Can't update. Do I have to reinstall?

[TheGhost]

Today, Jan. 17, I tried to do an update on a system that hasn't been updated in a while. I can't say exactly when it was updated, because I cleaned Synaptic history, but I believe it was updated on September 2011.

When I mark all upgrades (after reloading the package list, of course) it attempts to uninstall a LOT of things (see markings attached), while plenty of other packages that have updated versions are not marked. 126 packages are upgradeable, while only 9 are marked for upgrade.
I'm sure this will kill the system.

Just to try to figure out what was happening, I tried to update just RPM. This was the result:

Could not mark all packages for installation or upgrade.

The following packages have unresolved dependencies. Make sure that all required repositories are added and enabled in the preferences.

rpm:
 Depends: librpm1 (= 4.8.1-5pclos2011)
 Depends: librpmbuild.so.1
 Depends: librpmio.so.1
 Depends: librpm.so.1
 Depends: rpmlib(PayloadIsLzma) (<=4.4.6-1) but it is not installable

I am using heanet.ie as repository. My sources.list:

# Signed repositories have a [<key>] where <key> is the name of the key
# as it appears in vendors.list. If you remove it, no digital signature check
# will be made.

rpm http://distro.ibiblio.org/pclinuxos/megagames/apt/ pclinuxos/2010 megagames 
rpm http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/pclinuxos/apt/ pclinuxos/2010 main updates nonfree games kde4   
# rpm http://ftp.nluug.nl/ibiblio/distributions/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/apt/ pclinuxos/2010 main updates nonfree games kde4 
# rpm http://ftp.vim.org/ibiblio/distributions/pclinuxos/pclinuxos/apt/ pclinuxos/2010 main updates nonfree games kde4 

However, I don't think is a case of broken dependencies - I'm sure someone would have pointed them up if it was - It looks to me like I missed an important update (perhaps aptugrade?) and now I can't update anymore.

I'm trying to avoid re-installing. This system has a lot of customizations, and having to start over doesn't look appealing.
However, I'll do it if I must; although I think I can leave the system as it is (it works perfectly, I am posting this from it) until I MUST re-install.

So, if anyone can help me check what is going on, and hopefully I can solve it without reinstalling, I will be most grateful.

This is the markings I got:

DoAsRoot will be removed
amarok will be removed
amsn will be removed
amsn-plugins will be removed
k3b will be removed
kde4-smooth-tasks will be removed
kde4-style-crystal will be removed
kde4-style-qtcurve will be removed
kdeartwork4-kscreensaver will be removed
kdebase4 will be removed
kdebase4-core will be removed
kdebase4-dolphin will be removed
kdebase4-kdepasswd will be removed
kdebase4-kdialog will be removed
kdebase4-kfind will be removed
kdebase4-konsole will be removed
kdebase4-kwrite will be removed
kdebase4-plasma will be removed
kdebase4-runtime will be removed
kdebase4-runtime-nepomuk will be removed
kdebase4-workspace-core will be removed
kdegraphics4-core will be removed
kdegraphics4-gwenview will be removed
kdegraphics4-kamera will be removed
kdegraphics4-kcolorchooser will be removed
kdegraphics4-kgamma will be removed
kdegraphics4-kolourpaint will be removed
kdegraphics4-ksnapshot will be removed
kdegraphics4-okular will be removed
kdelibs4 will be removed
kdemultimedia4-audiocd will be removed
kdemultimedia4-core will be removed
kdemultimedia4-dragonplayer will be removed
kdemultimedia4-kmix will be removed
kdemultimedia4-kscd will be removed
kdepim4-core will be removed
kdepim4-runtime will be removed
kdepimlibs4 will be removed
kdeplasma-addons will be removed
kdeutils4-ark will be removed
kdeutils4-filelight will be removed
kdeutils4-kcalc will be removed
kdeutils4-kcharselect will be removed
kdeutils4-kdf will be removed
kdeutils4-kfloppy will be removed
kdeutils4-kgpg will be removed
kdeutils4-kremotecontrol will be removed
kdeutils4-ktimer will be removed
kdeutils4-kwallet will be removed
kdeutils4-sweeper will be removed
kdiff3 will be removed
kdm will be removed
kio-sysinfo will be removed
kipi-plugins will be removed
krename will be removed
krusader will be removed
ktorrent will be removed
kwebkitpart will be removed
lastfmlib will be removed
libimlib1 will be removed
libktorrent will be removed
libungif4 will be removed
mplayer will be removed
mplayerplugin will be removed
polkit-kde-agent-1 will be removed
python-kde4 will be removed
smplayer will be removed
liballegro4.4 (version 4.4.1.1-1pclos2010) will be installed
perl-Log-Dispatch (version 2.22-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-Log-Log4perl (version 1.24-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-Mail-Sender (version 0.8.16-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-Mail-Sendmail (version 0.79_16-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-Params-Validate (version 0.91-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-Readonly (version 1.03-10pclos2009) will be installed
perl-XML-DOM (version 1.44-10pclos2009) will be installed4.4.6-18pclos

The computer is running kernel 2.6.38.6-pclos1, and KDE 4.6.5 (4.6.5.1pclos2011 according so Synaptic)
Apt says version 0.5.15lorg3.94pt-2pclos2007 (2007? really?)
RPM says version 4.4.6-18pclos2007 ()
Let me know any other information needed.

Is there any hope?
Thanks in advance for any advise.

[Ramchu]

You are going to have to reinstall from the 2011.9 ISO.
You missed the aptupgrade that has since been removed
from the repos.
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,92661.0.html

[daniel]

Yepp, load latest iso, and make a new install...

Ramchu is a little faster 

[Bald Brick]

If /home is on a partition of its own you may try not formatting or overwriting it when you reinstall. That would retain most of your customizations (although you'd still have to reinstall all the programs you've added to your system).

[TheGhost]

Color me sad. 

I suspected it had been aptupgrade.

I don't use this PC all the time, so I wasn't watching the updates; it was bound to happen.

Well, reinstalling will be fun.

Thanks everyone!

[Xenaflux]

Well, reinstalling will be fun.

And when you are finished having fun, it may be a good idea to make a remaster or use clonezilla to make a backup.

Unless, of course, you like to reinstall having fun   

[Rudge]

Well, reinstalling will be fun.

And when you are finished having fun, it may be a good idea to make a remaster or use clonezilla to make a backup.

Unless, of course, you like to reinstall having fun   

Even a remaster would not have helped him out in this situation. Just saying. 

[Xenaflux]

Even a remaster would not have helped him out in this situation. Just saying.  Wink Grin

No, of course not ! But I was thinking short term.
Usually people access a certain" thing " because they need it " now "

So, if he had a backup, he only would have solved his problem for today.
Long term and as far as updating is concerned, nothing changed.

I have the habbit of backing up every thing ( I am paranoid to the 7th degree    ), but I find myself constantly making new backups and trowing the old ones away.

Of course, I haven't heard yet about " lucky backup and Deja Dup " 
But that will come

[Archie]

Have FUN! I mean, how long would the fun last anyway? If you're the average user, you'll probably reinstall the latest ISO, do the updates, install your apps ... all within an hour or two?

Then you'll have to look for something else to do.

[Xenaflux]

Then you'll have to look for something else to do. Grin

You can go to Distrowatch, pick a new one, and start writing reviews   

[TheGhost]

Have FUN! I mean, how long would the fun last anyway? If you're the average user, you'll probably reinstall the latest ISO, do the updates, install your apps ... all within an hour or two?

Then you'll have to look for something else to do.

It takes me several days. 

I'm a customization freak, and after installing I go into a customization frenzy, trying to get things the way I had them before, and always finding new and exciting looks.

It's like getting a new car, and immediately starting to do modifications.

... wait. I made a car analogy. This argument is invalid. 

[cirehawk]

I have an issue that may or may not be related.  I THINK and did the aptupgrade.  I'm not getting any errors, but I am also not seeing any available updates (or new additions) when I refresh synaptic.  I'd say it's been a good few weeks to a month since I've seen any updates.  That just doesn't seem right.  Did I miss out on something?

[Rudge]

I have an issue that may or may not be related.  I THINK and did the aptupgrade.  I'm not getting any errors, but I am also not seeing any available updates (or new additions) when I refresh synaptic.  I'd say it's been a good few weeks to a month since I've seen any updates.  That just doesn't seem right.  Did I miss out on something?

There have been no updates for a while. It's valid.

When updates are ready, they will be ready.  

[cirehawk]

I have an issue that may or may not be related.  I THINK and did the aptupgrade.  I'm not getting any errors, but I am also not seeing any available updates (or new additions) when I refresh synaptic.  I'd say it's been a good few weeks to a month since I've seen any updates.  That just doesn't seem right.  Did I miss out on something?

There have been no updates for a while. It's valid.

When updates are ready, they will be ready.  

Awesome!  I thought I was good, but thought I'd rather be safe than sorry so I asked.  I sense better things are on the way (if that's even possible). 

[sling-shot]

I do not know which version of PCLinuxOS are you using exactly, but for me with the standard PCLinuxOS KDE full version, I have been seeing at least some updates every week for the last month.
I would say that if you have gone by more than a week or two without updates, something is fishy :-)
-SS.