Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_gwibber-daily_ppa_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-en

Question

I use ubuntu 12.04 LTS. It was all well. But suddenly from yesterday whenever I try to install something it shows:

Reading package lists... Error!
E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_gwibber-daily_ppa_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-en
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

And when I try to run Synaptic Package Manager it shows:

An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.

Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:

'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header,
 E:Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_gwibber-daily_ppa_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-en, 
 E:The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

What should I do?

Thanks for your answer. No, I haven't installed any ppa for gwibber recently and ever. Anyway, I just have removed the line: 'ppa.launchpad.net/gwibber' in System Settings-> Software Sources -> Other software. But it didn't solve my problem. Other ideas needed. — , Mar 27 '13 at 08:39

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 07 '17 at 13:24

3

Have you installed a PPA for gwibber recently?

If so, I would guess it is a problem with the repository. Check in

System Settings > Software Sources > Other sources

and look for a line ppa.launchpad.net/gwibber

Remove it or disable it and it should solve your issue (but you won't have the latest version of gwibber anymore).

edited Dec 07 '17 at 13:24

Zanna

70,465

answered Mar 27 '13 at 07:38

Victor

420

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 07 '17 at 13:25

Your error is caused by a malformed file in /var/lib/apt/lists. The reason could be most probably an error on the previously mentioned PPA, power loss while updating the software sources or a problem with your hard disk.

In any case it should be safe to simply delete the /var/lib/apt/lists directory. Then fetch the files that belong there from the web again by running sudo apt-get update.

Make a backup first (just in case I'm wrong and deleting the folder isn't safe):

tar -cfz ~/lists_backup.tar.gz /var/lib/apt/lists

Then delete the folder and update it:

sudo rm -r /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo apt-get update

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 07 '17 at 13:26

0

Seems you have tampered with your sources and added a PPA as the error shows.

I find it easiest to fix such errors with Yppa manager from noobslab.

edited Dec 07 '17 at 13:26

Zanna

70,465

answered Mar 27 '13 at 09:10

Stefano Mtangoo

2,780

Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_gwibber-daily_ppa_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-en

3 Answers3

Linked