Apt "could not find a distribution template" error

Question

When I attempt to install anything using apt-get I get the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 60, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties()   
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 90, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 538, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)    
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 90, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException("Error: could not find a "
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

Any idea what this means and how to resolve it?

Answer 1

Easy to fix Just do this

gksudo gedit /etc/lsb-release

Then edit the file that opens so that it looks like this

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=10.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=karmic
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu Karmic Koala"

Remember to enter which version of ubuntu you are using. I am using karmic koala so I put that in.

You can get a list here towards the bottom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28operating_system%29

Then go back to the terminal after you have saved the lsb-release file and you should be able to add-apt-repository

Answer 2

The content of /etc/lsb-release is invalid. You'll need to re-install the base-files package to restore its intended content. Unfortunately you can't just use apt-get for the job. Instead,

1. go to https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/base-files and look for the section for your Ubuntu release,

2. download the most recent version of the package available for your release and architecture,

3. run:

   sudo dpkg -i /your/path/to/base-files_*.deb
   

4. Make a test run with

   sudo apt-get install --reinstall base-files