Duplicate Entry Causing Errors

[CrazyCanuck]

Here is the error message:

Extracting templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: parse error, in file /var/lib/dpkg/available
.
.
.

The actual error is a duplicate entry found in this file. Here is the entry:

This module can be found at
git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/xorg/lib/libXrandr
Original-Maintainer: Debian X Strike Force <debian-x@lists.debian.org>J
Package: os-prober
Priority: extra
Section: utils
Installed-Size: 160
Maintainer: Ubuntu Installer Team <ubuntu-installer@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: amd64
Version: 1.23ubuntu1
Size: 16660
Description: utility to detect other OSes on a set of drives
This package detects other OSes available on a system and outputs the
results in a generic machine-readable format.
Original-Maintainer: Debian Install System Team <debian-boot@lists.debian.org>

As you can see, there are TWO "Original-Maintainer" entries. Is it safe to remove one of the entries, please let me know.

I am not able to update my OS (Hardy) and am not able to install anything else at all. Hope you respond soon. :)

P.S. My keyboard does not seem to be functioning as a QWERTY keyboard, I seem to be missing things such as my question mark, and asterisk, and ampersand. Any ideas. (I dont know where my question mark key is lol so i cant use it, sorry)

CC

[iaculallad]

Here is the error message:

Extracting templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: parse error, in file /var/lib/dpkg/available
.
.
.

The actual error is a duplicate entry found in this file. Here is the entry:

This module can be found at
git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/xorg/lib/libXrandr
Original-Maintainer: Debian X Strike Force <debian-x@lists.debian.org>J
Package: os-prober
Priority: extra
Section: utils
Installed-Size: 160
Maintainer: Ubuntu Installer Team <ubuntu-installer@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: amd64
Version: 1.23ubuntu1
Size: 16660
Description: utility to detect other OSes on a set of drives
This package detects other OSes available on a system and outputs the
results in a generic machine-readable format.
Original-Maintainer: Debian Install System Team <debian-boot@lists.debian.org>

As you can see, there are TWO "Original-Maintainer" entries. Is it safe to remove one of the entries, please let me know.

I am not able to update my OS (Hardy) and am not able to install anything else at all. Hope you respond soon. :)

P.S. My keyboard does not seem to be functioning as a QWERTY keyboard, I seem to be missing things such as my question mark, and asterisk, and ampersand. Any ideas. (I dont know where my question mark key is lol so i cant use it, sorry)

CC

Try commenting both and issue the commands on your terminal:

Code:


sudo apt-get update

As for the keyboard issue:

System->Preferences->Keyboard

and on the "Layouts" tab, select the "Generic 105-key (Intl) PC".

[CrazyCanuck]

Ok, two things.

Firstly, I can use // to remark lines of code, right. If not, please tell me.

Secondly, I seem to not have proper authorization to save the file in question. I installed with default settings, and I am the only user configured to operate in the OS. Any ideas....and I will go alter my keyboard settings as I wait for a response.

Thanks much.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

Ok, I went to change my keyboard settings, and discovered it already is at the proposed fix. For some reason, my keyboard is not functioning as it should even though it is set at default as was suggested earlier.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

Am I needing to alter my authorization in order to save a file...I am trying to save a file and for some odd reason, I am being told I am unauthorized to do so, even though I am the only user in the system.

CC

[iaculallad]

Am I needing to alter my authorization in order to save a file...I am trying to save a file and for some odd reason, I am being told I am unauthorized to do so, even though I am the only user in the system.

CC

Make sure that you have the proper privilege/authorization in order for you to save changes on your system.

For the keyboard problem, try executing setxkbmap.

[CrazyCanuck]

setxkbmap did not work. Keyboard still works fine, but I am missing keys, like something is lost is translation.

CC

[ChameleonDave]

Am I needing to alter my authorization in order to save a file...I am trying to save a file and for some odd reason, I am being told I am unauthorized to do so, even though I am the only user in the system.

CC
To perform a command that requires admin privileges, put "sudo" before it.

For example, type "sudo rm -fr /boot" if you want to make your system unbootable. ;-)

[CrazyCanuck]

LOL

Well, I tried:

sudo setxkbmap

...no effect. How strange, I get everything up and running, then get a duplicate entry error, cant save the file once I edited it, and keyboard is not working, even though it appears as it should be working fine.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

Ok, to recap.

I need to discover how to ensure I am a superuser on my OS. For some reason, once I installed, logged in, I am not able to save any file(s) I edit.

My keyboard has been installed with the default system setting, and not working correctly. I am missing my asterix, ampersand, and question mark keys. They probably are mapped elsewhere on the keyboard, this is currently unknown. Possibly missing other keys too, unsure.

I have been trying to get all the updates, and during the update process, got a duplicate entry error. It has been suggested I rem out both entries. Is // the proper way to remark out lines of code. Sorry, no question mark...:(

CC

[iaculallad]

Ok, two things.

Firstly, I can use // to remark lines of code, right. If not, please tell me.

Secondly, I seem to not have proper authorization to save the file in question. I installed with default settings, and I am the only user configured to operate in the OS. Any ideas....and I will go alter my keyboard settings as I wait for a response.

Thanks much.

CC

Post us your /etc/apt/sources.list

Code:


cat /etc/apt/sources.list

[CrazyCanuck]

here you go.

# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release amd64 (20080423)]/ hardy main restricted
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.

deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted
deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted

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

## 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
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy universe
deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe
deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-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.
deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy multiverse
deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse
deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates multiverse

## 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://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## 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 hardy partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner

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

[ChameleonDave]

Well, we should probably deal with the main problem first.


cd /var/lib/dpkg/
sudo mkdir info.backup
sudo mv info/os-probe* info.backup/
sudo apt-get purge os-prober
sudo apt-get update

This might fix it. No promises though. It could make your PC catch fire and devour your cat.

[CrazyCanuck]

Thanks Dave, it did not work. Attempt at updating gave me the same error message with duplicate fields of Original-Maintainer entries.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

Here is the entry I am attempting to edit.

Here is the error message:

Extracting templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: parse error, in file /var/lib/dpkg/available
.
.
.

The actual error is a duplicate entry found in this file. Here is the entry:

This module can be found at
git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/xorg/lib/libXrandr
Original-Maintainer: Debian X Strike Force <debian-x@lists.debian.org>J
Package: os-prober
Priority: extra
Section: utils
Installed-Size: 160
Maintainer: Ubuntu Installer Team <ubuntu-installer@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: amd64
Version: 1.23ubuntu1
Size: 16660
Description: utility to detect other OSes on a set of drives
This package detects other OSes available on a system and outputs the
results in a generic machine-readable format.
Original-Maintainer: Debian Install System Team <debian-boot@lists.debian.org>

The file is:

/var/lib/dpkg/available

I am not able to alter this file. System says I am not authorized to do so.

As you can see there is a duplicate entry here, that needs to be resolved. I am not able to update the OS or do any installations of any packages.

Second issue, is a keyboard that does not function as it should be using the default keyboard setting once it was installed. I am missing my question mark, and am unable to type out an email address.

Hope this brings you all to speed.

CC

[iaculallad]

To edit with priveledge, enter the command:

Code:


sudo gedit /var/lib/dpkg/available

[CrazyCanuck]

Ok, that command allowed to me save the file. I am requiring proper remark keystrokes now. Do I remark out the entire field as shown or just the two duplicate entries, I am unsure.

CC

[iaculallad]

Ok, that command allowed to me save the file. I am requiring proper remark keystrokes now. Do I remark out the entire field as shown or just the two duplicate entries, I am unsure.

CC

what about doing:

sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available /var/lib/dpkg/available.bak
cd /var/lib/dpkg
sudo rm available
sudo apt-get update

[CrazyCanuck]

Renaming the "available" file to available.bak did not work. Now I have a missing file error. We are getting closer.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

Missing file issue has been resolved.

Duplicate entry error within "available" file remains to hinder my ability to update and/or install packages.

CC

[iaculallad]

Missing file issue has been resolved.

Duplicate entry error within "available" file remains to hinder my ability to update and/or install packages.

CC

What about reversing the process again:

Code:

sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available.bak /var/lib/dpkg/available

And issue the command below since we're configuring python in var/lib/dpkg/available.

Code:

sudo dpkg --configure python2.5-minimal
sudo apt-get update

[CrazyCanuck]

Reversing the process maintains the duplicate entry issue within "available". Not able to update system files. Thankyou for being patient, I am not a slouch, just silly-new to Ubuntu. I will get better the more times I do things inside of Hardy.

CC

[CrazyCanuck]

UPDATE:

If you are living in Canada, and are not using a French OS or keyboard, do not select Canada as your keyboard layout during the installation phase of Hardy. If you select Canada as your keyboard layout, you will lose functionality of certain keys: they disappear or get re-mapped.

Chose USA as your keyboard layout, and your OS and keyboard will thank you. :)

I just re-installed Hardy, and am now going to try to download the updates and see what happens next.

CC