crippled meerkat

[NoOp]

On 12/08/2010 11:40 AM, chiaowl wrote:
> Keeping it brief: no mic sound, won't send emails, unable to access
> computer janitor, package manager, or ubuntu software center - plus
> misc. other problems like not allowing email backups (which I think I
> need to do before I clumsily try to resolve this with my
> sub-kindergarten level of knowledge of linux).
> 
> E: Encountered a section with no Package: header E: Problem with
> MergeList
> /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_maverick_main_binary-i386_Packages
>
> 
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
> E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

Maybe these will help:
<https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+question/130018>

I'd try these first:
$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
$ sudo apt-get install -f

Then all the commands on:
<https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PackageManagerTroubleshootingProcedure>