(SOLVED) Software Centre won't open

Software Centre shuts itself down immediately after I attempt to open it, so I uninstalled and re-installed as follows:

sudo apt-get remove software-center
sudo apt-get autoremove software-center
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install software-center

However, "sudo apt-get update" returns the following:

E: Type ‘<metapackage’ is not known on line 2 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-xamarin.list
E: The list of sources could not be read.

Opening Package Manager adds the following:

Go to the repository dialogue to correct the problem.
E: _cache->open() failed, please report.

However, I get "permission denied" when attempting to access the source list.

All the above occured after attempting to download Mono 3.10.0. I have submitted an error report but is there anything else I can try to fix this issue myself?

OK, it would appear that the issue is a dependency that Mono 3.10.0 requires and not found on Zorin. I would always remove packages this way:

Code:

sudo apt-get purge [name of package - EXACTLY AS IT IS NAMED]

I would purge Mono then see if you can update after that.

Keep us posted!

Hi Swarfendor, thanks again for your help.

I managed to get the source list, and copied and pasted the beginning:

deb http://download.mono-project.com/repo/debian wheezy main
<metapackage xmlns:os="http://opensuse.org/Standards/One_Click_Install" xmlns="http://opensuse.org/Standards/One_Click_Install">

Line 2 is the offending bit according to package manager...

Now for the embarrassing part: I'm not sure whether the initial download was successful, and attempting to find the file using 'locate' or 'find' commands in the terminal have turned up nothing so far. Without the exact filename (if it even exists), I can't execute the purge command you suggested. How would I find out where it is and what it's named? <Blushes>

If this helps, I also completed the following steps (from the mono-project webpage):

"Regardless of your distribution, you will need the Mono Project GPG signing key, which package managers require.
Debian, Ubuntu, and derivatives

Add the Mono Project GPG signing key (if you don’t use sudo, be sure to switch to root):

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 3FA7E0328081BFF6A14DA29AA6A19B38D3D831EF

Next, add the package repository (if you don’t use sudo, be sure to switch to root):

echo "deb http://download.mono-project.com/repo/debian wheezy main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-xamarin.list

Update your package cache if necessary (i.e. run apt-get update), and run a package upgrade to upgrade existing packages to the latest available. Then install Mono as described in the Usage section."

If memory serves me correctly you need to look for var.log - you will need to browse the system as 'root' so open a terminal and enter:

Code:

gksudo nautilus

then look inside 'var' and look for any log files and open in Text Editor.

Hi Swarfendor,

After a little more tinkering I found the offending file, it was /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-xamarin.list

Deleting the entire contents of this rectified the problem. Synaptic Package Manager and Software Centre now work again. Happy days!

Thanks for your help.

Glad you are sorted friend!