Public bug reported: Binary package hint: apt
As you know, many "hot spot" providers -- in this case a tea shop with free wifi -- have an obnoxious practice where when you first connect, all http requests are redirected to some pointless "click this button to connect to the internet!" page. Apparently, update-manager or something decided to run an apt-get update while my wife's computer was connected to such a wifi network. Now, there is an error pop up in her status bar saying: E: Encountered a section with no Package: header E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty_restricted_binary-amd64_Packages E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened. E: _cache->open() failed, please report. and most apt-get/apt-cache commands error out as well. Examination of the above file in /var/lib/apt/lists/... reveals that instead of a Packages file, it contains the HTML text of one of the relevant "click this button to connect to the internet!" page. That in itself is sort of fine... or at least there's nothing to be done, except beat up whoever designed these stupid routers. My objection is to the following: n...@temeraire:~$ sudo apt-get update [...] Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/restricted Packages [...] Reading package lists... Error! E: Encountered a section with no Package: header E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_jaunty_restricted_binary-amd64_Packages E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened. Expected result: running 'apt-get update' should re-download the offending file, allowing the system to heal by itself. Actual result: 'apt-get update' has no effect; unwedging the system requires deleting the offending file by hand, and then running 'apt-get update' again. This is on jaunty, with apt version 0.7.20.2ubuntu6 ** Affects: apt (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New -- apt becomes wedged, requiring shell script intervention, after using free cafe wifi connection https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/476135 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
