Cannot install ANYTHING at all

Question

So, I'm new to linux I'm using Lubuntu 17.10. When I try to install a package either in a terminal or software centre. I tried everything even re-installing and that didn't help!

When I try to install through terminal I get this message:
E: Unable to locate package (package name).

In the software centre I try to install a program but nothing happens :/

Can anyone help me? Thanks!

Please first make sure that the package name is correct : apt-cache search [name] or part of name. Or use the on-line search for package name : https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=g%2B%2B&searchon=names — Knud Larsen, May 16 '18 at 23:14
Did you first run: sudo apt update? Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. — chili555, May 16 '18 at 23:34
Possible duplicate of "Unable to locate package" while trying to install packages with APT — karel, May 17 '18 at 08:48

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

This error shows up when your Sources.list doesn't have the information about the package you're trying to install.

If you're too new and don't know what is sources.list.

Apt uses a file that lists the 'sources' from which packages can be obtained. This file is located at /etc/apt/sources.list.

Possible steps to fix your issue :

Make sure that the package you want to install actually exists or not.
Run sudo apt-update to update sources.list, then try installing package again.
If even after step 2 your problem isn't solving, generate a sources.list using this online website : https://repogen.simplylinux.ch/

You can also try add repositories (main, universe, restricted, multiverse) manually by using the following commands

sudo add-apt-repository main
sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo add-apt-repository restricted
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse

I'd maybe change the formatting of last block of code, it's not very clear as it is (at least on mobile). — dsSTORM, May 17 '18 at 08:48

Cannot install ANYTHING at all

1 Answers1