@kaz - yes I understand that, I always start my answers with pointing the source list to the version you want

@kaz -- you forgot the third command in the update sequence sudo apt-get dist-upgrade the three commands together is the same a do-distrubution-upgrade, except you get to choose which version you upgrade too .... however I do see that sudo apt-get dist-upgrade has been depreciated in favor of sudo apt-get full-upgrade

@zaanna -- how do you embed links in text?

@wineunuchs2unix -- I agre with that. one reason I left window was that I was tired of half finished software being released. the other is tht they were getting to "big brother". I don't want my home computer login checking my email or sending everything to drop box, etc. my "services are separate and I want them that way."

I can't find where but someone mentioned "experienced users" I'd like to mention that I was programming FORTRAN in 10th grade( I started on tandy TSR), and have been messing with computers for 38 years. my current system is debian 8.8 cinnamon. the the last week I have installed built and broke 5 systems trying to get an effective upgrade to deb 9 while holding plasma and kde at 4. however plasma5 is proving to be too integrated into base system to do an effective partial upgrade.

@wineunuuchs2unix thanks for that information. though do-distrobution-upgrade will still take him to 17.04

to complex for someone?? maybe but state that, don't say it is wrong, when it isn't

@user68186 -- the documentation Rob keeps pointing me to supports my method fully and indicates that it will work in all situations as it puts the efi nvram back in the state it was in when the manufaturer first booted it, except now grub is the loader not windows.

a bootloader update is very rare, as compaired to windows telling efi to put 0000 fist n the boot order, which it does everytime you run it. yes I agree the better uefi implementations don't even need the default path on the internal drive (my current computer scans /efi for boot programs and automatically populates the boot option menu). but almost always when the OP say" after running windows I only get windows" my fix is needed

yes, I rechecked, the one I linked the OP asked specifically how to do using my method. I tried to help him get around by mentioning he needed to point to xenial repo. but he got the same error. ( a package break in the mirror maybe) meaning do-disrtobution-upgrade would give him the same error also

his title said "how to upgade 14.04 to 16.04?" or am I mixing up another question where I was also deleted

he wanted 16.04, not 17.04. I have read the manual. it does if you point to the right repo. it also seems to lack the problem of dependency chain removing complete desktops as the autoupdate has done to me several times nor does it remove my third party apps as auto update usually does.

that method works for any version ..... as pointed out in the discussion, the OP didn't want 17.10 which is what ~do-distrobution-upgrade will give him. 16,04 is almost EOL I believe. not only did I research it, I have done it many times.

if you point you sources to the repo of the version you want (ie xenial) then sudo apt-get dist-upgrade will give you xenial. what I explain is given in the ubuntu manual as I also linked. that answer wasn't but it was in other questions and is always flagged down by Rob. watch it and see if it doesn't get deleted a few days

thank you for your reply, but my answers did not fit any of those catagories

none of your example fit my case