Okay, I'm fairly new to Ubuntu and the Linux world but am enjoying the challenge of learning it. So here's my problem: I've reinstalled Ubuntu for the third time now and every time I can't do: sudo apt-get update. The second ubuntu is installed, the very first thing I do is configure my network settings so that I can get online, then I try to update and download and install packages but when I type in sudo apt-get update this is what i get:

okeefet@okeefet-coop:~$ sudo apt-get update
Password:
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security Release.gpg
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/main Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty Release.gpg
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/universe Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/main Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/restricted Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security Release
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/main Packages
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/restricted Packages
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/multiverse Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/main Sources
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/restricted Sources
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates Release.gpg
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/universe Packages
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/main Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/universe Sources
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/multiverse Packages
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/multiverse Sources
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty Release
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/main Packages
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/restricted Packages
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates Release
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/main Sources
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/main Packages
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/restricted Sources
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/universe Packages
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/restricted Packages
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/universe Sources
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/multiverse Packages
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/main Sources
Err http://security.ubuntu.com feisty-security/multiverse Sources
Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/restricted Sources
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Packages
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Sources
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/multiverse Packages
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/multiverse Sources
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/main Packages
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/restricted Packages
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/main Sources
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/restricted Sources
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/main Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/restricted Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/main Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/restricted Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/universe Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/multiverse Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty/multiverse Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/main Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/restricted Packages
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/main Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Err http://us.archive.ubuntu.com feisty-updates/restricted Sources
Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...ty/Release.gpg Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...es/Release.gpg Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...ty/Release.gpg Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/di...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'security.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...86/Packages.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...rce/Sources.gz Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Reading package lists... Done
E: Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones used instead.


Now, to me it seems weird that I wouldn't be able to update when I've hardly had a chance to mess anything up. It's a fresh install!! Now in the previous installs I've done numerous google searches and have tried to edit the sources.list file with no luck. It got to the point where I was pretty sure I messed things up royally so I just went with a fresh install again. So here I am on my 3rd try and am looking for more direct feedback to my problem.

A little more information that might help. Seeing how the only thing i've messed with is my network settings so that I can get online (i'm using my ubuntu box right now) I'm guessing that might have something to do with it, because I don't see how or why ubuntu would not update after a brand new installation. So I don't know if it would help to know that I am connecting through a proxy server and I have a static IP, with a specific default gateway and two dns servers to connect to.

I've also had trouble getting onto my domain but that's an entirely different story and gave up on that one a while ago. I figure there is no point in trying to do anything else to this machine if I can't even update and install programs.

So, linux and ubuntu guru's out there! Please help me out a bit or send me off in the right direction! Thanks in advance.

I have some suggestions you can try.

First of all, if you cut and paste any of the links in your error list ( from your first post ) and past them in your browser, press send, can you get to the FTP site? or what ever then link is trying to access? It did that, and was able to access the two sites I cut and pasted.

If not, then you have some kind of a network configuration issue, getting through your proxy, DNS etc.

If you can access the sites, then I would suggest you try to update the system using Synaptic package manager.

Have you updated the mirrors you are trying to access??? That is the first step. Then try the Update manager in Ubuntu. I use Xubuntu, so it may be called something slightly different, but it should be there.

There is a How-to on Ubuntu's site on how to update the mirrors, and which ones they recommend. It worked for me.

Hope this helps.

Sounds to me like you need to fix your /etc/apt/sources.lst file by first cp /etc/apt/sources.lst to /etc/apt/sources.list.old asz a back up and the creat a new skelaton sources.list file buy uissueing the following command sudo rm -rf /etc/apt/sources/list.

Okay, I tried going to those websites and I could go to the majority of them. Here are a few that I couldn't open:

Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'
Failed to fetch http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/...tion-en_US.bz2 Could not resolve 'us.archive.ubuntu.com'

I clicked on those links and it brings me to a page with a 404 Page Not Found error.

But I can access most of the links that I posted. I'll try updating my mirrors and see how that goes.

Linux-Hawk -- I don't see how my sources.list need to be edited. It's a fresh install, I've hardly done anything to my system. It seems unlikely that ubuntu would offer an OS that won't even update right out of the box, right?

Here this might help too. Here is what my sources.list file looks like:

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-updates main restricted
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-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://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty 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://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty 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://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse

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



Anything look strange to anyone?

Also, I'm having trouble finding out how to update my mirrors.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?? I'm still at a loss here. I still can't update or install anything!

Okay, I think i'm getting somewhere. I'm thinking that I can apt-get update because of my proxy server. Something is weird with my network settings I know that, because I can surf the web but when I try to ping a website it can't do it. I read about configuring your apt-get to use a proxy here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptGetHowto. It says to edit the apt.conf file by adding this line to it: Acquire::http::Proxy "http://yourproxyaddressroxyport";. So I did that and now when I run apt-get update i'm getting 404 not found errors. However when I click on the link it takes me to the site. I still can't ping websites either. For instance this is what i get when i try to ping this site:
okeefet@okeefet-coop:/etc$ ping www.linuxquestions.org
ping: unknown host www.linuxquestions.org
But i'm on that site right now. So basically my conclusion right now is that I need to mess around with my proxy/network settings or edit some files to allow it with a proxy but I don't know how or what file to edit.

I was recently experiencing the same problem and I just discovered that i had a missing file.
I could not ping any domain name, only IP addresses and i couldn't run sudo apt-get update.
I was missing /etc/resolv.conf which has the following format:

example:

--------------------------
search openna.com
nameserver 208.164.186.1
nameserver 208.164.186.2
--------------------------

Hope this helps. Cheers