Error in repositories -> Error in the updates -> Error in adobe flash Plugin
 

Hi experts,

I wonder why I cannot update my repositories or software on my Linux Mint 18.2 system any more.

I really need Adobe flash plugin 11.2 or higher in order to continue my distant study on this machine. So it is urgent.

The repository error shows the following text:

W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:

I post you the two pictures of the special repository that did not download as well:Attachment 32061
Attachment 32062

The second problem related to that is that I cannot update my system any more. If I try to refresh my Update Manager I get the following:

W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:5
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:6
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:7
W: Target Packages (main/binary-amd64/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Packages (main/binary-i386/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Packages (main/binary-all/Packages) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en_US) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8
W: Target Translations (main/i18n/Translation-en) is configured multiple times in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:3 and /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list:8

I post you the two pictures that the Update manager did not manage as well:
Attachment 32063
Attachment 32064

I tried to change the repositories several times with 4 or 5 different ones. I tried the Update Manager on several different days. I really cannot get around this update problem.

Is there any way to solve this without reinstalling Linux completely? I would very much appreciate that.

Warm regards

Matthias

I'm not sure you can resolve it even with a fresh install. Flash player was deprecated by Adobe.

No, it is **NOT URGENT** for anyone here; we volunteer our time to help others.
Seems like you've done similar things over the past few years:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...en-4175558294/
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...al-4175648744/

The solutions from the almost-identical issues you've had in the past remain valid; remove the failed repositories. Also, why would you enable both i386 and AMD64 architectures for one machine?? It's best not to add repositories unless you have a specific need, or know why you're adding them.

There is an alternative to Mint (which is based around Ubuntu packages).

LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) is functionally extremely similar to Mint but is built using Debian packages.
It is almost always possible to install non-Mint Debian packages, but never any Ubuntu stuff.

I doubt that its possible to install Flash and programs such as Firefox either disable it currently (or possibly will do so soon).

Try burning a bootable USB/DVD with LMDE3 to see if it meets your needs.

All those are just warnings that should not impact apt's functionality at all.

Can you not use a higher version of flashplayer?

@ TB0ne: Thank you very much for your replies. I see why it is not urgent for you.

@ ALL: NOW: How do I remove the old repositories? I am aware of the fact that I did have similar issues in the past. But they are today beyond my intellectual capacity to recollect. Is there a good summary somewhere I can safely rely on. I kindly ask your patience at this midnight hour. My problem is that I tend to forget technical stuff I did more than 12 month ago + don't use it frequently. That is just a matter of reality. Brains are built like that.

@ ondoho & JeremyBoden + ?????: One more crucial question: Is it possible to install Adobe flash 11.2 or higher on Mint at all? I would love to use the highest version possible.

If yes, how can I do that? If "no" is LMDE as graphical as MINT. My problem is that I am just and only an ordinary user who loves the functionality and the helpful network you have managed to establish with LINUX.

@ TB0ne & others: One last remark to my general attempt here (you might judge it according to your community which I am ready to leave in case I am not good enough): I am not sure I am worthy of your help. But I am sure that I am bowing my damn back every day to give what I have to others in my social field of child education so hard that I think it might be Gods will that I ask you for your support for the better of this world. Some mothers whose children I work with have cancer. Some other children have no mothers and sometimes even no native fathers at all. I am anything but an experienced or prudent LINUX user. But I am worthy of a community + I am just fond of this and will not cease to support the open source approach for the better of the future of ALL OF US! I believe in a more complex and connected world than a lot of people I know. But I wouldn't want to go on existing for my little part otherwise. That's it. Thank you.

@ ALL: I promise to do my best to appreciate you properly here!

Warm regards.

Matthias :)

As it happens, the last install of Shockwave Flash arrived late last month.
It is version 32.0.0.293.
I have disabled it in Firefox, which has not be keen on it for some time.
I tend to find that sites still using Flash have pretty stale content.

LMDE is a very graphical distro, visually extremely similar to Mint.

To attempt to sort out your current repository hell, I would suggest that you list out the contents of each file in /etc/apt/sources.list.d
But especially if you have multiple ppa's its likely to be very difficult to untangle.

By comparison I have just one file with 5 lines in it.:hattip:

Are we talking about a browser plugin?
Does it have to be Adobe Flash? The Linux world seems to have moved on to Google's Pepperflash or freshplayer or whatever it's called:
Or linux install adobe flash.

Ok, that is on the point. Thanks for the replies. I will see what I can make of it here....

@ JeremyBoden: My Shockwave Flash Plugin is version 32.0.0.303. 303 seems to be more than your latest version 293. Is that correct? I feel a little confused here about the version issues. Apparently my version dates back from Sept. 2018. I think due to my repository issues I definitely have it might be the combination of my Firefox and the old version of the plugin which trouble the Adobe Connect version of my current distant uni.

@ ondoho + JeremyBoden: I tend to find that sites still using Flash have pretty stale content. - "I am a 100-%-pragmatist. As I am not an IT expert I think I need to take whatever works for that uni. If they decide it is Adobe Flash (that it what the system tells me as an error) it is Adobe Flash. LMDE is my ultimate escape then. I might do better to attempt to go through with it...

Maybe I should at least attempt to sort out "my current repository hell". /etc/apt/sources.list.d

Just one file with 5 lines sounds so awesome. I need to have a good look on any whatsoever alternative before I reload anything I cannot undo....

Matthias :)

Repository hell:- For LMDE3 my 5 lines include non-free repositories - an installation should generate something like the following file:-It won't work for anything but LMDE3
Don't install any Ubuntu packages - this is the Debian based version of Mint and includes non-free packages (which you will need).
BTW The latest version of flashplayer in the above repositories is 3:32.0.0.293-dmo0+deb9u1 - so presumably 3:32.0.0.293 is considered sufficiently late.
Note that LMDE3 is based around stable Debian. So this version of flash is considered sufficiently stable to be allowed in.

FWIW, both Adobe's FlashPlayer - the original, NPAPI plugin that can trace its roots all the way back to NetScape Navigator! - and also PepperFlash Google's own later, more secure PPAPI development of the plug-in, are both available for download from Adobe's site.

The version of both currently sits at 32.0.0.303, and dates from the 22nd November. (Flashplayer was updated from the long-standing 11.2.202.xxx, and dragged into line with Pepper around 2-2½ years ago.)

Those of you who always let the package management system handle your installs - most of you, I would estimate - will find that in many cases the repos are always one or two versions behind. I can't speak from experience with 'rolling releases', since I've never used one. I would imagine they're probably more on the ball with newly-released stuff.

We have auto-updater scripts for Puppy, for both variants. These run at boot, parse the versions found, locally & remotely, and if a difference is found, the new version is automatically downloaded from Adobe's site and immediately installed.

Recent versions have had a 'timeout' feature added, whereby you can set it to regularly check Adobe's download page at set intervals throughout the day.

The Linux variant of Google-Chrome has had a built-in Flash updater for a while now. This is automatically handled by an internal browser process, and the resulting updated plug-in buried within the depths of your browser's profile.

------------------------------

Personally, I'm no happier at the way Flash is still clinging to existence than anybody else. The day when the web is finally all-HTML can't come soon enough for me. Unfortunately, there's plenty of webmasters out there who will stubbornly hang on right up until the December 2020 EOL for Flash, before rushing to re-code their sites right at the last moment. Flash will still be hanging around like a bad smell for a while yet, due to the afore-mentioned 'lazy' webmasters.

I just take the view that since there is still call for the darned thing, we may as well make its implementation & usage as painless & trouble-free as possible.....right up until the point in time when it does finally expire.


Mike. :hattip:

Hi Mike, Hi Jeremy,

I can clearly see you factual expertise for my issues on these two technical matters and therefore plan an careful over-install of my whole system with LDME including all configurations and also Browsers

(possibly giving Google Chrome another chance - so far Firefox always worked easier, I guess everything,.

including the webmasters, has got an end ;) )

+ plugins for exactly Christmas holidays

(possibly before if I am not too tired out from work).

Right now is a challenging time for a music professional around Christmas. So many extra concerts and stuff. At least it gives you back some warm applause.

However, I will need to solve the keyboard-arrow-issue on this specific machine I posted in another thread before I reinstall everything.

Now: Thank you very much for your inputs. I can clearly see (again and again and again) that Linux is just the better approach to any technical problem because it addresses the problem in the way they originate - technical. That is simply convincing.

Warm regards and happy Christmas days.

Matthias

Well, try booting the live version of LMDE3 (from USB/DVD) and see if you like it, before overwriting your current system!

@ arnematthias:-

With regard to the 'versions', surprisingly, Chrome - despite being the main reason for PPAPI's initial development - won't 'nag' you if you're running an out-of-date version. (Chrome has used exactly the same 'plug & socket' arrangement for PepperFlash since the day it was originally implemented. You could (if you were so inclined!) - run a very old version of PepperFlash with Chrome. It'll still work.....though I wouldn't recommend it.)

In the Mozilla camp, though they use the NPAPI Flashplayer as opposed to PepperFlash's PPAPI,the browser is much more fussy in recent versions. If you fall more than one version behind with Flash, Quantum gets 'in yer face' about it, every time you try to run any Flash application.....with warning banners and 'nags' all over the place.

Which in many ways, is not a bad idea. It's understandable they don't want to put themselves out and try to make things easier for users; this is, after all, a fading technology on the road to retirement.....but I can't help feeling that having a built-in updater for the darn thing wouldn't have been a bad move all these years.


Mike. ;)

Ok. I will do that.