dpkg error when trying to install any new packages

[brewerz]

First, thanks for all the info!  I really appreciate the informational response.

I tried a shortcut by copying "/dev/null >" to a new blank "File" file, then used vi to copy the default Linux Lite "File" text that you posted.  Now, the "File" looks better:  -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1713 Jun  5 07:12 File

Now I am getting a different error when I try to install updates or banshee:

dpkg: warning: files list file for package 'software-properties-gtk' missing; assuming package has no files currently installed
dpkg: warning: files list file for package 'multiarch-support' missing; assuming package has no files currently installed
dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting:
unable to open files list file for package `guile-2.0-libs': No such device or address
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

I haven't rebooted the OS yet... not sure if it will do anything, but that's my next step.