apt-get doesn't seem to work on MEPIS 6.00

Xyan · 03-10-2007, 06:18 AM

I've done some searching in the forums already, and maybe I'm just looking too broadly or not getting the keywords right, but I didn't see the answer I'm looking for.

apt-get seems to function, but it won't retrieve anything.

Quote:

root@0[~]# apt-get install mc
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Package mc is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package mc has no installation candidate
root@0[~]#

it does this with several other well-known packages that SHOULD work.

my sources.list:

Quote:

# See sources.list(5) for more information
# This file should be edited through synaptic
# MEPIS improvements, overrides and updates--the MEPIS magic
deb http://apt.mepis.org/6.0/ mepis main

# Ubuntu foundation packages
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ breezy main restricted
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricted

# Security updates
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-security main restricted

# Package updates
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted

# Backports of newer packages--unsupported and not thoroughly tested
# deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted

# Free unsupported packages from Debian and beyond
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe

# Non-free unsupported packages from Debian and beyond
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper multiverse

# Backports of newer packages--unsupported and not thoroughly tested
# deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports universe multiverse

# Penguin Liberation Front--some packages not available elsewhere
deb ftp://ftp.free.fr/pub/Distributions_...lf/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free
deb-src ftp://ftp.free.fr/pub/Distributions_...lf/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free
deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free
deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ dapper free non-free

This is a slightly modified list, but even the original doesn't work.

My internet connection is working; I'm using said computer to type this. I've even tried completely removing the firewall.

I've never had a problem with apt before... what's wrong?

Shaddy · 03-10-2007, 08:39 AM

One stupid question:

Did you

Code:

apt-get update

?

Xyan · 03-10-2007, 09:41 AM

I tried that the first time and it wouldn't go, but I figured I would give it a go again and it did update.

I must not have been able to connect the first time.. it worked.

Hah, well thanks, that did do it.

Case closed!

mepnoob2005 · 03-10-2007, 11:55 AM

Just wondering why you didn't try to get midnight commander from synaptic package manager. I just looked in synaptic and mc was there for the taking. Anytime you change or add to your etc/apt/sources.lst you should either hit the reload button in synaptic or do an apt-get update. That's what enables the new sources that you add.
I find that using synaptic package manager to be the easiest way to get any package that I may need. Synaptic has a great search function too. Sometimes enabling your backport repos will get you a package that you can't find elsewhere.