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W: The repository 'http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu xenial-getdeb Release' does not have a Release file.
N: Data from such a repository can't be authenticated and is therefore potentially dangerous to use.
N: See apt-secure(8) manpage for repository creation and user configuration details.
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.getdeb.net_ubuntu_dists_xenial-getdeb_apps_binary-amd64_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Suggestions that I have tried are:

  1. Remove files from an apt directory: 
    sudo rm -vf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo apt-get update
  2. Changing the server from Ubuntu Software, but I keep receiving an error telling me to contact the administrator
matigo
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Mohammad Umer
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2 Answers2

3

This is from Wikipedia

GetDeb was an Ubuntu software portal providing legacy versions of software included in Old LTS Ubuntu versions, and software that is omitted from the official repositories.[1] PlayDeb was a sister project with an explicit focus on games. The names come from the .deb package format used by Ubuntu. GetDeb and PlayDeb services can also be used by Ubuntu derivatives starting with 16.04 as the 14.04 packages were removed once when Ubuntu 14.04 reached EOL. Both websites have been redirected to a spam site, and should no longer be trusted.

Getdeb and Playdeb are no longer functional or trusted, and should be removed from software sources ASAP.

mikewhatever
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  • I am getting exact message on 16.04LTS. If Getdeb is not trusted anymore, where can we get the files from? – user236198 Sep 24 '21 at 16:07
  • Thanks @mikewhatever, I have just removed the link to Getdeb in Software & Updates/Preference, all good now. – user236198 Sep 24 '21 at 16:34
  • What files do you need and for which release? – mikewhatever Sep 24 '21 at 17:06
  • I use the graphical interface, "Software & Updates", select "Other Softwatre" tab, uncheck the the option for that contains getdeb.net. I am running version 16.04LTS, mainly for legacy software. – user236198 Sep 24 '21 at 17:24
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The source file that references the Xenial repository will need to be edited. You can find it via the command line like this:

  1. Open Terminal (if it's not already open)
  2. Go to the apt directory: 
    cd /etc/apt
  3. Identify the file referencing the bad repository via grep: 
    grep -r xenial *
  4. Using sudo, edit the file that is mentioned in the output with your preferred text editor, commenting out (or removing) the line. You can comment-out the line by putting a # at the front.
  5. Save the file and exit.
  6. Update apt: 
    sudo apt update
matigo
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  • Found two files in sources.list.d in which archive.getdeb.net was being used 1- getdeb.list.save 2- getdeb.list

    These files had the same line written in them "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu xenial-getdeb apps"

    I have commented out both and it's working fine now. Just wanted to make sure if commenting these lines won't cause any other problem

     – Mohammad Umer Sep 24 '21 at 13:33
  • There should be no problems as a result of commenting out the lines, no. If you do think that there is a problem, you can always uncomment the lines later – matigo Sep 24 '21 at 13:34
  • Thank you, This worked for me – Mohammad Umer Sep 24 '21 at 13:40