TL;DR -- today using apt-get autoremove deleted the offensive lines in /var/lib/apt/extended_states and restored the list in software-updater -- though I doubt that will work every time.
Today I saw the blank software-updater list again on this Xenial (Ubuntu 16.04) system.
@eric97's comment caused me to try something OTHER than blow away the file -- I have already installed the latest kernel updates, but apparently didn't get around to removing the outdated ones.
Running apt autoremove worked to restore my updates list. I am not sure whether I had lots of old kernels last time, though I doubt it. I no longer use a separate /boot partition on this machine but back when I USED to I got into the habit of running apt autoremove after kernel updates. (Because it a real PITA when your /boot partition fills up.)
twt@hostname:~$ sudo apt autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-headers-4.4.0-133 linux-headers-4.4.0-133-generic linux-image-4.4.0-133-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-133-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 16 not upgraded.
After this operation, 303 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
(Reading database ... 384921 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-133-generic (4.4.0-133.159) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-133 (4.4.0-133.159) ...
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-133-generic (4.4.0-133.159) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-135-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-135-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-134-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-134-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-133-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-131-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-131-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-130-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-130-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-128-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-128-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-133-generic (4.4.0-133.159) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-133-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-133-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-135-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-135-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-134-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-134-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-131-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-131-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-130-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-130-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-128-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-128-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
TL;DR -- today using apt-get autoremove deleted the offensive lines in /var/lib/ apt/extended_ states and restored the list in software-updater -- though I doubt that will work every time.
Today I saw the blank software-updater list again on this Xenial (Ubuntu 16.04) system.
@eric97's comment caused me to try something OTHER than blow away the file -- I have already installed the latest kernel updates, but apparently didn't get around to removing the outdated ones.
Running apt autoremove worked to restore my updates list. I am not sure whether I had lots of old kernels last time, though I doubt it. I no longer use a separate /boot partition on this machine but back when I USED to I got into the habit of running apt autoremove after kernel updates. (Because it a real PITA when your /boot partition fills up.)
Session transcript (edited lightly):
twt@hostname:~$ sudo apt update security. ubuntu. com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease archive. canonical. com/ubuntu xenial InRelease us.archive. ubuntu. com/ubuntu xenial InRelease us.archive. ubuntu. com/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease us.archive. ubuntu. com/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease us.archive. ubuntu. com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease
[sudo] password for twt:
Hit:1 http://
Hit:2 http://
Hit:3 http://
Hit:4 http://
Hit:5 http://
Hit:6 http://
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
16 packages can be upgraded. Run 'apt list --upgradable' to see them.
twt@hostname:~$ apt list --upgradeable browser/ xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security 69.0.3497. 81-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1 amd64 [upgradable from: 68.0.3440. 106-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1] browser- l10n/xenial- updates, xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security, xenial- security, xenial- security 69.0.3497. 81-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1 all [upgradable from: 68.0.3440. 106-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1] codecs- ffmpeg- extra/xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security 69.0.3497. 81-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1 amd64 [upgradable from: 68.0.3440. 106-0ubuntu0. 16.04.1] xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security 62.0+build2- 0ubuntu0. 16.04.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 62.0+build2- 0ubuntu0. 16.04.3] locale- en/xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security 62.0+build2- 0ubuntu0. 16.04.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 62.0+build2- 0ubuntu0. 16.04.3] tools/xenial- updates, xenial- updates 0.122ubuntu8.12 all [upgradable from: 0.122ubuntu8.11] tools-bin/ xenial- updates 0.122ubuntu8.12 amd64 [upgradable from: 0.122ubuntu8.11] tools-core/ xenial- updates, xenial- updates 0.122ubuntu8.12 all [upgradable from: 0.122ubuntu8.11] 24/xenial- updates, xenial- security, xenial- security 0.24.1-2ubuntu0.2 amd64 [upgradable from: 0.24.1-2] systemd/ xenial- updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2] xenial- updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2] xenial- updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2] xenial- updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2] sysv/xenial- updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2]
Listing... Done
chromium-
chromium-
chromium-
firefox/
firefox-
initramfs-
initramfs-
initramfs-
libgit2-
libpam-
libsystemd0/
libudev1/
systemd/
systemd-
udev/xenial-updates 229-4ubuntu21.4 amd64 [upgradable from: 229-4ubuntu21.2]
twt@hostname:~$ uname -a
Linux hostname 4.4.0-135-generic #161-Ubuntu SMP Mon Aug 27 10:45:01 UTC 2018 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
twt@hostname:~$ cat /var/lib/ apt/extended_ states 4.4.0-133
Package: linux-headers-
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-133- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-headers- 4.4.0-133- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- 4.4.0-133- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-headers- 4.4.0-134
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-headers- 4.4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- 4.4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-135- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
twt@hostname:~$ sudo apt autoremove headers- 4.4.0-133 linux-headers- 4.4.0-133- generic linux-image- 4.4.0-133- generic linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-133- generic 4.4.0-133- generic (4.4.0-133.159) ... 4.4.0-133 (4.4.0-133.159) ... extra-4. 4.0-133- generic (4.4.0-133.159) ... postinst. d/apt-auto- removal 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic postinst. d/initramfs- tools 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic img-4.4. 0-133-generic postinst. d/pm-utils 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic postinst. d/unattended- upgrades 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic postinst. d/update- notifier 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic postinst. d/zz-update- grub 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic 4.4.0-135- generic img-4.4. 0-135-generic 4.4.0-134- generic img-4.4. 0-134-generic 4.4.0-133- generic img-4.4. 0-133-generic 4.4.0-131- generic img-4.4. 0-131-generic 4.4.0-130- generic img-4.4. 0-130-generic 4.4.0-128- generic img-4.4. 0-128-generic +.elf +.bin 4.4.0-133- generic (4.4.0-133.159) ... postrm. d . postrm. d/initramfs- tools 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic img-4.4. 0-133-generic postrm. d/zz-update- grub 4.4.0-133-generic /boot/vmlinuz- 4.4.0-133- generic 4.4.0-135- generic img-4.4. 0-135-generic 4.4.0-134- generic img-4.4. 0-134-generic 4.4.0-131- generic img-4.4. 0-131-generic 4.4.0-130- generic img-4.4. 0-130-generic 4.4.0-128- generic img-4.4. 0-128-generic +.elf +.bin
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 16 not upgraded.
After this operation, 303 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
(Reading database ... 384921 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-
Removing linux-headers-
Removing linux-image-
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86
done
Removing linux-image-
Examining /etc/kernel/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86
done
twt@hostname:~$ cat /var/lib/ apt/extended_ states 4.4.0-134
Package: linux-headers-
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-headers- 4.4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- 4.4.0-134- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
Package: linux-image- extra-4. 4.0-135- generic
Architecture: amd64
Auto-Installed: 1
twt@hostname:~$
[I restarted software-updater and its window shows the updates now.]