Linux is giving me PTSD rn...

[PHNOM]

On my linux mint cinnamon 20.3

I can't update anything using the update manager because it always shows up like malformed entry 8 and even the driver I am trying to install for the wifi is at applying changes stage like for hours...

I search everywhere on the web but the more I try to solve, the deeper the rabbit hole goes... Finally I decided to give up and downloaded windows 8.1 and made a boot drive, even that ain't working... Anyone knows a solution abt this? (PS: I'm new to linux)

[Sauron]

Have you tried checking what is at entry 8 in /etc/apt/sources.list?

[Master Disaster]

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

then post the output here

[AudiTTFan]

As someone who is (mildly) experienced with Mint, my first suggestion is to open Software Sources and revert back to the default sources if you've changed them

[Stormseeker9]

I read the title first as ‘Linus …’

 

so I’m reading this post and was really intrigued how Linus is causing this… until I re read the title and saw Linux haha

[PHNOM]

38 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list

then post the output here

[PHNOM]

32 minutes ago, AudiTTFan said:

As someone who is (mildly) experienced with Mint, my first suggestion is to open Software Sources and revert back to the default sources if you've changed them

After i do that it shows a small window saying update apt cache or something, when I do that, this comes..

[PHNOM]

1 hour ago, Sauron said:

Have you tried checking what is at entry 8 in /etc/apt/sources.list?

Idk how or where to check it

[AudiTTFan]

3 minutes ago, PHNOM said:

Idk how or where to check it

Check in your file explorer under the File System section

[Master Disaster]

ok, try this...

 

1)

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/source.backup

which renames the original file

 

2)

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

which creates a new file in place of the old one

 

3) Copy and paste everything from below in the new file

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner

then press "Ctrl+X" followed by "Y" followed by "enter"

 

4) Finally run

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

to sync the repo databases and update.

[Sauron]

41 minutes ago, PHNOM said:

Idk how or where to check it

/etc/apt/sources.list is just the path of a text file, you can open it with any text editor (as superuser if you want to modify anything). It contains the URLs where your package manager looks for packages and if a URL is wrong, corrupt or just outdated (because link rot is a thing). What @Master Disasterindicated will probably solve your issue but I'd be interested in knowing what exactly is going wrong.

 

also running the package manager in the terminal will usually tell you more about the issue.

[PHNOM]

7 hours ago, Sauron said:

/etc/apt/sources.list is just the path of a text file, you can open it with any text editor (as superuser if you want to modify anything). It contains the URLs where your package manager looks for packages and if a URL is wrong, corrupt or just outdated (because link rot is a thing). What @Master Disasterindicated will probably solve your issue but I'd be interested in knowing what exactly is going wrong.

 

also running the package manager in the terminal will usually tell you more about the issue.

I found it, but this is what appears..

 

[PHNOM]

8 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

ok, try this...

 

1)

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/source.backup

which renames the original file

 

2)

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

which creates a new file in place of the old one

 

3) Copy and paste everything from below in the new file

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner

then press "Ctrl+X" followed by "Y" followed by "enter"

 

4) Finally run

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

to sync the repo databases and update.

When I try to do the first step, it shows up like this...

[PHNOM]

8 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

ok, try this...

 

1)

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/source.backup

which renames the original file

 

2)

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

which creates a new file in place of the old one

 

3) Copy and paste everything from below in the new file

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner

then press "Ctrl+X" followed by "Y" followed by "enter"

 

4) Finally run

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

to sync the repo databases and update.

I did the first and 2 step even tho it showed some error messages..

It finally did something but now when I try to update the update manager it shows like this

[PHNOM]

8 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

ok, try this...

 

1)

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/source.backup

which renames the original file

 

2)

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

which creates a new file in place of the old one

 

3) Copy and paste everything from below in the new file

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com una main upstream import backport

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner

then press "Ctrl+X" followed by "Y" followed by "enter"

 

4) Finally run

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

to sync the repo databases and update.

i ignored them and continued with the process... it seems to be working, then i tried to update the update manager, it spat some errors, i ignored it, and it seems like its updating the softwares in it.... thanks man

[Sauron]

On 3/29/2022 at 3:57 AM, PHNOM said:

I found it, but this is what appears..

 

that doesn't look right. try following this guide https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/sources.html

[jde3]

You've broken your apt package system by adding software from a different distribution or a different distribution version. (prob something external like Chrome or Discord for a different version of Ubuntu or Debian)

Remember to ONLY use sources for your exact version. The package systems are complex in Linux, and they are excellent.. I wish Windows had one but.. when you force changes from a different distribution on them they go haywire. When you get more familiar with Linux you'll be able to spot problems before installing it in the list of packages it tells you it wants to install but when you are new this just looks like a wall of text. It's ok, we get it and everyone has done this.

 

You are getting good help here from the community so maybe you can back these changes out..

[PHNOM]

21 hours ago, jde3 said:

You've broken your apt package system by adding software from a different distribution or a different distribution version. (prob something external like Chrome or Discord for a different version of Ubuntu or Debian)

Remember to ONLY use sources for your exact version. The package systems are complex in Linux, and they are excellent.. I wish Windows had one but.. when you force changes from a different distribution on them they go haywire. When you get more familiar with Linux you'll be able to spot problems before installing it in the list of packages it tells you it wants to install but when you are new this just looks like a wall of text. It's ok, we get it and everyone has done this.

 

You are getting good help here from the community so maybe you can back these changes out..

Yeah i just love how welcoming this community is, you guys are there through all my problems... Thanks a lot