12.04 updates stuck on 'applying changes'

[emmathompson]

good morning,
I'm using a 64-bit lenovo machine with an i3CPU, 2.53Ghz, 3.80G RAM. it's got win 7 pre-installed, but I'm running ubuntu12.04 virtually(vmware workstation8). I recently tried to download updates but its been stuck on applying changes for over an hour, I also tried to download vlc media player from the s/ware centre, that was also futile. pls. help

[zvacet]

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

and post output here.

[emmathompson]

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgradeand post output here.

thanks, but pls. I do not know how to copy & paste output. Pls. put me through, thanks.

[emmathompson]

thanks, but pls. I do not know how to copy & paste output. Pls. put me through, thanks.
Morning, I persisted in my attempt to download updates & eventually it was done. But I did notice that on several occasions it started & just stopped (posts error msg.: failed to download package, check ur internet connection). On a particular attempt to download vlc, it just sized up everything (plus the size of updates specified by my update checker). I was wondering, could it be my internet connection, or something wrong with my virtual machine?
pls. I'd appreciate if you could point me at places where I could learn terminal commands & their uses. Also why do things like aria not install straight on download like vlc? thanks

[taras.kuzyo]

I'd appreciate if you could point me at places where I could learn terminal commands & their uses.
http://www.rigacci.org/docs/biblio/offline/TLCL-09.12.pdf
This one might be useful.

[emmathompson]

thanks .kuzyo

[emmathompson]

Afternoon gurus,
I downloaded skin changes, the alienware skin on vlc (videolan) website in particular. Once I applied the skin, it just starts & quit in less than a second, whether I'm trying to play a video or trying to run app. normally.