Update/Upgrade error

[crj54]

Part way through upgrading from 13.04 to 13.10 the process ground to a halt with an error message. Now on retrying by going to 'Check for updates' or 'Sudo Apt-get update' via the terminal I get the following:


Failed to load the package list
This is a serious problem. Try again later. If this problem appears again, please report an error to the developers.
E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, Eroblem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_saucy_universe_i18 n_Translation-en%%5fGB, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

In the terminal (just showing the end of the listing):


Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-security/universe Translation-en
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-updates/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-backports/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-backports/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-backports/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-backports/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-security/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-security/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-security/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com saucy-security/universe Translation-en_GB
Fetched 63.1 kB in 45s (1,378 B/s)
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_saucy_universe_i18 n_Translation-en%5fGB
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.



Problem reported but my question is, "what can I do now?; Do I have to do a fresh install?; if so will settings etc. in my Home folder (on its own partition) be saved?"
13.04 still seems to be working perfectly, while upgrading I had a terrible internet connection varying between 'dead slow' and 'dead stop', not sure if that caused the problem.

[carl4926]

If /home is separate then absolutely your settings will be saved. Just make sure it's not formatted. You still have to set the mount point for it as /home
And use the same username as you had.
AFAIK 13.10 should also offer users with no separate home the ability to keep the /home files safe.

[Bashing-om]

crj54; Hi !

Let's say your control files are in an inconsistent state;
try this;
Terminal codes:

sudo rm -fr /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir -pv /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

"update" will rebuild the control files.

Then see where you are, perhaps have to (re)start the upgrade to version 13.10 ?

maybe yes now, maybe not so yes

[Bashing-om]

crj54; Hi !

Let's say your control files are in an inconsistent state;
try this;
Terminal codes:

sudo rm -fr /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir -pv /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

"update" will rebuild the control files.

Then see where you are, perhaps have to (re)start the upgrade to version 13.10 ?

maybe yes now, maybe not so yes