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Thread: Could not initialize the package information

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Beans
    23

    Could not initialize the package information

    I found this error message when opening the computer. At first I couldn't access the internet, but now I can.

    Could not initialize the package information

    An 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, Eroblem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

    This usually means that your installed packages have unmet dependencies.

    So, after reading this, I ran apt-get check:

    lyn@lynslinux:~$ apt-get check
    E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)
    E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

    [B]Questions:[B] 1. What do I do to correct this problem?
    2. Do I have to create a root account and sign
    in as root?
    I am a Linux beginner, so spell out all the steps! Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Greenock - Scotland - UK
    Beans
    78
    Distro
    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: Could not initialize the package information

    do

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update
    type in your usual password.

    That should fix it. It was just the repos being unable to update because of the lack of internet connection. The apt-get check failed because you didn't use sudo and therefore didn't have root privelage.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Beans
    23

    Re: Could not initialize the package information

    Thanks - that did it!!

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