PSA: Fix Update Manager error after installing LMDE 4

[xenopeek]

Following the move of Debian Buster from "stable" to "oldstable" on August 14, you will get an error in Update Manager after installing LMDE 4. To solve the issue, open a terminal and run this command:
apt update --allow-releaseinfo-change

It's only needed to run this command once after installing LMDE4.

The error in Update Manager looks like this:

[ricardogroetaers]

I suggest there, in the title of the topic, a reference to the LMDE.
I thought, at the beginning, that it was LMUE (Linux Mint Ubuntu Edition).

[ne0h]

Man, you save my life.
i was installing LMDE4 and i was faced with this problem. I couldn't figure out how to get out! you are great !!!!
i am doing the updates now. yeaaahhhh!

[philiprvn]

Maybe this is a "stupid" question but once we've updated release info shouldn't we block this option again (as an security precaution)?

[xenopeek]

The command only allows release info change on that one update, not on any subsequent update. Unless you run it again with the -allow-releaseinfo-change flag.

It is need to one-time accept Debian Buster moving from 'stable' to 'oldstable'. If 2 years from now somebody would still be running LMDE 4 when Debian Buster moves from 'oldstable' to 'oldoldstable', they would need to run this command again to accept that release info change.

[n7ekg]

Shouldn't this be fixed in the LMDE 4 distribution, rather than have new users have to have to search for this issue in the forums and apply the fix themselves?

[xenopeek]

As noted, this only affects installations of LMDE 4 done after August 14 2021. This info is here for convenience. It's in the release notes also for people doing new installations: https://linuxmint.com/rel_debbie.php.

[darknetmatrix]

Shouldn't this be fixed in the LMDE 4 distribution, rather than have new users have to have to search for this issue in the forums and apply the fix themselves?

I really don't think new users start with lmde

[Aztaroth]

Shouldn't this be fixed in the LMDE 4 distribution, rather than have new users have to have to search for this issue in the forums and apply the fix themselves?

I really don't think new users start with lmde

But old users can perform new installs and Xenopeek's info was very valuable for me when I did.

And it doesn't need a fix, because it's not a bug : it's just the way Debian manages the transition between new and previous releases.

[sdibaja]

As noted, this only affects installations of LMDE 4 done after August 14 2021. This info is here for convenience. It's in the release notes also for people doing new installations: https://linuxmint.com/rel_debbie.php.

is this related?

[MarkTheMorose]

I decided to install LMDE 4 on a test system today, and got errors when trying to update. I saw this topic in the forum and have issued the command from the root message. I'm still having problems, though. I'm being told that all the Base (buster) mirrors are either unreachable, or have a speed of 0kb/s.

Is this also related?

[t42]

and have issued the command from the root message.

It is unclear if you replied to the prompt Yes after running the command apt update --allow-releaseinfo-change

Do you want to accept these changes and continue updating from this repository? [y/N]

[MarkTheMorose]

It is unclear if you replied to the prompt Yes after running the command apt update --allow-releaseinfo-change

Do you want to accept these changes and continue updating from this repository? [y/N]

I don't think the command got as far as asking me the question. I seem to be having a 'slow internet' day, things are sometimes timing out. I'll try again later at night and see if it improves.

[perpetual]

I had the same errors as @sdibaja
My fix was to edit repository list and change the three instances of https://deb.debian.org/debian to http://ftp.debian.org/debian

Code: Select all

cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d
sudo cp official-package-repositories.list official-package-repositories.list.bak
sudo xed official-package-repositories.list

Then apt get update/upgrade worked

[GELvdH]

Thanks Xenopeek, that did the trick.

[vimes666]

As noted, this only affects installations of LMDE 4 done after August 14 2021. This info is here for convenience. It's in the release notes also for people doing new installations: https://linuxmint.com/rel_debbie.php.

That is not the case. A few weeks ago I also ran into this problem with an existing LMDE installation that was last updated (and used) before august 2021.

[Neo Trinarty]

Just updated my old w10 32 bit to Lmde4 tonight
As I use mint on most of my machines
Found my way here quickly.
Glad there's a simple fix

[xenopeek]

That is not the case. A few weeks ago I also ran into this problem with an existing LMDE installation that was last updated (and used) before august 2021.

It would only happen on LMDE 4 installed before August 14 2021 if updates hadn't been applied prior to that date. An update to apt (version 1.8.2.3) became available in April 2021 and that avoided this issue. With that apt update installed before August 14 2021 the fix in this topic wasn't needed.

[rjmockler]

I key this command after installing LMDE4 and the command fails, all about repository failures.
A couple of months ago I installed LMDE4 on my desktop and the command worked fine.
Now I am trying to run it on my laptop and it fails.
What is going on?
Thanks, rjmockler

Ignore this message, I found my keying error!!!!