[SOLVED] Problem with Package Manager

kedarp · 08-11-2012, 06:23 AM

I am using Ubuntu 9.10.
Now I can't open Synaptic, it says -

Failed to run Synaptic as root
Unable to copy the users XAuthorisation file

When I try to install from deb file, it says - The software index is broken.

And when I try to open Software Sources, I get the message-

Failed to run /usr/bin/software-properties-gtk as user root.
Unable to copy the user's Xauthorization file.

And the terminal displays -

Code:

$sudo apt-get install ifstat
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Problem parsing dependency Depends
E: Error occurred while processing liblaunchpad-integration1 (NewVersion1)
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

How do I install/remove packages.

pixellany · 08-11-2012, 06:58 AM

What users have been created on the system?

Has the root account been enabled?

kedarp · 08-11-2012, 07:34 AM

There is only one user - kedar
Applications which require root privileges ask for a password.
In terminal, I use sudo.

The problem occurred when I was installing apache2, and my computer shut down
because of power failure.

kedarp · 08-15-2012, 01:50 AM

I get the message "Software Index is Broken" when I try to launch Synaptic.
Does anyone have idea about how to fix it?

TobiSGD · 08-15-2012, 04:03 AM

OFFTOPIC: Ubuntu 9.10 is end of life for over a year now. That means that you have got no security updates for over a year. I would strongly recommend to do a fresh install of a supported version.

kedarp · 08-15-2012, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Ubuntu 9.10 is end of life for over a year now

The updates are still available from repository old-releases.ubuntu.com.

The problem is fixed. The following threads solved my issue:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1653580

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...epends-906264/

Regards.

TobiSGD · 08-15-2012, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kedarp

The updates are still available from repository old-releases.ubuntu.com.

This is a misunderstanding. The repositories are still online, but the last updates that Ubuntu 9.10 got are now over a year old. Any bug and any security hole in a software on your system discovered in the last 16 months is still on your system and will never get fixed.
In short, your system is insecure, it is recommended to upgrade.

kedarp · 08-15-2012, 06:57 AM

TobiSGD, Thanks for the info.

I use the debian squeeze repository because Ubuntu uses dpkg -

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian squeeze main

I used it and everything works fine in Ubuntu 9.10.
I also have the updates.

But is it recommended to use this repository?

I am going to switch to another distro in a few days anyway.

TobiSGD · 08-15-2012, 07:33 AM

Both, Debian and Ubuntu use the APT package-management system with its various front-ends, like dpkg, apt-get/apt-cache/apt-file, aptitude, Synaptic, Software center, Update Manager, ... .

Quote:

I use the debian squeeze repository because Ubuntu uses dpkg -

deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian squeeze main

I used it and everything works fine in Ubuntu 9.10.
I also have the updates.

But is it recommended to use this repository?

Debian and Ubuntu are not compatible. With mixing those repositories you most likely will break your system. If you use that system any further please and you run into problems, please note in any thread you open that you run such a mixed system, since that most likely will be the cause of your issues.