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Asked: 2024-09-26T02:37:37+05:30 In:

I am encountering issues while trying to run `apt-get update` on my Ubuntu Xenial system, specifically getting multiple 404 errors related to the main binary arm64 packages. What can be causing this problem, and how can I resolve it?

I’m having a bit of a headache with my Ubuntu Xenial system lately, and I’m hoping someone here can help me out. So, I was just trying to run `apt-get update` to refresh my package lists, right? But instead of the usual smooth sailing, I’m getting bombarded with a bunch of 404 errors! It seems like they’re all related to the main binary arm64 packages.

I’ve tried looking into it myself and it seems like these errors might be popping up because some of the repositories or mirrors I’m using could be down or maybe even deprecated? I found out that Xenial is a bit older, and I’m wondering if that’s playing a role here. It feels like there’s a chance that some of the packages I need might have been archived or migrated elsewhere, or maybe there’s just a temporary issue with the servers.

It got me thinking—could it be that I need to change my sources list? I’ve checked the URLs in my `/etc/apt/sources.list` file, but honestly, I’m not totally sure what I should be seeing there. The last thing I want to do is mess everything up. I do rely on my system for a couple of projects, and I definitely don’t want to break anything.

Has anyone dealt with this before? If so, what did you do to solve it? Should I update my sources to point to the old-releases repository or maybe find a different mirror? I’ve also seen some people mention that sometimes just changing the architecture options might help, but I’m a little lost with that too. Any guidance would be hugely appreciated! If you’ve got any tips or tricks up your sleeve, please share!

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    2 Answers


    1. The issues you’re encountering with your Ubuntu Xenial system during the `apt-get update` process are likely due to the age of the release. Since Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) reached the end of standard support in April 2021, many of the mirrors and repositories meant for it may have been deprecated or moved. In such cases, you will inevitably face 404 errors for packages that are no longer available at their previous locations. To resolve this, it is often recommended to replace the URLs in your `/etc/apt/sources.list` file with those pointing to the old-releases repository. This repository is specifically maintained for older versions of Ubuntu and should allow you to access the necessary packages without the hassle of broken link errors.

      To modify your sources list, you can edit the `/etc/apt/sources.list` file with a text editor, like so: `sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list`. Replace the existing URLs that contain `archive.ubuntu.com` or `security.ubuntu.com` with `old-releases.ubuntu.com`. For example, a typical entry could be changed from `http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial main restricted` to `http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial main restricted`. After making these changes, save the file and run `sudo apt-get update` again. Should you still encounter issues, consider removing architecture options for specific packages or adjusting them as needed. However, transitioning to the old-releases repository is typically the most effective solution for an outdated version like Xenial.




    2. Help with Ubuntu Xenial 404 Errors

      It sounds like you’re really running into some issues with your Ubuntu Xenial setup! 404 errors when running apt-get update can be pretty annoying. Given that Xenial is an older release, it’s definitely possible that some of the repositories you’re trying to access are no longer available or have been moved.

      First up, yeah, you might need to tweak your /etc/apt/sources.list file. A common solution for older Ubuntu versions like Xenial is to point your sources to the old-releases repository. Here’s what you can do:

      1. Open a terminal.
      2. Edit your sources list with this command: sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
      3. Replace the current URLs with the following lines:
      deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial-backports main restricted universe multiverse

      After you make those changes, save the file (Ctrl + O > Enter to save, then Ctrl + X to exit if you’re using nano).

      Now, you can run sudo apt-get update again and see if that clears up the 404 errors!

      As for the architecture issue, if you’re only using arm64 packages, it’s a good idea to check your architecture settings. But focusing on fixing the sources list should help solve the immediate problem.

      If you still run into troubles, check out the specific error messages being displayed and it might give you a clue about what’s still wrong. Good luck with your projects, and don’t hesitate to ask for more help if you need it!


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