Enabling Extra Repositories

Why enable extra repositories? Repositories contain software. Extra repositories give you extra software. Some people like that. If you need help installing software, check out this page. Enabling extra repositories the point-and-click way Many new users are intimidated by the terminal and do not even want to copy and paste commands. If you do not want libdvdcss2 (commercial DVD playback—legality questionable, depending on your country of residence) or w32codecs (Windows codecs—legality extremely questionable, regardless of where you live), the vast majority of your software needs can be met in a very simple point-and-click way—by enabling extra software sources using the GUI (graphical user interface).   First, go to System > Administration > Software Sources. In 6.06, it may be called Software Properties. In 6.10 and higher, the name changed to Software Sources.   A dialogue will appear that shows you which repositories are currently enabled. The ones with the checked (or ticked) boxes are enabled. The others are not enabled.   Check (or tick) the unchecked (or unticked) boxes. You may also want to choose to use a local server instead of the main server. I chose Server for United States, since I live in the United States. You may also want to uncheck (or untick) the CD-ROM/DVD source. Otherwise, every time you try to install software, you may be prompted to insert the Ubuntu installer disc. If you have a working internet connection, you will want to use the online servers for software installation.   Once you do this, you'll be asked to reload the repository information. This allows Ubuntu to see what software is newly available to you. Click Reload to continue.   Then, wait for the information to be reloaded. Once that's done, the window will disappear, and you'll be able to use apt-get, Synaptic, or Add/Remove to install new programs. More information about software installation can be found here. Adding a key for Medibuntu Paste this command into the terminal so you don't get a key error when you see what new software is available: wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - Backing up and opening the repositories list file Open up a terminal and type in If you're using Ubuntu (Gnome): sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list If you're using Kubuntu (KDE): sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup kdesu kwrite /etc/apt/sources.list If you're using Xubuntu (XFCE): sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup gksudo mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list Updating the list for Intrepid Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Intrepid (8.10): deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu intrepid partner deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ intrepid main universe restricted multiverse deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ intrepid-security universe main multiverse restricted deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ intrepid-updates universe main multiverse restricted deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ intrepid free non-free Updating the list for Hardy Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Hardy (8.04): deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu hardy partner deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main universe restricted multiverse deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-security universe main multiverse restricted deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates universe main multiverse restricted deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ hardy free non-free Updating the list for 7.10 (Gutsy) Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using 7.10 (Gutsy): ## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy main restricted ## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced  ## after the final release of the distribution. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe' ## repository. ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in ## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security ## team. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy universe deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy universe deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy multiverse deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy multiverse deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free Updating the list for 6.06 (Dapper) Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Dapper (6.06): ## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted ## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced ## after the final release of the distribution. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe' ## repository. ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in ## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security ## team. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper multiverse deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper multiverse deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ dapper free non-free Making the changes take effect Save your file and close kwrite, mousepad, or gedit. Lastly, and most importantly, paste this into the terminal sudo apt-get update