get update" doesn't work as well.

This has been ongoing for some weeks for now. Previous issue was with Update Manager always showing the red X and after refreshing it, I would get message that I can't get now but it was something about "Failed to fetch". So I tried to update repositories but it didn't help.

Is this fixable in any way?

[WharfRat]

Try opening a terminal and entering gksu /usr/lib/linuxmint/mintSources/mintSources.py&

Maintenance button on the left then first selection Fix MergeList problems.

[Rockisreal]

Hi.

thanks for response. I did that, and the terminal said this:

removed '/var/lib/apt/lists/lock'
After I performed what you said and I got this message:


Could not download all repository indexes

The repository may no longer be available or could not be contacted because of network problems. If available an older version of the failed index will be used. Otherwise the repository will be ignored. Check your network connection and ensure the repository address in the preferences is correct.

And then this again:

E: Malformed entry 2 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list (Component)
E: Unable to lock the list directory

And the this again:

E: Malformed entry 2 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.
Go to the repository dialog to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

I think I am MISSING THE INSTALLATION CD IN ADDITIONAL REPOSITORIES. Is there anyway I could fix that?

I am on LM18.1 Cinnamon, 64-bit version.

[austin.texas]

E: Malformed entry 2 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list (Component)

So did you look at entry 2 in that file yet?
Let's see it:

Code: Select all

inxi -r

[Rockisreal]

Here it is:

xiao@xiao-Lenovo-G50-80 ~ $ inxi -r
Repos: Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
deb [arch=amd64] https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/brave-apt main
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list
deb http://packages.domain.com/ xenial main
deb http://packages.domain.com/ xenial main
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/inkscape_dev-stable-xenial.list
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu xenial main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu xenial main
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kdenlive-kdenlive-testing-xenial.list
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kdenlive/kdenlive-testing/ubuntu xenial main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/kdenlive/kdenlive-testing/ubuntu xenial main
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/obsproject-obs-studio-xenial.list
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/obsproject/obs-studio/ubuntu xenial main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/obsproject/obs-studio/ubuntu xenial main
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com serena main upstream import backport
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ xenial partner
Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/stebbins-handbrake-releases-xenial.list
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu xenial main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu xenial main

[austin.texas]

Thank you.
I don't see a "entry 2" in /etc/apt/sources.list
Run this command:

Code: Select all

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

[Rockisreal]

Hello,

deb [arch=amd64] https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/brave-apt main

Is that it?

[austin.texas]

Thank you.
I expected to see a reference to cdrom in that file - but that is OK.
If I put https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/brave-apt into my web browser, it comes back with no useful result.
Is that Amazon service working for you?

You can put a # mark in front of that line to make it inactive

Code: Select all

gksudo xed /etc/apt/sources.list

Then try

Code: Select all

sudo apt update

[Rockisreal]

Thank you.
I expected to see a reference to cdrom in that file - but that is OK.

Yeah I think that's part of the problem. I don't have this cdrom in my additional repositories. I think I must have removed it by accident or something. Is there any way to get it back?

[austin.texas]

Thank you.
I expected to see a reference to cdrom in that file - but that is OK.

Yeah I think that's part of the problem. I don't have this cdrom in my additional repositories. I think I must have removed it by accident or something. Is there any way to get it back?

You don't need it. And I don't think you want it either. If cdrom is referenced as a source, you would have to have the disc in the CD drive.
MINE:

Code: Select all

user1@skynet1 ~ $ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
#deb cdrom:[Linux Mint 18.1 _Serena_ - Release amd64 20161213]/ xenial contrib main non-free

[Rockisreal]

Hello,

So I have implemented your advice and tested for a couple of days. It WORKED! Update Manager works normally, all the administration apps work, I can now install new software.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOOD SIR!

I thought I'd have to reinstall my entire OS.
I hope this thread will help some one some day in the future.

[austin.texas]

I am glad it worked for you !
Please go to your first post, click the EDIT (pencil) icon, and add [SOLVED] to the title, so that others can find solutions.