E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList, etc...

[L_Darmiento]

All kinds of things aren't working right on this machine, I rebooted, it tried to update, I tried to run package mgr to no avail, I read a few similar threads I found on here using that google machine to ask what I should probably do, but I think each circumstance is slightly different, so I come to the u-forums for guidance. Below is my dilemma:

"An error occurred, please run Package Manager from the right-click menu or apt-get in a terminal to see what is wrong.
The error message was: 'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_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."

[bapoumba]

Hello,
unmet dependencies mean either there is something wrong in your sources.list, for ex a ppa that you removed, or entries for two different ubuntu releases, or some problem in the internet connection that corrupted or not completely downloaded files. Or.. Whatever else :)

What is the output to cat /etc/apt/sources.list (to have a look at your sources.list file) and sudo apt-get update (to read the files again and get a more thorough error message).

usually, in this situation, sudo apt-get -f install clears the problem, provided the sources.list is fine. The update command should tell you to run it if it is the right thing to do.

[Bashing-om]

L_Darmiento; Hi !

This:

/var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.)'

Says the file(s) is corrupted. so remove the files and repopulate (apt-get update) them ... see if that fixes the issue:


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



just try'n to help

[L_Darmiento]

Here's what I get after getting the sources.list and getting the thorough error message:


# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 11.04 _Natty Narwhal_ - Release amd64 (20110427.1)]/ natty main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted multiverse

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted multiverse
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted multiverse

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main



-----------------------------------------------------------------

Reading package lists... Error!
W: GPG error: http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 16126D3A3E5C1192 Ubuntu Extras Archive Automatic Signing Key <ftpmaster@ubuntu.com>
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-amd64_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.






Hello,
unmet dependencies mean either there is something wrong in your sources.list, for ex a ppa that you removed, or entries for two different ubuntu releases, or some problem in the internet connection that corrupted or not completely downloaded files. Or.. Whatever else :)

What is the output to cat /etc/apt/sources.list (to have a look at your sources.list file) and sudo apt-get update (to read the files again and get a more thorough error message).

usually, in this situation, sudo apt-get -f install clears the problem, provided the sources.list is fine. The update command should tell you to run it if it is the right thing to do.

[L_Darmiento]

any ideas of what i should do next? :?

[bapoumba]

Sorry, I was not around much yesterday. You need to import again the auth key for ubuntu-extras, see here for ex : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1869890&p=11396213#post11396213

[L_Darmiento]

Sorry, I was not around much yesterday.

No problem at all, thank you for helping.


You need to import again the auth key for ubuntu-extras, see here for ex : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1869890&p=11396213#post11396213

Not sure what to do first, should I use that clearing code before I use the the sudo apt get update code? Am I trying to fix the error keys so that I can use the sudo apt get command?

[bapoumba]

Yes please run sudo apt-get update to get the key numbers from the error message, then try to add them again.
You can post the output to the update command here if you prefer. Then we can walk you through.

[L_Darmiento]

Yes please run sudo apt-get update to get the key numbers from the error message, then try to add them again.
You can post the output to the update command here if you prefer. Then we can walk you through.

So those key numbers in the second part of my post earlier is what we're looking for I think, this was the output to the update command I think you're referring to (sorry if I buried it at the end of the output from the other command cat...sources.list) :


Reading package lists... Error!
W: GPG error: http://extras.ubuntu.com (http://extras.ubuntu.com/) precise Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 16126D3A3E5C1192 Ubuntu Extras Archive Automatic Signing Key <ftpmaster@ubuntu.com>
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-amd64_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

My question for the next command is what is my keyserver address and should I put the signature number (in red above) in the code with or without < brackets > ?


sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys < add keys here >

[bapoumba]

Yes please, the numbers above (sorry I overlooked your previous post) without the brackets.

[L_Darmiento]

Yes please, the numbers above (sorry I overlooked your previous post) without the brackets.

ok, i ran sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 16126D3A3E5C1192 and got:

Executing: gpg --ignore-time-conflict --no-options --no-default-keyring --secret-keyring /tmp/tmp.FmqXGkBoT6 --trustdb-name /etc/apt/trustdb.gpg --keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --primary-keyring /etc/apt/trusted.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 16126D3A3E5C1192
gpg: requesting key 3E5C1192 from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key 3E5C1192: "Ubuntu Extras Archive Automatic Signing Key <ftpmaster@ubuntu.com>" 3 new signatures
gpg: no ultimately trusted keys found
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg: new signatures: 3

then i reran sudo apt-get update and got:

Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg
Hit http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg
Get:1 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise Release
Hit http://dl.google.com stable Release
Get:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release [49.6 kB]
Hit http://dl.google.com stable Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg
Get:3 http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg [72 B]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://dl.google.com stable/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe TranslationIndex
Get:4 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Sources [412 kB]
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release
Hit http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://dl.google.com stable/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Sources
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources/DiffIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Sources
Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Sources [5,467 B]
Get:6 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Sources [6,582 B]
Get:7 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Sources [93.4 kB]
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner amd64 Packages
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner TranslationIndex
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main amd64 Packages/DiffIndex
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages/DiffIndex
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Get:8 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main amd64 Packages [671 kB]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted amd64 Packages
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Sources
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe amd64 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe TranslationIndex
Get:9 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted amd64 Packages [10.1 kB]
Get:10 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse amd64 Packages [13.6 kB]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_US
Get:11 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe amd64 Packages [211 kB]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_US
Get:12 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main i386 Packages [692 kB]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Translation-en
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en
Get:13 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted i386 Packages [10.0 kB]
Get:14 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [13.8 kB]
Get:15 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe i386 Packages [215 kB]
Get:16 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main TranslationIndex [3,564 B]
Get:17 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex [2,605 B]
Get:18 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted TranslationIndex [2,461 B]
Get:19 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe TranslationIndex [2,850 B]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Translation-en
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Fetched 2,415 kB in 1s (1,288 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Error!
W: GPG error: http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release: The following signatures were invalid: BADSIG 16126D3A3E5C1192 Ubuntu Extras Archive Automatic Signing Key <ftpmaster@ubuntu.com>
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/extras.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-amd64_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Same error!?!? :confused:

[bapoumba]

Had you removed the faulty extra.ubuntu key as in drs305 post ?

[L_Darmiento]

Had you removed the faulty extra.ubuntu key as in drs305 post ?

That did the trick! Thanks for your help!

[bapoumba]

Glad you got it to work :)