DPKG Package List Missing

Bottesford · 01-06-2008, 09:34 AM

Hi, I'm fairly new and I have a problem that I just can't fix despite much searching.

I'm having big problems with dpkg and apt-get.
I recently attempted an install of Pro-FTPD server via the Webmin interface which just hung forever for some reason.
I went into the terminal to try and got all sorts of locking errors within dpkg folder. I followed advice online to remove lock files and trying:

sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update

But now I get the error:
'The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened'.
The status folder under dpkg was missing so I put it back but still I get this error.
Can I rebuild my pakage list somehow? I think the file has gone missing somehow.
I cannot use any installation tools or updates at the moment. I've tried rebooting to no avail.

I'm fairly new to Ubuntu & Linux and am trying to setup a web server (well LAMP server) for my website but I'm getting a bit nervous as it seems extremely easy to break your computer!

Thanks for any help

armanox · 01-06-2008, 01:44 PM

check to see if the apt repository list exist

post the results of...
cat /etc/apt/sources.list

If the files isn't found, I'll send you a copy of mine. At that point it should fix apt-get update

Also, are you running these commands as root or by using sudo?

Bottesford · 01-06-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armanox

check to see if the apt repository list exist

post the results of...
cat /etc/apt/sources.list

If the files isn't found, I'll send you a copy of mine. At that point it should fix apt-get update

Also, are you running these commands as root or by using sudo?

All commands using sudo yes. sources.list is present and shown below.
I don't think it's apt that's at fault - seems to be DPKG from what I can gather.

Code:

#
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu-Server 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted

deb cdrom:[Ubuntu-Server 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy universe
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy multiverse
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository. This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is
## offered by Canonical and the respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu
## users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security multiverse

armanox · 01-06-2008, 03:20 PM

Code:

#
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu-Server 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted

#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu-Server 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy universe
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy multiverse
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-updates multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository. This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is
## offered by Canonical and the respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu
## users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security multiverse

try with the modification i made. If it really is dpkg that's borked, you may need to redo the installation.

Bottesford · 01-07-2008, 03:40 PM

I found that several files & dirs were missing from DPKG-
'status' and 'available' had gone along with 'updates' dir. I put them back which allows update tools to function again.
Problem now is I think everything is out of sync. The system is asking to do critical updates (56 of them) which I tell it do. It then fails to install with error:
'Could not perform immediate configuration (2) on libpam-runtime'.
To me, it seems like its trying to redo already installed updates.
Is there a way to rebuild the install package lists?

edit - using Synaptic Package Manager shows I have 0 packages installed - so I'm sure I'm right. Well think so anyway!