(Unsupported Ubuntu release, i.e. version 14.10 Utopic, can install programs once again)
If your Ubuntu version reached its End of Life (EOL), it will not install software anymore. You can still use the system without time limit but you cannot get more applications nor security updates. This article explains with example to take care of Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" which has been EOL since 2015 so it can install programs once again (but without updates). This tutorial can be used for other EOLed versions of Ubuntu for example 10.10 or 17.04. I hope this helps.
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Codenames
Dealing with EOL means dealing with Ubuntu codenames as you can see some of them below:
- 12.10 = Quantal Quetzal
- 13.04 = Raring Ringtail
- 14.10 = Utopic Unicorn
- 15.04 = Vivid Vervet
- 15.10 = Wily Werewolf
- 16.10 = Yakkety Yak
More codenames you can see at Wiki Ubuntu:Releases.
Change Your Sources.List
Change 'archive.ubuntu.com' URL into 'old-releases.ubuntu.com'.
Change 'security.ubuntu.com' URL into 'old-releases.ubuntu.com' as well.
For example, for 14.10 Utopic Unicorn, default Sources.List file should look like this:
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic main restricted deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic-security main restricted deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic-updates main restricted
After changing, it should look like this:
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic main restricted deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic-security main restricted deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ utopic-updates main restricted
Reload
Do:
$ sudo apt-get update
Successful command will report downloaded indexes in KB sizes without any error message.
Install Applications
Try some programs for example:
$ sudo apt-get install gimp $ sudo apt-get install pidgin $ sudo apt-get install audacity kdenlive deluge
It should work now.
Final Result
As example, here's GIMP running on 14.10 freshly installed in 2019.
What is EOL?
Each Ubuntu release has support duration, meaning, a certain period of time where Canonical provides software repository (including security updates) for it. When the support duration ended, it is called End Of Life, meaning Canonical deletes the repository (including security updates) for it. Once your Ubuntu system reached EOL, you cannot install software anymore nor receive any updates. For example, in 2019, versions considered EOL are 12.10, 14.10, and 17.04, among others.
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