Serious problem with sources list, what to do?
 

Hello

I did something when installing a program. Now I get a warning sign and this text: E:Malformed line 64 in sources list/etc/sources.list (dist parse).
This really worries me, what to do???

Well id start by looking at or around line 64 of /etc/apt/sources.list

if you cant see anything obvious, post it, so we have something to work with.

Post your sources.list in (code tags) for us to look at with you. It is probably just a mistake with spaces or spelling.

How to?
Please bear in mind that I'm a newbie with this. I cannot get to /etc/apt/sources.list through the terminal, could you be kind enough as to show me step by step what the necessary movements are???

open the terminal and type this,

cat /etc/apt/sources.list



then copy and past it in here but use the code tags that the advanced editor has. That way it keeps things in a scrolled window so they are not too long.

Is this what you were asking for???

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://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb-src http://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb http://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb-src http://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb http://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb-src http://helineva.net/deb lucid main
deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org <DISTRIBUTION> main
deb-src http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org <DISTRIBUTION> main
deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org<oneiric main

Yes that is the one.

There are a few problems with that list.

What version of Ubuntu are you using?


Open the terminal and copy and paste this

cat /etc/issue


then copy and paste what it says here.

Well I have to head out. So I will get this started and someone else can help you along. You have two versions of Ubuntu in that list and the last three lines are wrong.

Oneiric is Ubuntu 11.10
Lucid Is Ubuntu 10.04

And these lines are all wrong.

Look at the bold italic I underlined above in black.

<DISTRIBUTION> should simply be the version of your Ubuntu without the < >

<oneiric - I explained above that you had two versions of Ubuntu in that list. However this has a < there as well, and it shouldn't be there, It should be a space not a <


So you really need to let us know what version of Ubuntu you are using.



Edit: I just noticed this as well,

Is in there three times. And it is the only one that has Lucid in it.


So your /etc/apt/sources.list should look like this, assmming that you are using Ubuntu Oneiric 11.10.

What you need to do is open the terminal and type in

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

then your password

then delete all that is in there and copy the above corrected sources.list to it. BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE USING UBUNTU ONEIRIC 11.10. Please check that first.

after you do that

then hit ctrl o (at the same time) then hit enter which saves the file
then crtl x (at the same time) this exits you from there.

then do sudo apt-get update

Thank you, Amdx2! I am ever greatful for your help. Hope myself someday get the idea of all this and stop making stupid mistakes! Is 64 years old too old?

You are very welcome. I am glad I could help. And don't worry about making mistakes. Just make sure to create back ups of your pictures, media, bookmarks, passwords, etc, then the mistakes are just a way of learning. (Trust me on the back ups. Some years ago I learned the hard way.:banghead: ) And, there is no such things as being to old too learn anything.


Also in my signature there is an Ubuntu Sources List Generator. Take a look at it. Just back up your current sources.list before you do anything if you use it,

sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup


Have Fun :)