Hi, when I try to use the apt-get/synaptic/wtv utilities, I get this error:


$ sudo apt-get check
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Problem parsing dependency Replaces
E: Error occurred while processing libvorbisfile3 (NewVersion1)
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

I tried to do sudo dpkg --clear-avail && sudo apt-get update, but I still get the same error.



I'm on gutsy...

Edit the file /var/lib/dpkg/status searching for the section of the libvorbisfile3 then change the Version: line that contains (NewVersion1) to what the version should be, on my install it looks like this.

So for me the line is Version: 1.2.0.dfsg-2 change yours to match the output you get from the above now everything should work again.

I am running Feisty and have a similar problem that when using apt-get returns the following errors:

W: Encountered status field in a non-version description
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
dpkg -l returns:

dpkg-query: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 14670 package `libscim8c2a':
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I try to run the Package Manager I get:

Could not initialize the package information

A unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'W:Encountered status field in a non-version description, E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sure could use some help, I've been trying to solve this problem for about 2 weeks and have gotten no where. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank
lfever

Edit the /var/lib/dpkg/status file to correct the error near the line 14670 just look at the other entries nearby to see if you can figure out what it should be there or you can always try and copy the var/lib/dpkg/status.old file backup to the var/lib/dpkg/status I would check the backup first to make sure that the error is not present in it as well.

I couldn't figure out what problem was with the dpkg status file so I replaced it with the status-old and all is well.

Thanks again HappyTux
lfever

My status file is also corrupt. It says I need a : after M in line 8180. If I try to open the file to edit it, it says it is a binary file and I can't get it to open. How can I replace the status file with my status file? I am new and don't know the commands needed to replace the file in terminal.

Enter your password
Edit the line that needs changed
Save and close.

lfever