So I installed Ubuntu 13.10 on my Gateway DX4850 (i7 CPU, 8 gig RAM, dual boot with Win7, 64-bit) and went to download softwware and some plugins. When I try to go to the software center, a screen flashes and nothing happens. I don't even get to the software center. When I try apt-get for plugins, I get an error as well. Given the error codes (see below, first is the error from trying to get to the software center, the second is from trying apt-get). Same error when trying apt-get update and other apt-get commands. Any ideas?

Begin:
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_saucy_universe_i18n_Translation-en
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

END
BEGIN

-------------:~$ sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer
[sudo] password for ----------:
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_saucy_universe_i18n_Translation-en
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
END

A person here had a similar problem but solved it maybe this will work.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=863742

Did not work. The solution at the link was to delete a list, using
I got the same errors.

First> Did you check the md5sum on the image you downloaded?

This could easily be from a bad install due to a bad image. If that is the case getting a good image and reinstalling would be the thing to do.

If that is not the case I would try;
and then
If that worked I would preform any package upgrades available before installing anything.

Sorry it took so long to get back to the board. Tried the dpkg -- clear-avail command and then tried update. No change. Same errors.

BTW MD5 checksum matched.

Thanks.