Ubuntu 13.04 can't open software & updates / software sources

Question

I am using MacBook Air Mid 2012 running Single OS which is Ubuntu (Raring Ringtail). Its been a month I'm using Ubuntu and everything works fine, recently i can't open software & updates, when i click it does not shows up/open. When I open Ubuntu Software Center->Edit->Software Sources, again it does not open.

But when I open Terminal, type

sudo software-properties-gtk

it shows up/open. Am I in trouble? Does something goes wrong?

Note: Installing software from Ubuntu Software Center, installing from terminal, opening Software Updater works fine. Really love Ubuntu!

Output from terminal when I type:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure software-center:

Updating software catalog...this may take a moment.
INFO:softwarecenter.db.pkginfo_impl.aptcache:aptcache.open()

WARNING:softwarecenter.db.update:The file: '/usr/share/app-install/desktop/sonic-visualiser:x-sonicvisualiser.desktop' could not be read correctly. The application associated with this file will not be included in the software catalog. Please consider raising a bug report for this issue with the maintainer of that application

WARNING:softwarecenter.db.update:The file: '/usr/share/app-install/desktop/workrave:workrave.desktop' could not be read correctly. The application associated with this file will not be included in the software catalog. Please consider raising a bug report for this issue with the maintainer of that application

WARNING:softwarecenter.db.update:The file: '/usr/share/app-install/desktop/sonic-visualiser:x-sonicvisualiser-layer.desktop' could not be read correctly. The application associated with this file will not be included in the software catalog. Please consider raising a bug report for this issue with the maintainer of that application

Software catalog update was successful.

Solution

According to warning it seems to be a bug because some of the apps in repositories didn't updated/read correctly. As the post suggest you should consider to launch a bug.

But before that it is not bad to give a try to fix the problem. I suggest you to completely remove software-center and install it again, if you don't mind.

Please follow execute following commands in terminal to remove/install:

sudo apt-get autoremove software-center
sudo apt-get --purge remove software-center
sudo apt-get autoclean && sudo apt-get autoremove
rm -r ~/.config/software-center
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -f install software-center

_{Just in a case, install synaptic and check whether you'll be able to open Software & Updates through that. Also check whether you have some broken or residual pacakges.}

I wish it would help you to fix your issue.. Reply if something goes wrong..

Comments

[Saurav Kumar]

Try to reconfigure Software Center once by : sudo dpkg-reconfigure software-center. It would take sometime so wait.. Reply what did you get..

[Andzt]

I edited the post, you can see the output from the terminal.

[Andzt]

Do exactly what you have told me. Nothing happened. Still, I can't open Software & Updates through dash, and from software center.

[Saurav Kumar]

As I already mentioned, this is possibly a bug that you should launch. It would help developer to fix this issue.. :)

[kwoxer]

Great man. I ran all these commands here and I'm able to see "Software & Updates" again. Thank you very much. Awesome!

[Saurav Kumar]

@kwoxer: My pleasure.. :D