Comment 1 for bug 683782

I typed in my console

  sudo apt-get remove
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get upgrade

After the second command, ubuntu updater appeared on my task bar.
I finish the console, ran the updates, and restarted my computer.
Upon restart I opened ubuntu software center and installed VLC.

I have no problems now with software center,
and I would recommend these instructions to anyone who is having problems
with software center that began with a power failure during use.