Mintupdate Error

[bigdee]

mintUpdate reporting an error "Could not refresh the list of packages" after many attempted refreshes.

Tried to update through Synaptic and got error :-

"E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/packages.linuxmint.com_dists_gloria_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report."

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Husse]

The repositories were down some hours on the 21st
Could be that

[bigdee]

Thanks Husse, I wondered whether the repository downtime may have had something to do with the error, but the error persists four days later??

[Husse]

It was only a few hours that day so the repos are OK now
However this may have damaged the file
So lets try something
Backup your present file

Code: Select all

sudo mv /var/lib/apt/lists/packages.linuxmint.com_dists_gloria_main_binary-i386_Packages /var/lib/apt/lists/packages.linuxmint.com_dists_gloria_main_binary-i386_Packages.bak

Replace it with the contents of my file
Open /var/lib/apt/lists/ > right click > Open as root > Create a file called

Code: Select all

/var/lib/apt/lists/packages.linuxmint.com_dists_gloria_main_binary-i386_Packages

and add this to it
Be careful to have the content all the way to the left

Package: linuxmint-keyring
Version: 2009.04.29
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 48
Depends: gnupg (>= 1.0.6-4)
Priority: important
Section: misc
Filename: pool/main/l/linuxmint-keyring/linuxmint-keyring_2009.04.29_all.deb
Size: 3110
SHA1: 5fa674769e470d7fddba45ab8b91e7c19facc065
MD5sum: a9bf9e4eecf25cc938496b0396c35700
Description: GnuPG key of the Linux Mint repository
The Linux Mint repository digitally signs its Release files. This package
contains the repository key used for that.

Package: mint-artwork-gnome
Version: 2.5.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <clem@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 67920
Depends: gtk2-engines-aurora, gtk2-engines-pixbuf, gtk2-engines-candido, gtk2-engines-ubuntulooks
Conflicts: mintartwork-bianca, ubuntu-artwork
Replaces: mintartwork-bianca, ubuntu-artwork
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-artwork-gnome/mint-artwork-gnome_2.5.3_all.deb
Size: 24692508
SHA1: 3c8de7e6f3ba8363e267b5f8745a9eca30567118
MD5sum: a630e46525f3be5cb91ac25b152e206b
Description: Default artwork for Linux Mint
Icons, themes, backgrounds and all the artwork which comes installed by default in Linux Mint.

Package: mint-info-main
Version: 7.0.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 944
Provides: mint-info
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-info-main/mint-info-main_7.0.3_all.deb
Size: 726382
SHA1: b7d7de3f78964416a04095bef8f21ee2ce0c806a
MD5sum: 2b7c2f7a85156e7105f8fc5f5d5956c0
Description: Necessary information about the Linux Mint release and edition.
Base package. This package is needed by the Mint tools and the system to uniquely identify the edition and release of Linux Mint you're using and to get information related to it.

Package: mint-info-universal
Version: 7.0.1
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 944
Provides: mint-info
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-info-universal/mint-info-universal_7.0.1_all.deb
Size: 726344
SHA1: 2dcf804d9875e1c21b390d8ad3010bdbc4fe006b
MD5sum: a6976a92d5568a4661268f327541456c
Description: Necessary information about the Linux Mint release and edition.
Base package. This package is needed by the Mint tools and the system to uniquely identify the edition and release of Linux Mint you're using and to get information related to it.

Package: mint-info-x64
Version: 7.0.1
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 944
Provides: mint-info
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-info-x64/mint-info-x64_7.0.1_all.deb
Size: 726326
SHA1: 7e64609bf659c184854b1c4c22d1c45cbed9635c
MD5sum: 2540e89cf611535eca032069b058f96f
Description: Necessary information about the Linux Mint release and edition.
Base package. This package is needed by the Mint tools and the system to uniquely identify the edition and release of Linux Mint you're using and to get information related to it.

Package: mint-meta-gnome
Version: 7.4.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 32
Depends: linuxmint-keyring, mint-search-addon, mint-artwork-gnome, inxi, aptoncd, bsh, compiz-check, compizconfig-settings-manager, cowsay, cups-pdf, envyng-core, envyng-gtk, flegita, giver, gnome-do, gufw, mintwelcome, mintbackup, mintdesktop, mintinstall, mintmenu, mintnanny, mintsystem, mintupdate, mintupload, mintwifi, mozilla-thunderbird, nautilus-actions, nautilus-open-terminal, nautilus-wallpaper, ndisgtk, ndiswrapper-common, ndiswrapper-utils-1.9, lightning-extension, thunderbird, padevchooser, paman, paprefs, pavucontrol, pavumeter, pppoe, pulseaudio-module-zeroconf, python-compizconfig, samba, simple-ccsm, tomboy, ttf-dejavu, ttf-dejavu-extra, ttf-liberation, usplash-theme-mint, xchat, xchat-common, xdg-user-dirs, xdg-user-dirs-gtk
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-meta-gnome/mint-meta-gnome_7.4.3_all.deb
Size: 2198
SHA1: ed8e25bdbc2dbe7c68ac409328fd0b479366e095
MD5sum: 2b926678bee81cba21d3c6ef1c6cdf0b
Description: Set of packages common to all Gnome-based editions of Linux Mint
Set of packages common to all Gnome-based editions of Linux Mint.

Package: mint-meta-main
Version: 7.0.5
Architecture: i386
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 32
Depends: mint-meta-gnome, mint-info-main | mint-info, gstreamer0.10-esd, gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg, gstreamer0.10-pitfdll, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse, gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly, gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse, libdvdcss2, libdvdnav4, libdvdread4, cabextract, flashplugin-nonfree, grub-gfxboot, java-common, gecko-mediaplayer, openoffice.org-base, openoffice.org-java-common, sun-java6-bin, sun-java6-jre, sun-java6-plugin, totem-xine, unrar, unshield, w32codecs, moonlight-plugin-mozilla
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-meta-main/mint-meta-main_7.0.5_i386.deb
Size: 1920
SHA1: 75533f1d140d6eda671d29d45d7b8c9d0f0fcd0f
MD5sum: 69441af27f4cf01eb619c7a731295d7f
Description: All the packages installed by default in the Main Edition of Linux Mint
All the packages installed by default in the Main Edition of Linux Mint.

Package: mint-search-addon
Version: 2.0
Architecture: all
Maintainer: merlwiz79 <mintmerlwiz79@gmail.com>
Installed-Size: 136
Depends: firefox | firefox-3.0 | firefox-2 | abrowser | flock | songbird | iceweasel
Priority: optional
Section: web
Filename: pool/main/m/mint-search-addon/mint-search-addon_2.0_all.deb
Size: 8982
SHA1: 242afeabfadaac4d0a5c98e71dfe3fa961f0e7b7
MD5sum: fc60b5bac9926bb0b829af7038831394
Description: Enhances the results given by Google CSE
Currently supports Firefox, Flock, and Songbird.

Package: mintbackup
Version: 1.6.2
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 816
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintbackup/mintbackup_1.6.2_all.deb
Size: 56950
SHA1: c1b98630317a5fe1cbc618a1e6ebe2bbd3cf9ee1
MD5sum: 78a339b3ab72d6dc9eef8d42f4540abb
Description: Home Directory Backup Tool
Easily backup and restore your personal data.

Package: mintconstructor
Version: 2.2
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 216
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, mintsystem, squashfs-tools, coreutils, genisoimage, rsync, xterm
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintconstructor/mintconstructor_2.2_all.deb
Size: 40618
SHA1: ac8ced60c28b6c09e8d01099d893b9022d2d6b36
MD5sum: 2780dd21ff3b120ff8365632c61d4e44
Description: Reconstructor for Linux Mint
Used by the dev team to automate all the tedious repetitive work (mksquashfs, mkisofs, chroot, etc..) while making a Mint ISO.

Package: mintdesktop
Version: 3.1.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 700
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintdesktop/mintdesktop_3.1.3_all.deb
Size: 14406
SHA1: 2b4d465874e76435b546e0083068e5ce2055d92b
MD5sum: 7f38e2ecb6a62ee67ce3ff702d2eae53
Description: Desktop configuration tool
Configures some aspects of the Gnome desktop.

Package: mintinstall
Version: 6.3.4
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 4336
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, mintsystem (>= 5.4), zenity, libnotify-bin
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintinstall/mintinstall_6.3.4_all.deb
Size: 729316
SHA1: 2982808bf82ddff7574eac71e6f7bdfc23d05da3
MD5sum: d89d9afc414a434f5f49544e679ace35
Description: Software Manager
A software manager to easily install new applications.

Package: mintmenu
Version: 4.7.8
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 1456
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, mintsystem, mintinstall, deskbar-applet
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintmenu/mintmenu_4.7.8_all.deb
Size: 179798
SHA1: 627a5149459762703fdcd47c0e28e3548ea6f073
MD5sum: a95aab478241a1036bba03d3dc3f0d0c
Description: The Linux Mint Menu for Gnome
One of the most advanced menus under Linux. MintMenu supports filtering, favorites, easy-uninstallation, autosession, and many other features.

Package: mintnanny
Version: 1.3.2
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 848
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, zenity, mintsystem
Conflicts: mintnanny-gnome, mintnanny-kde
Replaces: mintnanny-gnome, mintnanny-kde
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintnanny/mintnanny_1.3.2_all.deb
Size: 33586
SHA1: de606d6b3785b83763e16d4ea7f40101d14a9c40
MD5sum: 393f98d1789babc30f7079f5a37f150d
Description: Domain blocker for Linux Mint
Blocks outgoing traffic towards chosen domain names using /etc/hosts.

Package: mintsystem
Version: 7.4.8
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <clem@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 1676
Depends: mint-info, cowsay, fortune, dontzap
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintsystem/mintsystem_7.4.8_all.deb
Size: 393214
SHA1: 23f0cba623a1315415c5a2b772e739618732738b
MD5sum: a2e1d33db48bce3caffb6a8732f22c74
Description: Linux Mint System Base Package
Used by the desktop and other mint tools to gather information and process common system tasks.

Package: mintupdate
Version: 3.7.7
Architecture: all
Maintainer: clem <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 1464
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, mintsystem, synaptic
Conflicts: mintupdate-gnome, mintupdate-kde, mintupdate-xfce
Replaces: mintupdate-gnome, mintupdate-kde, mintupdate-xfce
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintupdate/mintupdate_3.7.7_all.deb
Size: 191198
SHA1: 637d99defed9b8f2aa99af769a24315353f1eacf
MD5sum: 28a0e9fea65ea57052caa03e723de850
Description: Linux Mint Update Manager
Helps installing security updates and new versions of packages.

Package: mintupload
Version: 3.3.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 908
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, python-pexpect, python-paramiko, mintsystem
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintupload/mintupload_3.3.3_all.deb
Size: 83338
SHA1: 754928ad5b5f8190c7d3c6486032c0c325014229
MD5sum: 1a9b23c77bf2d9df2ababcbcf075888e
Description: Uploads files on the Internet
mintUpload allow you to upload files on the Internet. This makes it easier to share or send big files which would not fit in an email.

Package: mintwelcome
Version: 1.2.3
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 708
Depends: python (>= 2.4), python (<< 3), python-gtk2, python-glade2, mintsystem, mint-info
Conflicts: mintassistant, mintassistant-gnome, mintassistant-kde
Replaces: mintassistant, mintassistant-gnome, mintassistant-kde
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintwelcome/mintwelcome_1.2.3_all.deb
Size: 27804
SHA1: a46d8f26d0f2c6ddb6d15856944877d95e28fedc
MD5sum: 95af7d26f6ba4de6677e3b1176bbb6db
Description: Welcome screen for Linux Mint
Shows important information about the release/edition of Linux Mint.

Package: mintwifi
Version: 1.9
Architecture: all
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 7484
Depends: ndisgtk, ndiswrapper-utils-1.9
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Filename: pool/main/m/mintwifi/mintwifi_1.9_all.deb
Size: 3131154
SHA1: b839ca5d0a8e45f37facff48fa8d8a65aa8cef56
MD5sum: c4a55ee6993d09971db9a2fef4a984ed
Description: Collection of drivers for you to configure your wireless card through ndiswrapper without connecting to the Internet.
Provides support for about 40 different wireless cards.

Package: usplash-theme-mint
Version: 7.0.1
Architecture: i386
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 3296
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.1.3), initramfs-tools (>= 0.40ubuntu30), usplash (>= 0.4-21)
Priority: optional
Section: misc
Filename: pool/main/u/usplash-theme-mint/usplash-theme-mint_7.0.1_i386.deb
Size: 49690
SHA1: 124e8a3d6013ce75f79fd4e1b91e01bd4f65c609
MD5sum: c77f95e11f74fb58bdf05cc846e1c0fb
Description: Usplash theme for Linux Mint
Usplash theme for Linux Mint - Default - With a black background

Package: usplash-theme-mint-stripes
Version: 7.0
Architecture: i386
Maintainer: Clement Lefebvre <root@linuxmint.com>
Installed-Size: 3296
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.1.3), initramfs-tools (>= 0.40ubuntu30), usplash (>= 0.4-21)
Priority: optional
Section: misc
Filename: pool/main/u/usplash-theme-mint-stripes/usplash-theme-mint-stripes_7.0_i386.deb
Size: 787372
SHA1: 90fc80127503e79ed4d2880e00379649e621a395
MD5sum: 5aceff699a325788570dff7a7df5c6ce
Description: Usplash theme for Linux Mint
Usplash theme for Linux Mint - Stripes

[bigdee]

Husse. That worked like a dream. I will keep a copy of your instruction just in case......

You are a star.

Thanks again.

[Heraclitus]

After the last update, the system became unstable till the impossibility to run Mint again.
I had to reinstall Mint on the USB pen drive and to run a new, complete update.