After a month of inactivity, pacman says there is nothing to update

Question

Hi all,
I have a computer that I am using for a project here at university which has Arch x86 installed.  Because I myself run Arch on my laptop, I have not needed to use this other computer for a while (I have been writing code that will eventually be run on the other computer).  Anyway, after about a month of inactivity, I booted up this other computer and attempted to perform an update with pacman -Syu, and to my surprise pacman was unable to sync with the server (ibiblio).  After changing the mirror twice in my mirrorlist, I finally was able to sync with the package database, however pacman continued by stating "There is nothing to be done."  I know for a fact that this is incorrect since the computer has not been touched in at least a month.
Any idea why it would update the package database, but neglect to update any of the actual packages?  Trying additional mirrors did not help (although I was rather curious as to why half the mirrors that I selected were incapable of syncing) and I am currently out of other ideas.
Regards,
Andy

Answer 1

Mr.Elendig wrote:
Does -Q actually list packages?
Also, paste your pacman.conf and mirrorlist
-Q does list packages, in the case of wine it is the 1.3.16 version. 1.3.17 came out on the 2nd, so surely it would be up to date in all the mirrors by now?
pacman.conf:
# /etc/pacman.conf
# See the pacman.conf(5) manpage for option and repository directives
# GENERAL OPTIONS
[options]
# The following paths are commented out with their default values listed.
# If you wish to use different paths, uncomment and update the paths.
#RootDir = /
#DBPath = /var/lib/pacman/
#CacheDir = /var/cache/pacman/pkg/
#LogFile = /var/log/pacman.log
HoldPkg = pacman glibc
# If upgrades are available for these packages they will be asked for first
SyncFirst = pacman
#XferCommand = /usr/bin/wget --passive-ftp -c -O %o %u
#XferCommand = /usr/bin/curl -C - %u > %o
#CleanMethod = KeepInstalled
Architecture = auto
# Pacman won't upgrade packages listed in IgnorePkg and members of IgnoreGroup
#IgnorePkg =
#IgnoreGroup =
#NoUpgrade =
#NoExtract =
# Misc options (all disabled by default)
#UseSyslog
#ShowSize
#UseDelta
#TotalDownload
# REPOSITORIES
# - can be defined here or included from another file
# - pacman will search repositories in the order defined here
# - local/custom mirrors can be added here or in separate files
# - repositories listed first will take precedence when packages
# have identical names, regardless of version number
# - URLs will have $repo replaced by the name of the current repo
# - URLs will have $arch replaced by the name of the architecture
# Repository entries are of the format:
# [repo-name]
# Server = ServerName
# Include = IncludePath
# The header [repo-name] is crucial - it must be present and
# uncommented to enable the repo.
# The testing repositories are disabled by default. To enable, uncomment the
# repo name header and Include lines. You can add preferred servers immediately
# after the header, and they will be used before the default mirrors.
#[testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
[core]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
[extra]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
#[community-testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
[community]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
# If you want to run 32 bit applications on your x86_64 system,
# enable the multilib repository here.
[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
# An example of a custom package repository. See the pacman manpage for
# tips on creating your own repositories.
#[custom]
#Server = file:///home/custompkgs
mirrorlist:
# Mirror used during installation
Server = ftp://ftp.rez-gif.supelec.fr/Linux/archlinux/$repo/os/x86_64
## Arch Linux repository mirrorlist
## Generated on 2011-03-13
## Any
#Server = ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.kernel.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Australia
#Server = ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.optus.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.optus.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Austria
#Server = ftp://gd.tuwien.ac.at/opsys/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/opsys/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Belarus
#Server = ftp://ftp.byfly.by/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.byfly.by/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.datacenter.by/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.datacenter.by/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Belgium
#Server = ftp://archlinux.mirror.kangaroot.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.mirror.kangaroot.net/$repo/os/$arch
## Brazil
#Server = ftp://archlinux.c3sl.ufpr.br/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.c3sl.ufpr.br/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.las.ic.unicamp.br/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://www.las.ic.unicamp.br/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://pet.inf.ufsc.br/mirrors/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Canada
#Server = ftp://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.its.dal.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.its.dal.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Chile
#Server = ftp://mirror.archlinux.cl/$repo/os/$arch
## China
#Server = http://mirrors.163.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.bjtu.edu.cn/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror6.bjtu.edu.cn/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.sohu.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.sohu.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Colombia
#Server = http://www.laqee.unal.edu.co/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Czech Republic
#Server = http://mirror.vpsfree.cz/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Denmark
#Server = ftp://mirrors.dotsrc.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.dotsrc.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.klid.dk/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Estonia
#Server = ftp://ftp.eenet.ee/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.eenet.ee/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Finland
#Server = ftp://mirror.academica.fi/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.academica.fi/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.archlinux.fi/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.archlinux.fi/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## France
Server = http://mir.archlinux.fr/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://mir1.archlinux.fr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mir1.archlinux.fr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://archlinux.mirrors.ovh.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://archlinux.mirrors.ovh.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://ftp.rez-gif.supelec.fr/Linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Germany
#Server = http://archlinux.limun.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://artfiles.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://artfiles.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.c9h.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://archlinux.giantix-server.de/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.giantix-server.de/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.hosteurope.de/mirror/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.hosteurope.de/mirror/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp-stud.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp-stud.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.selfnet.de/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.selfnet.de/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.spline.inf.fu-berlin.de/mirrors/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.spline.inf.fu-berlin.de/mirrors/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.tu-chemnitz.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.tu-chemnitz.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Great Britain
Server = ftp://mirror.lividpenguin.com/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirror.lividpenguin.com/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = ftp://mirrors.uk2.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://archlinux.mirrors.uk2.net/$repo/os/$arch
## Greece
#Server = ftp://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.otenet.gr/pub/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.otenet.gr/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Hungary
#Server = ftp://ftp.mfa.kfki.hu/pub/mirrors/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
## India
#Server = ftp://mirror.cse.iitk.ac.in/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.cse.iitk.ac.in/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Ireland
Server = ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
## Israel
#Server = ftp://mirror.isoc.org.il/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.isoc.org.il/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Italy
#Server = http://mirrors.prometeus.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Japan
#Server = ftp://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Kazakhstan
#Server = ftp://archlinux.kz/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.kz/$repo/os/$arch
## Korea
#Server = ftp://mirror.yongbok.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.yongbok.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Latvia
#Server = http://archlinux.goodsoft.lv/$repo/os/$arch
## Netherlands
#Server = ftp://mirror.leaseweb.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.leaseweb.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/os/Linux/distr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## New Caledonia
#Server = ftp://archlinux.nautile.nc/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.nautile.nc/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## New Zealand
#Server = ftp://mirror.ihug.co.nz/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.ihug.co.nz/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Norway
#Server = ftp://mirror.archlinux.no/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.archlinux.no/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://archlinux.uib.no/pub/Linux/Distributions/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.uib.no/$repo/os/$arch
## Poland
#Server = ftp://ftp.piotrkosoft.net/pub/mirrors/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://piotrkosoft.net/pub/mirrors/ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://unix.net.pl/archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
## Portugal
#Server = http://darkstar.ist.utl.pt/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.rnl.ist.utl.pt/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.rnl.ist.utl.pt/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Romania
#Server = ftp://mirrors.adnettelecom.ro/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.adnettelecom.ro/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.archlinux.ro/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.archlinux.ro/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.roedu.net/mirrors/archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.roedu.net/mirrors/archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
## Russia
#Server = http://mirror.worldis.me/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.yandex.ru/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.yandex.ru/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Slovakia
#Server = ftp://mirror.ynet.sk/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.ynet.sk/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Spain
#Server = ftp://ftp.rediris.es/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://sunsite.rediris.es/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Sweden
#Server = ftp://ftp.ds.hj.se/pub/os/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.ds.hj.se/pub/os/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.linuxmirror.org/arch/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://linuxmirror.org/arch/$repo/os/$arch
## Switzerland
#Server = ftp://archlinux.puzzle.ch/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://archlinux.puzzle.ch/$repo/os/$arch
## Taiwan
#Server = ftp://ftp.mirror.tw/pub/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.mirror.tw/pub/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://linux.cs.nctu.edu.tw/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://linux.cs.nctu.edu.tw/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://shadow.ind.ntou.edu.tw/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://shadow.ind.ntou.edu.tw/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.tku.edu.tw/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.tku.edu.tw/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Turkey
#Server = ftp://ftp.linux.org.tr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.linux.org.tr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Ukraine
#Server = http://distfiles.org.ua/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://www2.distfiles.org.ua/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.linux.kiev.ua/pub/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.linux.kiev.ua/pub/Linux/ArchLinux/$repo/os/$arch
## United States
#Server = http://mirrors.cat.pdx.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.ece.vt.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.hosef.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://hpc.arc.georgetown.edu/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://distro.ibiblio.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://locke.suu.edu/linux/dist/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/ftpfull/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.mocker.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://schlunix.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirror.yellowfiber.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
## Uzbekistan
#Server = ftp://mirrors.st.uz/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = http://mirrors.st.uz/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch