Update Manager will not run

[Griffen07]

I installed ubuntu last night. I could not connect to install the updates. When I ran update manager today I got this message

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

How do I fix it?

[wojox]

Run this command:

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

[Griffen07]

that promoted this response

Code
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binar y-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_ Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_ Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release.gp g': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted _binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted _i18n_Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted _i18n_Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_i18n_Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_i18n_Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_Release': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_Release.gpg': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_i18n_Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_i18n_Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_source _Sources': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/lock': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/partial': Is a directory
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_binary-i386_Packages.IndexDiff': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_i18n_Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_i18n_Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_source_Sources': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_Release': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_Release.gpg': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_binary-i386_Packages.IndexDiff': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_i18n_Index': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_i18n_Translation-en': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_universe_source_Sources': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/Ubuntu%2012.04%20LTS%20%5fPrecise%20Pangolin%5f%20-%20Release%20i386%20(20120423)_dists_precise_main_ binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/Ubuntu%2012.04%20LTS%20%5fPrecise%20Pangolin%5f%20-%20Release%20i386%20(20120423)_dists_precise_Relea se': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/Ubuntu%2012.04%20LTS%20%5fPrecise%20Pangolin%5f%20-%20Release%20i386%20(20120423)_dists_precise_Relea se.gpg': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/Ubuntu%2012.04%20LTS%20%5fPrecise%20Pangolin%5f%20-%20Release%20i386%20(20120423)_dists_precise_restr icted_binary-i386_Packages': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-backports_Release': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release ': Permission denied
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_Release': Permission denied

[Griffen07]

The issue has been fixed. I found the solution in the Launch Pad questions.
This command sequence solved the issue.

sudo fuser -vvv /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
sudo cp -arf /var/lib/dpkg /var/lib/dpkg.backup
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status
sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/updates/*
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo rm /var/cache/apt/*.bin
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo mkdir /var/lib/apt/lists/partial
LANG=C;sudo apt-get clean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get autoclean
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --purge autoremove
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
LANG=C;sudo apt-get -f install
LANG=C;sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
LANG=C;sudo apt-get update -o APT::Cache-Limit=25165824 && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

[askar11]

My issue was resolved with this command : sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf

[mkshantilal]

I am getting the following error when I try to update my software inUbuntu 12.04, can I use the same method shown above to fix it? It is slightly different than the originally posted.


'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_i18n_Translation-en, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

Regards,
mkshantilal

[bartekklimczak]

thanks a bunchkin,

worked like a charm!

best
BK

[kayakchris]

post #2 worked for me

Cheers
Chris