I'm having a tough time after my fresh Debian 13 installation on my ThinkPad. I set myself up as a sudoer, but now I'm stuck in a loop. Whenever I try to install apps using `sudo apt install `, I get an error saying 'Unable to locate package '. Running `sudo apt update` tells me 'All packages are up to date', which is confusing. I also can't access the `/etc/apt/sources.list` file, getting 'Permission Denied'. When I attempt `sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list`, it says 'command not found'. Logging in as root and trying to update and install sudo results in a 404 error for a repository that looks like 'http://example.com/debian'. I'm not sure what's going on but I suspect there's an issue with my package manager. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
3 Answers
Honestly, if things are this messed up, it might be easier to just reinstall Debian, but do follow a solid tutorial this time. Also, make sure you're cautious about the commands suggested by random sources online; like you mentioned, even AI might not have the right answers sometimes!
It looks like the repository URL you're using is incorrect. That 'http://example.com/debian' is not an actual Debian repository and will cause all sorts of problems. Instead, you should check your `/etc/apt/sources.list` file to ensure it's pointing to valid Debian repositories. You might need to edit it to reflect the right sources for Debian 13, also known as Trixie. You can find guidance on that [here](https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList).
It seems like there are a few things going on. If you're having 'Permission Denied' errors while checking the `/etc/apt/sources.list` file, make sure to use `sudo cat /etc/apt/sources.list` instead of just checking it with a regular command. And yeah, you’ll need proper repository URLs in your sources list. You can use tools like the Debian Sources List Generator to create a new one for you. Just make sure the generated URLs are correct for Debian Trixie.
Yeah, I think a reinstall is my best bet. Thanks for the suggestion!