Fix the apt-get install error: “Media change: please insert the disc labeled ...” on Debian

rogriverac

Introduction

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In order to avoid Debian to search for packages on a non-existent CDROM, which is most likely not present on a VPS, you should change a simple parameter on the /etc/apt/sources.list file. You need to modify the aforementioned file if you get an output like this while using apt-get to install default packages:

Media change: please insert the disc labeled
 'Debian GNU/Linux 7.0.0 _Wheezy_ - Official amd64 CD Binary-1 20130504-14:44'
in the drive '/media/cdrom/' and press enter

Open and modify the file /etc/apt/sources.list

vi /etc/apt/sources.list

You will see an output like this:

#

deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 7.0.0 _Wheezy_ - Official amd64 CD Binary-1 20130504-14:44]/ wheezy main

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy main
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy main

deb http://security.debian.org/ wheezy/updates main
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ wheezy/updates main

# wheezy-updates, previously known as 'volatile'
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy-updates main
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy-updates main
~

This file contains all your package sources. You might find a deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 7.0.0 _Wheezy_ - Official amd64 CD Binary-1 20130504-14:44]/ wheezy main line indicating a local CDROM as a package source. Comment it out by placing a # symbol at the beginning of the line and save the file.

You should leave it like this:

#

# deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 7.0.0 _Wheezy_ - Official amd64 CD Binary-1 20130504-14:44]/ wheezy main

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy main
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy main

deb http://security.debian.org/ wheezy/updates main
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ wheezy/updates main

# wheezy-updates, previously known as 'volatile'
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy-updates main
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ wheezy-updates main
~

Now that you have fixed the apt-get CDROM error, you are ready to resynchronize the package index files and install your services on Debian:

Enjoy!