apt-get troubles

[Ian Soboroff <ian@cs.umbc.edu>]

i've searched the list archives for a solution to this, but haven't
come across one that works yet...

i'm running x86 woody.  since the end of last week, i no longer get
any upgrades with 'apt-get upgrade' (although 'update' runs without
error).  furthermore, when i try to install a package with apt-get, i
get the following:

danube:/home/ian# apt-get install tuxracer
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Package tuxracer has no available version, but exists in the database.
This typically means that the package was mentioned in a dependency and 
never uploaded, has been obsoleted or is not available with the contents 
of sources.list
E: Package tuxracer has no installation candidate

i had this happen with a bunch of other packages as well (tcl8.3,
tk8.3 for example).  i can see the packages on the ftp site, and
download them manually and install them with dpkg, but apt-get seems
wedged.

i've tried 'apt-get clean', 'dpkg --forget-old-avail', dumping a new
available file, but nothing seems to cure this.  what should i do?

ian

-- 
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Ian Soboroff                                       ian@cs.umbc.edu
University of MD Baltimore County      http://www.cs.umbc.edu/~ian