Apt-get update: failure to fetch; can't connect to any sources

I realize there are dozens of "apt-get update: failure to fetch" questions (I read through all I could find), but my present circumstance is unique to 12.04 and it affects all sources; not just launchpad. Additionally, I've tried several different servers in Europe and the U.S. as well as the "main server" (wherever that is) and they all yield the same result: I can't connect to any software sources.

Additionally, I'm fairly certain the problem stems from the upgrade from 11.10->12.04 I performed this morning, as updates worked immediately before.

Updates from the update manager worked fine and i could download some things (mutter) from the software center without incident, which makes me think i can connect to some subset of the ubuntu servers (however, several other ubuntu servers--like extras--and some canonical servers are listed as 'unable to connect').

Here is the output from sudo apt-get update .

sudo apt-get update
Ign http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise InRelease
Ign http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-updates InRelease
Ign http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-backports InRelease
Err http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-security InRelease

Err http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:
Err http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-updates Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:
Err http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-backports Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:
Err http://ftp.u-picardie.fr precise-security Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner TranslationIndex
Ign http://dl.google.com stable InRelease
Ign http://dl.google.com stable InRelease
Err http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US
  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]
Err http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en
  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise InRelease
Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198 B]
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg
  Could not connect to extras.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.88.33). - connect (111: Connection refused)
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease

Get:2 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198 B]
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:
Get:3 http://dl.google.com stable Release [1,347 B]
Get:4 http://dl.google.com stable Release [1,347 B]
Get:5 http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages [1,268 B]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main TranslationIndex
Get:6 http://dl.google.com stable/main i386 Packages [769 B]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main TranslationIndex
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en
Fetched 5,127 B in 7s (673 B/s)
Reading package lists... Done
W: Failed to fetch http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/dists/precise-security/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/elementary-os/stable/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/elementaryart/elementary-dev/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/midori/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/nemequ/sqlheavy/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/ricotz/docky/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/sgringwe/beatbox/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/y-ppa-manager/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/yorba/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/dists/precise-updates/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/dists/precise-backports/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/dists/precise-security/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ftp.u-picardie.fr:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/partner/i18n/Translation-en_US  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]

W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/partner/i18n/Translation-en  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]

W: Failed to fetch http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Could not connect to extras.ubuntu.com:80 (91.189.88.33). - connect (111: Connection refused)

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/caffeine-developers/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/elementary-os/stable/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/elementaryart/elementary-dev/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/midori/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/nemequ/sqlheavy/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/ricotz/docky/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/sgringwe/beatbox/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/y-ppa-manager/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/yorba/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release.gpg  Unable to connect to ppa.launchpad.net:http:

W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
W: Duplicate sources.list entry http://ppa.launchpad.net/nemequ/sqlheavy/ubuntu/ precise/main i386 Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_nemequ_sqlheavy_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-i386_Packages)
W: Duplicate sources.list entry http://ppa.launchpad.net/sgringwe/beatbox/ubuntu/ precise/main i386 Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_sgringwe_beatbox_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_binary-i386_Packages)

Contents of /etc/apt/sources.list:

# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 11.10 _Oneiric Ocelot_ - Release i386 (20111012)]/ oneiric main restricted
deb-src http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise main restricted #Added by software-properties

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise multiverse universe #Added by software-properties

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-updates restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe

## 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
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse

## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse #Added by software-properties

deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-security restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-security universe
deb http://ftp.u-picardie.fr/mirror/ubuntu/ubuntu/ precise-security multiverse

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu oneiric partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu oneiric partner

## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main

Testing Alternate sources.list file

These are the steps i followed to produce the following output

1. Please backup your sources.list: sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup

2. and then replace the contents of /etc/apt/sources.list with the below lines and run apt-get update .

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main 

Output.

someone@someone-UBook:~$ sudo apt-get update
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release.gpg
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise Release
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com precise InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise InRelease
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates InRelease
Hit http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner i386 Packages
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports InRelease
Ign http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner TranslationIndex
Err http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en_US
  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]
Err http://archive.canonical.com precise/partner Translation-en
  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise Release
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise Release.gpg [198 B]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable InRelease
Err http://dl.google.com stable InRelease

Err http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to dl.google.com:http: [IP: 173.194.34.38 80]
Err http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg
  Unable to connect to dl.google.com:http: [IP: 173.194.34.38 80]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release.gpg [198 B]
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release.gpg [198 B]
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en_US
  Unable to connect to extras.ubuntu.com:http:
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
  Unable to connect to extras.ubuntu.com:http:
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release.gpg [198 B]
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise Release [49.6 kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security Release [49.6 kB]
Get:7 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates Release [49.6 kB]
Get:8 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports Release [49.6 kB]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main i386 Packages [32.9 kB]
Get:10 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main i386 Packages [1,274 kB]
Get:11 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe i386 Packages [8,594 B]
Get:13 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse i386 Packages [1,393 B]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main TranslationIndex [73 B]
Get:15 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse TranslationIndex [71 B]
Get:16 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted TranslationIndex [70 B]
Get:17 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe TranslationIndex [72 B]
Get:18 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/main Translation-en [13.6 kB]
Get:19 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/multiverse Translation-en [587 B]
Get:20 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/restricted Translation-en [14 B]
Get:21 http://security.ubuntu.com precise-security/universe Translation-en [6,261 B]
Get:22 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted i386 Packages [8,431 B]
Get:23 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe i386 Packages [4,796 kB]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise InRelease
Get:24 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Get:25 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Get:26 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
Get:27 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
Get:28 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Get:29 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
Get:30 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg [316 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release.gpg
Get:31 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Get:32 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Get:33 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse i386 Packages [121 kB]
Get:34 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release
Get:35 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted TranslationIndex
Get:36 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe TranslationIndex
Get:37 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Get:38 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main i386 Packages [96.5 kB]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release
Get:39 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release [11.9 kB]
Get:40 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted i386 Packages [770 B]
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise Release
Get:41 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe i386 Packages [27.7 kB]
Get:42 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [524 B]
Get:43 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse i386 Packages [1,393 B]
Get:44 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [507 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main TranslationIndex
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted TranslationIndex
Get:45 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [932 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe TranslationIndex
Get:46 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [1,017 B]
Get:47 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main i386 Packages [559 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Get:48 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted i386 Packages [14 B]
Get:49 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe i386 Packages [1,391 B]
Get:50 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [1,402 B]
Get:51 http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse i386 Packages [14 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main TranslationIndex
Get:52 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [1,605 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse TranslationIndex
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/multiverse Translation-en
Get:53 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [931 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/restricted Translation-en
Get:54 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [1,079 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise/universe Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/restricted Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-updates/universe Translation-en
Get:55 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [3,611 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/main Translation-en
Get:56 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [2,468 B]
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com precise-backports/universe Translation-en
Get:57 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [1,524 B]
Get:58 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [2,719 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Get:59 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [1,052 B]
Get:60 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [1,388 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Get:61 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources [1,185 B]
Get:62 http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages [1,698 B]
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main TranslationIndex
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Sources
  404  Not Found
Err http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main i386 Packages
  404  Not Found
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net precise/main Translation-en
Fetched 6,699 kB in 15s (445 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
W: Failed to fetch http://dl.google.com/linux/talkplugin/deb/dists/stable/InRelease

W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/partner/i18n/Translation-en_US  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]

W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/partner/i18n/Translation-en  Unable to connect to archive.canonical.com:http: [IP: 91.189.92.150 80]

W: Failed to fetch http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/dists/sta

Yes, the name server update does work and if it does work then you've probably updated your ip settings to be static and your server can no longer resolve urls.

Try the above and if it works, reboot. If it fails after rebooting, then do this.

Edit the template file for the resolv.conf . The ubuntu server restores it each time it reboots

sudo vi /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/tail

#add just these two lines >>
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Then save the file and start the service

sudo /etc/init.d/resolvconf restart

8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 are just Google's Name Servers. You should be able to add your own isp's if you want If you don't like vi , use nano or vim .

I figured it out reading this article . Thanks for the tip