Downloading repository indexes

[Jack054]

Mint xfce has been working fine on my laptop until today.
I was able to download just one(1) update but couldn't download all repository indexes because they either no longer existed or were moved, etc.- I'm not sure what this means.
What action would you guys suggest I take to get needed updates?

Also, I've avoided downloading a Linux Kernel update
(4.15.0-142.146~16.04.1) because I don't want to mess things up.
Jack

[RIH]

Menu - Software Sources. (You will be asked for your password).

There you can try either
1. Reverting to the default sources
or
2. Mouse click on your current sources (1 at a time) & let the system show you your quickest available ones. Select 1 & the cache will update. Software Manager should now function as normal.

[Jack054]

I've had no luck sofar. The picture I have is similar to what you sent, but the mirror url is http, not https.

Could my VPN be causing problems?
Jack

[karlchen]

Hello, Jack054.

Please, share the output of the following terminal command with us: inxi -Sxxxr
This will tell us your precise Linux Mint version in use plus the list of configured software repositories.

Next, please, execute the terminal command sudo apt update Share the complete text output, which it will display, with us, too.

Just a side note:
The "Linux Kernel update (4.15.0-142.146~16.04.1)", which you had mentioned, does not look like a recent kernel update to me.

Regards,
Karl

[RIH]

I've had no luck sofar. The picture I have is similar to what you sent, but the mirror url is http, not https.

Could my VPN be causing problems?
Jack

The default urls are both http not https - that is not an issue.

A VPN should not cause an issue..

[Jack054]

Thanks for your help Karl.
I think I resolved my issue. I found a mirror that downloaded a new Google repository to my update manager which I was able to install. I also found a new NordVPN repository, but I did not install it because it did not show up on my update manager.

I will run the checks you requested and send the results to you.
Jack

[all41]

Sometimes your selected update mirrors may be offline for maintenance or other reasons.
Best option is try again later, or change the mirrors using the Software Sources utility.

[ricardogroetaers]

Also, I've avoided downloading a Linux Kernel update
(4.15.0-142.146~16.04.1) because I don't want to mess things up.

It's a good kernel.
Stable and fast.
It has behaved well on my machine.
But each case is different.

[Jack054]

Hello, Jack054.

Please, share the output of the following terminal command with us: inxi -Sxxxr
This will tell us your precise Linux Mint version in use plus the list of configured software repositories.

Next, please, execute the terminal command sudo apt update Share the complete text output, which it will display, with us, too.

Just a side note:
The "Linux Kernel update (4.15.0-142.146~16.04.1)", which you had mentioned, does not look like a recent kernel update to me.

Regards,
Karl

Code: Select all

jackcarter@jackcarter-Aspire-5515 ~ $ inxi -Sxxxr
System:    Host: jackcarter-Aspire-5515 Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) info: xfce4-panel dm: lightdm
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Repos:     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/nordvpn.list
           deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://mirror.cs.jmu.edu/pub/linuxmint/packages sylvia 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
jackcarter@jackcarter-Aspire-5515 ~ $ 

[karlchen]

Hello, Jack054.

Your inxi output confirms what I had suspected based on the kernel version 4.15.0-142.146~16.04.1, which you had mentioned:
You are using Mint 18.3, which reached the end of its supported life end of April 2021.

Although you quoted my full post, you did not execute and post the output, displayed by the second commandline, which I had asked you to execute: sudo apt update Please, do so. And post the full output.

Thanks,
Karl

[Jack054]

Code: Select all

jackcarter@jackcarter-Aspire-5515 ~ $ sudo apt update
[sudo] password for jackcarter: 
Hit:1 https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable InRelease
0% [Connecting to dl.google.com (142.250.81.238)] [Connecting to mirror.cs.jmu.
jackcarter@jackcarter-Aspire-5515 ~ $ sudo apt update
[sudo] password for jackcarter: 
Reading package lists... Done
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/
jackcarter@jackcarter-Aspire-5515 ~ $

[karlchen]

Hell, Jack054.

The error message E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable) may suggest that another process like e.g. Update Manager was active in the background and kept an exclusive lock on the file /var/lib/apt/lists/lock.
Therefore it may be worth to retry a few minutes later.
In case you should have open either Synaptic or Software Manager, close them both, please. They may also lock the mentioned file.

Regards,
Karl

[Jack054]

The index downloading problem has returned
jack

[sleeper12]

Since Mint 18.3 is no longer supported, you should install Mint 19.x or 20.x.

[Jack054]

It looks like I have to update, but not sure how to do it.

Do I have to update to 19.x first, or go with 20.x?

What commands do I use to implement the update.
Jack054

[sleeper12]

You can't do it with commands, you need to do a clean install. Here is a guide that may help:
https://linuxmint-installation-guide.re ... en/latest/

[Jack054]

Thank you sleeper12.

It sounds like I have to install 19.x before 20.x - is that right?

Is a disc available?
Jack054

[sleeper12]

Post your system details so we can see if 19.x or 20.x would be best for you:

Code: Select all

 inxi -Fxxxrz 

[Jack054]

Thanks Sleeper12
I will get that info together as soon as I can.
Jack

[Jack054]

Hi Sleeper1
The following are the specs I could find:
Jack

Acer Aspire Model KAW60 (Vista Basic)
AMD Athlon 64 2650e
AMD RS690MC/SB600 Chipset
IEEE 802.11b/g
Dual Channel Support
2GB (or 3GB) ofDDR2 667MHz Memory
ATI Radeon Xpress 1200 x 800
HDD 160GB
DVD - RW