After upgrade from CD Synaptic-based programs fail to work without manual repository reload

[Futto]

After upgrading from 7.04 to 7.10RC using the Alt CD I was unable to select any restricted drivers (Admin->Restricted Drivers) or install any languages, notably Japanese support (Admin->Language support). In both dialogues I can tick the box for the thing I want and click Apply or OK and all that happens is the dialogue grays out and then the box unticks with nothing happening.

This meant I couldn't install the ATi driver, wireless drivers and Japanese support stopped working during the upgrade and I couldn't reinstall it.

The solution, which I only realised accidentally, was to go into Synaptic and click Reload which tells it to grab the latest packages from the Internet.

There are several issues here:
- Restricted Drivers and Language support should clearly state that they require the Internet to install and should prompt if the Internet is not available and thus installation fails.
- Ubuntu should either reload package lists on the first successful Internet connection or prompt the user to reload the package lists the first time Synaptic or a Synaptic-based program is executed.

Obviously, this is the kind of usability issue that causes a lot of headache for new users and I think it would be good to see some extra prompts and information as above added.

Thanks!

[Michal Čihař (nijel)]

This bug report is about synaptic and not gsynaptics.