synaptic failing to download updates
 

I was trying to get to a Javascript part of a webpage, which failed of course, because I have not installed Java or a Java-reader. I tried to do a manual install, but it failed, I'm not sure why except I don't really know what I'm doing (which will probably explain a lot, but not anything useful!) I then took a look around Synaptic, to see if there was anything I could install and chose some nearly-random apps that seemed to say they would run Java. I did not do any research, which was a mistake, because Synaptic did not download them. It downloaded three files and then stopped. Now I can't get it to download anything. I'm feeling very silly. I really tried to rush through this :(

More details:
1 I'm running Ubuntu
2 I just installed some updates earlier today, and had not used Synaptic since that time
3 I originally tried to download from Java's page
4 The file jre-1_5_0_09-linux-i586.bin downloaded to my home folder.
5 I had actually tried this once before, about a month ago, and it failed then; this was a second attempt. I'm not sure what happened. I did not get an error message.
6 The first file I tried to install from Synaptic was Rhino. I'm embarrassed to admit this, since I'm not even sure what it does, but I was playing around (ridiculously independent am I)
7 It sat there on the download dialog until it timed out (and I cancelled it)
8 I have since tried to install other packages, but get the same problem.
9 I just tried to reload Synaptic and got stuck on download 7 of 9

thanks!!!
kate








thanks for your help!!
kate

Hi,

Try the following command in a terminal and post back with any output you get.

I got this command from the ubuntu guide page www.ubuntuguide.org

result
 

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
E: Couldn't find package sun-java5-jre
kate@kate-desktop:~$


(It also asked me for my password, which I put in)


Thank you so much for your help!

kate

This is a problem with your sources list, Ubuntu doesn't know where to look for java.

This solution comes from the ubuntu site but put in my own words:

MAKE SURE THE VERSION OF UBUNTU YOU ARE USING MATCHES THE VESION IN THE QUOTED LIST BELOW, IF NOT YOU NEED TO CHANGE "EDGY" TO "DAPPER" OR "WHATEVER"

Open a terminal and type:

Open the file /etc/apt/sources.list

(This is where you tell your system where to look for software)

Add the following lines by copy and paste:

Put the # character in front of each line of your existing list so that ubuntu won't download your existing sources again.

Type:

Then type:

This should work.

It is well worth working through the ubuntu guide and making a few notes about some of the key actions it asks you to perform such as repository updates, system updates, security and so on...