[ubuntu-za] Mail between two versions of Thunderbird / PPA "not found"

[Peter Nel]

On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 9:57 AM, Jan Greeff wrote:
> Hi Peter, I really appreciate your concern and empathy. I also feel guilty
> because I have not yet followed your detailed instructions to see what the
> outcome is, I still intend to do so but have just not had the time. I will
> definiitely let you have feedback on that.
>
> I run my own domain and website (verslank.net) and do have limited web-based
> e-mail, but only for 100 MB. My impression is that if I opt for this, I will
> have to upgrade to pay for the extra space or if I go to something like
> gmail I will have to use a gmail address.
>
> I stay in Barberton, Mpumalanga.
>
> The Xchat community does assist me greatly and I enjoy the interaction,
> however, then I need to learn more new things like how partitioning works
> otherwise we run into untold difficulties. I started off on computers for
> the first time when I was into my sixties, so I get confused, frustrated and
> embarassed very easily. It is difficult for the young ones to understand so
> I cannot blame them for expecting me to be more versatile in the learning
> curve.
>
> I seem to have a problem with upgrades on Bumblebee (have disabled the
> update option on this) and Nvidia, am also getting these messages on updates
> (see below) lately, will an upgrade help to sort these out?
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jan
>
>
> Failed to fetch
> http://ppa.launchpad.net/user/ppa-name/ubuntu/dists/maverick/main/source/Sources.gz
>  404  Not Found
> Failed to fetch
> http://ppa.launchpad.net/user/ppa-name/ubuntu/dists/maverick/main/binary-i386/Packages.gz
>  404  Not Found
> Some index files failed to download, they have been ignored, or old ones
> used instead.
>
>
>
> On 14/12/2011 09:18, Peter Nel wrote:
>>
>> Where do you live? Perhaps one of us can come help you out?
>>
>

Baberton.. Hmm. I'm in Pretoria. A bit far for me :-)

Any volunteers here near Baberton?

Jan, Please don't worry about lacking experience or knowledge - i
doubt one can expect anyone to know things they simply don't. It's not
an age thing, and you are not alone. You run a website, you engage the
community, and seem to be willing to learn - you don't need much else
to succeed on the internet... perhaps even in life :-)
Besides, discussing problems publicly will likely benefit someone else
down the line who may stumble upon it via an internet search.
(e.g.
Here's a conversation you and I had back in July:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-za/2011-July/008020.html
... and here's one I had with someone back in 2009:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-za/2009-January/002317.html )

About those errors... it looks like you previously tried to add a
"Personal Package Archive" (aka PPA) on launchpad, probably to install
some software not present in the default software center.
However, looking at those URL's it seems, that you copy-pasted the
"example" address for the package, as opposed to the actual package
URL.
I.e. for the package "ppa-name" under the user "user"...
(people, aka users, usually make software packages available via PPA's
on launchpad)

"You can try disabling those additional ppas from Software Center >
Edit > Software Sources > Other Software Tab and update again"

Problem also discussed further here:
http://lockergnome.net/questions/119200/ubuntu-update-issue
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1619529.html

It sounds like you have NVidea graphics problems due to your pc/laptop
having the "optimus" technology, which is why you installed Bumblebee,
correct?

As far as I can tell, Bumblebee is discontinued, and continued as "Ironhide"
https://launchpad.net/~mj-casalogic
https://launchpad.net/~mj-casalogic/+archive/bumblebee
https://launchpad.net/~mj-casalogic/+archive/ironhide

It might be why the updates stopped working..?

Am I correct in assuming you're still on Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (10.10)?
If you are, that is already 2x releases old, I would suggest upgrading
to the latest version Oneiric Ocelot 11.10 (that is, if you can
stomach the Unity interface -- yes again with the Change! Why does
everything keep changing!? :-D
BTW I Love Unity)
A lot has gone into stability and user interface in recent releases.

For a wider web of possible support (possibly less verbose ;-), try
posting questions on the international ubuntu forums,
http://ubuntuforums.org/

Kind Regards
-- 
Péter Nel