/etc/apt/sources.list" E212: Can't open file for writing

Question

I am trying to edit sources.list using vi editor but getting the following error while saving the file:

/etc/apt/sources.list\" E212: Can\'t open file for wr         


        

Answer 1

It might be possible that the file you are accessing has a swap copy (or swap version) already there in the same directory

Hence first see whether a hidden file exists or not.

For example, see for the following type of files

.system.conf.swp

By using the command

ls -a

And then, delete it using ...

rm .system.conf.swp

Usually, I recommend to start using super user privileges using ...

sudo su