Try this:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
then run:
sudo apt-get install vlc
you should get this output:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
fonts-freefont-ttf libaacs0 libbasicusageenvironment0 libbluray1 libcddb2
libcrystalhd3 libdvbpsi8 libebml4 libgnutls28 libgroupsock1 libhogweed2
libiso9660-8 liblivemedia23 liblua5.2-0 libmatroska6 libpostproc52
libproxy-tools libresid-builder0c2a libsdl-image1.2 libsdl1.2debian
libsidplay2 libssh2-1 libtar0 libupnp6 libusageenvironment1 libva-x11-1
libvcdinfo0 libvlc5 libvlccore7 libxcb-composite0 libxcb-randr0 vlc-data
vlc-nox vlc-plugin-notify vlc-plugin-pulse
Suggested packages:
libbluray-bdj firmware-crystalhd gnutls-bin videolan-doc
Recommended packages:
libdvdcss2
The following NEW packages will be installed:
fonts-freefont-ttf libaacs0 libbasicusageenvironment0 libbluray1 libcddb2
libcrystalhd3 libdvbpsi8 libebml4 libgnutls28 libgroupsock1 libhogweed2
libiso9660-8 liblivemedia23 liblua5.2-0 libmatroska6 libpostproc52
libproxy-tools libresid-builder0c2a libsdl-image1.2 libsdl1.2debian
libsidplay2 libssh2-1 libtar0 libupnp6 libusageenvironment1 libva-x11-1
libvcdinfo0 libvlc5 libvlccore7 libxcb-composite0 libxcb-randr0 vlc vlc-data
vlc-nox vlc-plugin-notify vlc-plugin-pulse
0 upgraded, 36 newly installed, 0 to remove and 5 not upgraded.
Need to get 14.9 MB of archives.
After this operation, 63.2 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
That should get VLC installed.
If you still get an error instead, then please post back the output.
Also post the contents of your /etc/apt/sources.list.
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Another alternative, is to show us the content in /var/lib/apt/lists/:
open a command prompt Ctrl+Alt+T
cd /var/lib/apt/lists/
ls
Is your 14.04 install a fresh install, or was in an upgrade from a previous version of Ubuntu?
Even if you uninstall and then reinstall vlc the configuration file can linger. This often gives unpredictable results. To eliminate this as a problem run the following 2 commands:
vlc --reset-config
vlc --reset-plugins-cache
This will reset you vlc configuration to the vlc defaults as well as resetting your plugins cache and may be enough to bring vlc back to life...
Best Answer
You should try running (in Terminal - launch Terminal with CTRL + ALT + T:
And then run: