Good day!

I've recently installed Linux Mint 10 on my old laptop. It's one of the only distributions I could get to run. Now, support for this Version has ceased quite a while ago already, but I'd still like to install possibly important updates if there's a possiblity. Even if it's only so the Updater icon doesn't bother me anymore..
Judging by the way the updater acts (Can't verify authentification of the servers, and then doesn't find anything when ignoring it), I'd say it's because the Source Files lead to servers that aren't running anymore, right? If so, I'd probably need someone who still offers those updates, if there is anyone.. Linux Mint 10 was still offered on the official website, so why not the updates?

The reason why I included the keyword "Softare" into my heading is because of texlive, which you were supposed to be able to install using the simple command apt-get install texlive. Since it steered into the very same error, I thought it would be worth mentioning as well, even though I will probably still be able to download those packages from the official website. At least I hope they carry compatible versions there.

So, I'll repeat my question again: Is it still possible for me to install the necessary updates through the update manager, as well as packages through the package manager?

No. Support for Linux Mint 10 ended in April 2012. The repositories are no more (as far as I am aware) - here are the current Mint repositories: http://packages.linuxmint.com/index.php

If I were you I would concentrate on finding an up-to-date distro that works on your system. Post your hardware on here (in a new thread) and ask which distro would be suitable.

If you have any problems installing a distro, seek help here. Eventually, you will find a distro or distros which will allow you to install and run more up-to-date software as well as keep up with the latest security fixes.

1 members found this post helpful.

I do not recommend that you install and use Linux Mint 10. However, let's say you are interested in doing so for historical/educational/entertainment purposes (for example you want to write an article about historical Linux distributions of the past).

What you want to do is edit your software sources (the file /etc/apt/sources.list and possibly other files in the folder /etc/apt/sources.list.d) and edit all the ubuntu-related URL's to read "old-releases.ubuntu.com" (without the quotes).

For example if the original line looks like this:

Change it to look like this:

This should then allow you to install applications like texlive. Of course it will be an old and obsolete version of texlive. Mint 10 has been totally unsupported, with no updates, since 2012.

1 members found this post helpful.

When support ends, the servers are no longer available/accessible in the standard manner as they are moved/archived. Mint 10 is based on Ubuntu 10.10 which was a short term support and that has ended as pointed out above. Mint uses Ubuntu repositories so when Ubuntu stops support for a particular version it ends for Mint also. The apt-get command points to the server based on info in the sources.list file on your Mint system and and the servers aren't there which is why you can't get 'texlive' that way.

@snowpine
Thank you for the exact solution. I reckon Mint itself doesn't have such archives for their updates, or else you'd have mentioned those as well. But it's good to have at least those updates pulled through, now.

@hydrurga
Well, seeing that this is not only a security concern I should probably take your advice. The main problem here is, that I have near to no information about the hardware of my laptop, it not only being a no-name brand, but also having trouble identifying the hardware brands using software. (At least using tools on WinXP). Nevertheless, I'll see if someone can help me. Thank you!

On the Mint 10 command line, run:

Then run:

This manually installs the system info tool inxi and produces a full output from the program.

1 members found this post helpful.

edited by me !

un1x,
Just a friendly reminder.

2 members found this post helpful.

@un1x, you've been a member long enough to know posts of this nature aren't acceptable at LQ.

--jeremy