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jabrown65
July 18th, 2008, 08:06 PM
I am using mythbuntu 8.04 with all updates install (... until this probolem occured this morning...)

However, when I tried to to update using the Update-Manager I got the following error message:

Could not initialize the package information

A unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_hardy-updates_multiverse_binary-i386_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

I tried replacing ../status with ../status-old but the problem remained.

Then I tried apt-get check just to see what would happen, and I basically got the same error:

jbcp@mythbuntu:~$ sudo apt-get check
[sudo] password for jbcp:
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_hardy-updates_multiverse_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
jbcp@mythbuntu:~$

What next?

jaakan
July 18th, 2008, 09:56 PM
try
# sudo dpkg --configure -a
# sudo aptitude update
# sudo aptitude upgrade

you can use apt-get too but I think aptitude is better.

look here too if that doesn't work
http://www.linux.com/articles/48910

jabrown65
July 19th, 2008, 02:14 AM
The dpkg command didn't help. I still get the same error msg when I execute the aptitude (or apt-get) update command.

Other ideas?

jabrown65
July 19th, 2008, 02:39 AM
Actually, just fixed the problem using:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

All good now.

whoey
July 17th, 2009, 03:50 AM
that worked a treat for me too!

p_breakfast
August 11th, 2009, 03:44 AM
Thanks! also worked under GUbuntu 9.04

olly_roberts
August 27th, 2009, 01:40 PM
+1 success here.
cheers.
i do like this ubuntu malarchy, this is the 3rd "issue" ive had, but unlike windows, they are all so easy to sort!

charlesedwardkelley
September 7th, 2009, 10:33 AM
Thanks
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
Did the trick for me

amksep
September 23rd, 2009, 03:47 AM
solved here too.
Ubuntu 9.04
but i wish to know the cause of it.

mihai007
September 29th, 2009, 05:17 PM
Actually, just fixed the problem using:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

All good now.

Worked for me too, I think synaptic should be patched to take care of this without any extra intervention for the user particular issue, as the fix is really straight forward.

Slide guitar
October 3rd, 2009, 04:15 PM
Thanks for that.
sudo rm...... followed by sudo apt-get.....
worked the oracle for me.

astathios
October 23rd, 2009, 12:24 PM
Actually, just fixed the problem using:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

All good now.

great worked perfect thank you

guriinii
October 27th, 2009, 01:19 PM
Thanks worked a treat.

richard.scott-ettrick
October 29th, 2009, 10:26 AM
Actually, just fixed the problem using:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

All good now.
Brilliant! Worked for me too!!
;)

jarrarist
November 5th, 2009, 10:01 AM
worked like a charm!!

thanks

redcore
November 9th, 2009, 07:19 PM
Actually, just fixed the problem using:

sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
sudo apt-get update

All good now.
Worked for me too (Linux Mint 8) - Thanks! :)