software source ubuntu 11.10 does not work.

software source does not operate when right clicking in system settings Ubuntu 11.10

updates do not work either.
I tried opening terminal and using command code by suggestion. with no joy.

I really do not want to do a fresh installation.
Can anyone help?

I believe it's called "software-properties-gtk" - try running it from a terminal emulator (you'll need root privileges, so use gksu or gksudo) and see what errors appear.

In any Debian based distro you can also edit your sources manually (in fact this is the best way to do it):

e.g.
(or you can use vim if you prefer - prefix with sudo if you use that to become root)

thanx Caravel,

below is the printout of :

jeffs@jeffs-Lenovo:~$ software-properties-gtk
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/software-properties-gtk", line 38, in <module>
from softwareproperties.gtk.SoftwarePropertiesGtk import SoftwarePropertiesGtk
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/gtk/SoftwarePropertiesGtk.py", line 45, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 42, in <module>
from xml.sax.saxutils import escape
EOFError: EOF read where object expected

it is jiberish to me??

hi, a second printout:

jeffs@jeffs-Lenovo:~$ gksudo software-properties-gtk
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/software-properties-gtk", line 38, in <module>
from softwareproperties.gtk.SoftwarePropertiesGtk import SoftwarePropertiesGtk
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/gtk/SoftwarePropertiesGtk.py", line 45, in <module>
from softwareproperties.SoftwareProperties import SoftwareProperties
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 42, in <module>
from xml.sax.saxutils import escape
EOFError: EOF read where object expected

It's crashing...

Are your sources correctly formatted?

Also reinstall it and see if the problem persists.

from what I understand the are rem'ed out (#):

jeffs@jeffs-Lenovo:~$ cat /etc/apt/sources.list
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 11.10 _Oneiric Ocelot_ - Release i386 (20111012)]/ oneiric main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
# deb http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric main restricted
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric main restricted

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

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric universe
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric universe
# deb http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates universe
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-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://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric multiverse
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric multiverse
# deb http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates multiverse
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates multiverse

## 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://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://il.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-backports main restricted universe multiverse

# deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security main restricted
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security main restricted
# deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security universe
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security universe
# deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security multiverse
# deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security 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 oneiric partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu oneiric partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
# deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric main
# deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric main
# deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nijel/ppa/ubuntu oneiric main
# deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/nijel/ppa/ubuntu oneiric main

What do you mean "reinstall them" ?
I have tried reinstall updates, software-centre -> output is no change.
from what i am gathering i really have to learn more in depth how Ubuntu/linux works
I do appreciate your help

I do appreciate your help

Yubi52

Hi,
can anyone pls confirm my results?