I typed the command

```
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

```

and got the following error

```
W: Failed to fetch http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/source/Sources  404  Not Found

```

and similar other messages

Previously, I had typed the following commands from an answer on this site
[Upgrading to a no longer supported version](https://askubuntu.com/questions/518874/upgrading-to-a-no-longer-supported-version)

```
username-M:~$ sudo cp -v /etc/apt/sources.{list,backup}
[sudo] password for username: 
'/etc/apt/sources.list' -> '/etc/apt/sources.backup'

username:~$ sudo sed -i 's/us.archive/old-releases/' /etc/apt/sources.list

```

the problematic sources.list file

```
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 12.04 _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20131017)]/ precise main restricted

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted

## 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://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/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://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/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://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security universe
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security universe
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/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 precise partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise 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
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-proposed restricted main multiverse universe

```