Some body are using Ubuntu 10.10 (Aka maverick) may meet the problem
E: Unable to locate package xxx
if you were trying to install new software thur "sudo apt-get install xxx".
That means Ubuntu 10.10 software sources are not available any more.
One way to make it happen is to change sources.
Open your favorite editor and edit /etc/apt/sources.list
Change domain name to "old-releases.ubuntu.com" (below is mine)
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick-backports main restricted universe multiverse
Tested and it works (2013, Jan 30)
Wish it can helpful!