[unSOLVED] software.sources URL edit doesn't stick

[cwky42]

I have a red X in my Update Manager icon, and hovering over it gives me this message:

SourcesError180212.png

I've been dealing with this for so long I don't remember how/why I learned this, but I can eliminate the error if I use software.sources, Additional Repositories , and edit the google earth URL by adding "[arch=amd64]" (no quotes) between "deb" and "http:...", exactly like the URL for Chrome has. No errors from Update Manager after that. I've done it from the Update Manager itself, through the Mint Menu, and from the Terminal, including as root through the Terminal using sudo. Each technique seems to fix the problem, But..... When I start the computer the next day, the URL is back like it was the day before and the red X is back.

How do I go about getting the edit to stick? Thanks in advance for any help, speculation, advice, snickers or disparaging remarks, etc. The computer is a duocore intel running Mint 17.3 64 bit.

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inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: MintDuoBox17-3 Kernel: 3.19.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.8 (Gtk 3.10.8-0ubuntu1.6)
           Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine:   Mobo: Abit model: IP35 PRO(P35+ICH9R) v: 1.x (:10)
           Bios: Phoenix v: 6.00 PG date: 09/06/2007
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E6750 (-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10880
           clock speeds: max: 2720 MHz 1: 2040 MHz 2: 2720 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G94 [GeForce 9600 GT] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz, 1920x1080@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce 9600 GT/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 340.102 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.19.0-32-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL-8110SC/8169SC Gigabit Ethernet
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: be00 bus-ID: 04:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL-8110SC/8169SC Gigabit Ethernet
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: bc00 bus-ID: 04:01.0
           IF: eth1 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1250.3GB (30.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5003ABYX size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD5003ABYZ size: 500.1GB
           ID-3: /dev/sdc model: ST3250620AS size: 250.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 455G used: 95G (22%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.29GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 42.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:55C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 188 Uptime: 7:39 Memory: 2447.9/7983.3MB
           Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28

[karlchen]

Hi, cwky42.

Please, post the screen output of the command

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inxi -r

This will return the list of all sources list filenames and their content. Perhaps this will give a hint what is the root cause.

Regards,
Karl

[cwky42]

Thanks, Karl. I'm not sure I'm posting this correctly, but here goes...
(I wasn't, so I tried again. Please see below.)

[cwky42]

Thanks, Karl. (I'm a Carl too!)

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carl@MintDuoBox17-3 ~ $ inxi -r
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
           deb http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/op/stable/debian/ lsb3.2 main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list
           deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/heyarje-libav-11-trusty.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/heyarje/libav-11/ubuntu trusty main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/heyarje/libav-11/ubuntu trusty main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librecad-dev-librecad-stable-trusty.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/librecad-dev/librecad-stable/ubuntu trusty main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/librecad-dev/librecad-stable/ubuntu trusty main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/linuxmint/packages rosa main upstream import
           deb http://extra.linuxmint.com rosa main
           deb http://mirror.cc.vt.edu/pub2/ubuntu trusty main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://mirror.cc.vt.edu/pub2/ubuntu trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ trusty partner
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
           deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list
           deb [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
           deb-src [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/stebbins-handbrake-releases-trusty.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu trusty main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu trusty main

[karlchen]

Hi, Carl.

Thanks for posting the inxi -r output.
If you look carefully at it you will spot 2 sources list file which point to the Google Earth software repository.
If you look even more carefully you may notice that actually both files point to the same Google Earth repository.
But only the second file holds the needed option [arch=amd64]

Below are the 2 sections from the inxi output which should illustrate so:

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           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list
           deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main

           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main

Suggested solution:
Remove the file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list completely.
Terminal command to do so:

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sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list

Regards,
Karl

[cwky42]

Thanks, Karl. I wondered about that but was not real comfortable with removing it without a confirmation of some kind, which I appreciate you providing. I removed the non amd64 earth source, and was error free during a Refresh in Update Manager. I rebooted, the removal stuck, and the machine is behaving properly again, so thanks very much for your assistance!

But.... (Oh no, you're probably thinking...) As far as getting an edited URL in software.sources to stick, I'm still where I started, so technically I don't think a new topic/forum-question is merited as I present the problem again here, this time with another machine. This one is running 17.2 Cinnamon. It only has a single Earth repository listed, and it is without the [arch=amd64]. When I edit the URL, the problem seems to go away, but the edit won't stick through a reboot. Here is the output from inxi -r for this other machine. See anything interesting?

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carl@HallboxRedux ~ $ inxi -r
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
           deb http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/op/stable/debian/ lsb3.2 main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
           deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela main upstream import #id:linuxmint_main
           deb http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela main #id:linuxmint_extra
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ trusty partner
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
           deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list
           deb [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
           deb-src [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam

[cwky42]

Bump, unless this is a breach of protocol. In that case, please disregard and accept my apologies.

[karlchen]

Hello, Carl.

If I had to add [arch=amd64] to the Google Earth software repository file on my Mint 17.2 Cinnamon, I would proceed like this:

• The inxi report displays this about the Google Earth software repository file:

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             Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
             deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main

  I.e. the fully qualified filename is /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
• I would open a terminal window. Then I would execute the command below in order to edit the file with root permissions (root permissions are required in this case):

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  gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list

  gksudo will prompt for my password. After it has been entered gksudo will run the editor gedit with root permissions and open the file in gedit.
• The file will only hold one line reading deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main. I would insert [arch=amd64] so that the line now will read deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
• I would save the file and quit gedit.
• inxi -r should confirm that the Google Earth software repository file now holds the needed string [arch=amd64].

I do not see any reason why this change should not survive a reboot.

HTH,
Karl

[cwky42]

Hooray! Thanks very much for your assistance, Karl. Your explicit instructions are gratefully appreciated, and have solved the problem.

I guess if I'd had more confidence I could have tried that on my own, because I realized the .list file was where the sources list was being generated, but when I looked at the file and saw the lines it contained about being automatically configured and "modifications may be lost", I chickened out. I'd rather modify something once than risk breaking it, having to figure out what I'd done, if there were ramifications, how to fix it, fix it, and then modify it. That a hazard with a system that works so well out of the box I guess. I don't get nearly enough experience tinkering around "under the hood" (bonnet...) to feel confident making even minor changes.

Thanks again for help help and guidance, Karl
Cheers!
Carl

[Moem]

Marking a topic as [SOLVED] should be done in the first post so that it can be seen from the forum overview page. You'll find that you can edit that first post by clicking the button with the pencil on it.

[cwky42]

I just figured that out, thanks! Maybe I should put [SOLVED*2] (kidding!)

[cwky42]

Well, crud. I'm right back where I started. I rebooted a couple times yesterday to make sure that the fix stuck, and for all those it did, but this evening the red X is back, and the date on the file in sources.list.d has changed to today. Again. Something is overwriting it. Any clues as to what/who/why?

[karlchen]

Hi, Carl.

Please, post a fresh

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inxi -Sr

report, run on the affected machine, please.
Also it would be helpful to learn what Update Manager => View => Information tells why it fails.

Regards,
Karl

[cwky42]

Thanks for hanging on with this one, Karl. It's got to get annoying after a while...

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carl@HallboxRedux ~/Desktop $ inxi -Sr
System:    Host: HallboxRedux Kernel: 3.16.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit) 
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.6.13  Distro: Linux Mint 17.2 Rafaela
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
           deb http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/op/stable/debian/ lsb3.2 main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth.list
           deb http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://packages.linuxmint.com rafaela main upstream import #id:linuxmint_main
           deb http://extra.linuxmint.com rafaela main #id:linuxmint_extra
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ trusty partner
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
           deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam.list
           deb [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
           deb-src [arch=amd64,i386] http://repo.steampowered.com/steam/ precise steam
carl@HallboxRedux ~/Desktop $

And the info ...

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++ Launching mintUpdate 
++ Starting refresh
++ Auto-refresh timer is going to sleep for 30 minutes, 0 hours and 0 days
++ System is up to date
++ Refresh finished
++ MintUpdate is in tray mode, performing auto-refresh
++ Starting refresh
++ Auto-refresh timer is going to sleep for 30 minutes, 0 hours and 0 days
-- Error in checkAPT.py, could not refresh the list of updates
++ MintUpdate is in tray mode, performing auto-refresh
++ Starting refresh
++ Auto-refresh timer is going to sleep for 30 minutes, 0 hours and 0 days
-- Error in checkAPT.py, could not refresh the list of updates
++ MintUpdate is in tray mode, performing auto-refresh
++ Starting refresh
++ Auto-refresh timer is going to sleep for 30 minutes, 0 hours and 0 days
-- Error in checkAPT.py, could not refresh the list of updates

[aya]

I tried the solution and did not solve it
These are some of the messages that appear:

deb: command not found

Active: command not found

++: command not found
-- Error in checkAPT.py, could not refresh the list of updates
WARNING:root:could not open file '/etc/apt/sources.list'

--: command not found


This file contains all the information but when i entered it, this message was shown:

'/etc/apt/sources.list.d'
bash: /etc/apt/sources.list.d: Is a directory


What can I do to solve the problem

[karlchen]

Hello, aya.

Well, the question really is which problem you are experiencing. It may nor may not be the same as the one reported by cwky42.
Therefore we will have to start gathering information from scratch.

• Please, open a terminal window.
• Execute the command

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  inxi -Sr

  exactly as it has been typed here (the option is dash capital S lowercase R.)
  Mark the complete screen output, copy it and paste it into your next reply.
  It will tell us your exact Mint version, the names of your sources list files and their content.
• Execute the command

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  sudo apt-get update

  Note:
  sudo will ask for your password. While you type it, there will be no visual feedback. Type your password and press the enter key.
  Mark the complete screen output, copy it and paste it into your next reply.
  This will reveal what exactly happens when the system queries the software repositories. And it will give us the exact error messages which occur.

Best regards,
Karl