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How do I fix a “Problem with MergeList” error when trying to do an update?

I want to get a package installed from Ubuntu Software Center and it's playing up once again. I've had this problem before but the method I used to fix it no longer works. Kdenlive is what i suspect to be causing this as I have seen the exact same problem before where certain files were interfering with the packaging system.

Basically, i'm trying to install Unetbootin to my Ubuntu 12.04 netbook. Ubuntu software center crashes on startup, so I have to use the terminal, but now it tells me that the package cannot be parsed or opened. This is the process i took earlier in an attempt to fix the problem.

I've never heard of someone on here or the Ubuntu forums who this has not worked for, so i am quite surprised by this. 

"ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install unetbootin
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Problem parsing dependency Depends
E: Error occurred while processing gstreamer0.10-plugins-good (NewVersion2)
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Removing:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/* -vf
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_partner_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.canonical.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release.gpg'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_multiverse_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_multiverse_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_multiverse_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_Release.gpg'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_restricted_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_universe_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_universe_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_universe_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_main_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_multiverse_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_multiverse_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_multiverse_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_Release'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_Release.gpg'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_restricted_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_universe_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_universe_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-updates_universe_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/lock'
rm: cannot remove `/var/lib/apt/lists/partial': Is a directory
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_main_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_multiverse_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_multiverse_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_multiverse_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_Release'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_Release.gpg'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_restricted_i18n_Translation-en'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_universe_binary-i386_Packages'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_universe_i18n_Index'
removed `/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise-security_universe_i18n_Translation-en'

Then an update: 

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get update
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise InRelease
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise Release.gpg        
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise Release            
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/main TranslationIndex
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/restricted TranslationIndex
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/main i386 Packages 
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Err cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/restricted i386 Packages
  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/main Translation-en
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3) precise/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise InRelease                                                       
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com precise InRelease                                                          
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates InRelease              
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security InRelease            
Get:1 http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg [198 B]                     
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:4 http://archive.canonical.com precise Release [7,078 B]
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release.gpg [198 B]            
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release [49.6 kB]                       
Get:7 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise Release [49.6 kB]                                
Get:8 http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages [6,026 B]                 
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner TranslationIndex                                        
Get:9 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release [49.6 kB]        
Get:10 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main i386 Packages [215 kB]   
Get:11 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages [1,274 kB]                   
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US                          
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted i386 Packages [3,968 B]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe i386 Packages [59.0 kB]                      
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en                                          
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse i386 Packages [2,388 B]                    
Get:15 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main TranslationIndex [74 B]                
Get:16 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse TranslationIndex [71 B]
Get:17 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted TranslationIndex [71 B]
Get:18 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe TranslationIndex [73 B]
Get:19 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Translation-en [102 kB]    
Get:20 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Translation-en [995 B]                
Get:21 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Translation-en [978 B]                   
Get:22 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Translation-en [35.4 kB]                
Get:23 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted i386 Packages [8,431 B]                              
Get:24 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe i386 Packages [4,796 kB]
Get:25 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse i386 Packages [121 kB]                               
Get:26 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex [3,706 B]                                 
Get:27 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse TranslationIndex [2,676 B]                           
Get:28 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted TranslationIndex [2,596 B]                           
Get:29 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe TranslationIndex [2,922 B]                             
Get:30 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main i386 Packages [448 kB]                             
Get:31 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted i386 Packages [8,374 B]                      
Get:32 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe i386 Packages [161 kB]                         
Get:33 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [9,661 B]                      
Get:34 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main TranslationIndex [3,564 B]                         
Get:35 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex [2,605 B]                   
Get:36 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted TranslationIndex [2,461 B]                   
Get:37 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe TranslationIndex [2,850 B]                     
Get:38 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en [726 kB]                                    
Get:39 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Translation-en [93.4 kB]                             
Get:40 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Translation-en [2,395 B]                             
Get:41 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Translation-en [3,341 kB]                              
Get:42 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Translation-en [216 kB]                            
Get:43 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Translation-en [5,414 B]                     
Get:44 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Translation-en [2,082 B]                     
Get:45 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Translation-en [96.1 kB]                       
Fetched 11.9 MB in 30s (393 kB/s)                                                                        
W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3)/dists/precise/main/binary-i386/Packages  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

W: Failed to fetch cdrom://Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20120817.3)/dists/precise/restricted/binary-i386/Packages  Please use apt-cdrom to make this CD-ROM recognized by APT. apt-get update cannot be used to add new CD-ROMs

E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

again, the install:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install unetbootin
Reading package lists... Error!
E: Problem parsing dependency Depends
E: Error occurred while processing gstreamer0.10-plugins-good (NewVersion2)
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/dpkg/status
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$"

Any ideas? Help would be appreciated as always and i look forward too hearing what you have to say.

share|improve this question
Why don't you put this into [pastebin](paste.ubuntu.com} or in blockquotes instead of like this? – WindowsEscapist Dec 7 '12 at 12:17
Are you running it from live boot media? Just to make sure... – AJMansfield Dec 7 '12 at 12:18
I didn't know about the paste thing before, i am quite new here as you might have guessed. Yes it's a live USB memory stick. – UbuntuRob Dec 7 '12 at 12:20
@WindowsEscapist: Posting long pieces of code as a code block is the preferred method (rather than using pastebin). ObsessiveSSOℲ has edited the question to fix this. As you can see, scrollbars appear to make sure the space devoted to the code isn't too big. Next time, why not edit the question and earn a little rep? – Flimm Dec 7 '12 at 12:49
Because I didn't have time. Sorry! – WindowsEscapist Dec 7 '12 at 13:37
show 2 more comments

marked as duplicate by Jorge Castro, hhlp, Ringtail, fossfreedom♦ Dec 7 '12 at 15:01

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

1 Answer

up vote 0 down vote

Try this in terminal:

sudo rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
sudo apt-get update

Source: http://www.computerandyou.net/2011/06/how-to-solve-ubuntu-update-error/

share|improve this answer
Same problem, that didn't change anything unfortunately. – UbuntuRob Dec 7 '12 at 14:03
@UbuntuRob - One comment in Jorge's link, above, mentions that some people have had to do it mutiple times. It might be worth trying it another time. – Shauna Dec 7 '12 at 14:40

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