update error in 11.04 [solved]

[Dave Stevens]

On Wednesday, May 11, 2011 01:32:59 PM Dave Stevens wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:23:25 PM Nils Kassube wrote:
> > Dave Stevens wrote:
> > > I was running package updates and had to interrupt the process. Now
> > > when I try to repeat this process I get the message below:
> > > 
> > > Could not initialize the package information
> > > 
> > > An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package
> > > information.
> > > 
> > > Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and
> > > include the following error message:
> > > 
> > > 'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with
> > > MergeList
> > > /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_b
> > > inary- i386_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be
> > > parsed or opened.'
> > > 
> > > I don't know who to report this to - who is responsible for
> > > package-manager
> > 
> > Try the command
> > 
> > ubuntu-bug update-manager
> 
> This gives "Invalid problem report' and details: Could not determine the
> package or source package name.
> "
> 
> > in a terminal.
> > 
> > > and also don't know how to reinitialize package
> > > manager to make it work again.
> > 
> > I don't know if this would help (haven't seen that error message before)
> > but you could try these commands
> > 
> > sudo dpkg --configure -a
> 
> worked without incident to judge from the non-output
> 
> > sudo apt-get install -f
> 
> fails with:
> 
> E:Encountered a section with no Package: header and then
> 
> E:Problem with MergeList
> /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_partner_binary-
> i386_Packages an dfinally
> 
> E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
> 
> so no apparent progress there
> 
> Thanks for the suggestions thoughj
> 
> Dave
> 
> > in a terminal.
> > 
> > 
> > Nils


so what I did was from this thread:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=863742

and the commands were 

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

although I did take the precaution of copying the current contents first. 
There's a small remaining glitch about a source not being accessible but I can 
install packages now and get updates.

Dave

-- 
Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to 
grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.

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