Ubuntu 16.10无法更新：修复方案或升级至16.04/17.10？

Hey there, let's work through your problem step by step—this is a super common issue with older Ubuntu releases, so we can get this sorted.

First: Why Your APT Commands Are Failing #

The root cause here is almost certainly that Ubuntu 16.10 is no longer supported (it reached End of Life, or EOL, back in July 2017). When a Ubuntu version goes EOL, the official software repositories get taken offline, which means sudo apt-get update can't fetch package lists, and apt-get install can't find any packages to install. That's exactly what's happening to you.

16.04 LTS vs. 17.10: Which Is Better? #

Let's break down the two options you're considering:

• Ubuntu 16.04 LTS: This was a Long-Term Support release, meaning it received 5 years of security updates and bug fixes (until April 2021). Even though it's also EOL now, it's still the better choice if you need stability. LTS releases are built for reliability, with mature software packages that don't change much—great for daily use or systems where you don't want frequent breaking changes. You can still use it with old-release repositories (more on that later).
• Ubuntu 17.10: This was a short-term release, only supported for 9 months (until July 2018). It introduced new features like switching from Unity to GNOME Shell, but it's long since EOL, just like 16.10. It's less stable than 16.04 LTS, and you'll run into the exact same APT issues as you're having now. I'd strongly recommend skipping this one.

Fixing Your Current System & Upgrading/Installing Without Data Loss #

Option 1: Fix APT on Ubuntu 16.10 (Temporary Fix) #

If you want to keep using 16.10 for now, you can switch to Ubuntu's old-release repositories:

1. Open the sources list file with a text editor:

   sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
   

2. Replace every instance of http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu and http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu with http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu.
3. Save and exit: Press Ctrl+O, hit Enter, then Ctrl+X.
4. Run the update command again—it should work now:

   sudo apt-get update
   

Option 2: Switch to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Near-Lossless Install) #

Since downgrading from 16.10 to 16.04 isn't officially supported (it can break your system), the safest way is to do a fresh install while keeping your personal data:

1. Backup your data: Copy all important files from your /home directory (documents, photos, configs, etc.) to an external drive or cloud storage.
2. Create a Ubuntu 16.04 LTS installation USB/CD.
3. Boot from the installation media, and when you reach the installation type screen:
   • Select "Something else".
   • Find your existing /home partition, select it, and set the "Use as" option to ext4 journaling file system (don't check "Format the partition").
   • Set your existing root partition (/) to ext4 journaling file system and check "Format the partition".
   • Complete the installation—your personal files and user settings will be preserved.

Option 3: Upgrade to a Supported LTS Release (Recommended) #

Instead of sticking with EOL versions, you could upgrade to a still-supported LTS like 20.04 or 22.04. Here's how:

1. First, fix your 16.10 APT sources using the steps in Option 1.
2. Run the release upgrade tool:

   sudo do-release-upgrade
   

3. Follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade to the next release. You'll need to repeat this process a few times (16.10 → 17.04 → 17.10 → 18.04 LTS → ...) until you reach a supported version.
   • Note: Backup your data first—upgrade chains can sometimes hit snags, especially with older releases.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者gannex