/var/lib/dpkg/available MISSING

Question

I get the error message:

/var/lib/dpkg/available missing.

That is a problem, I realize, as it is not possible to download or update anything at all. Not keen on installing a new system - how is this fixable?

Thanks in advance.

Solution

Usually this error is harmless. If you still want to recreate /var/lib/dpkg/available with the contents, open a terminal and type:

sudo touch /var/lib/dpkg/available
sudo sh -c 'for i in /var/lib/apt/lists/*_Packages; do dpkg --merge-avail "$i"; done'

From man dpkg:

--merge-avail

    With  action  --merge-avail,  old   information   is  combined   with  information  from  Packages-file

Comments

[Ron]

just wondering, is this the exact error you are getting?

[A.B.]

This was my first idea, doesn't works. :\

[Ron]

you mean sudo apt-get update doesn't work? Mine works though!

[A.B.]

The command works, but /var/lib/dpkg/available is still empty after that.