libc6 trying to overwrite lib64 apt-get error
 

I have a problem with apt-get and libc6.

Today I finally got some free time to try to get my new-ish Debian box set up. I was trying to install the nvidia driver and ran into lots of set-backs. The directions on the nvidia site didn't work (for me) so I tried to apt-get install all of the nvidia .deb files. Along the way I updated and upgraded the whole system with apt-get. I am not sure where things went wrong in all of that, but now apt-get won't do anything but complain about libc6.

Here is the relevant part that describes the problem from apt-get:

Preparing to replace libc6 2.3.2.ds1-18 (using libc6 2.3.2.ds1-19.0.0.1.pure64_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacemtn libc6 ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6 2.3.2.ds1-19.0.0.1.pure64_amd64.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite '/usr/lib64', which is also in package base-files
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libc6 2.3.2.ds1-19.0.0.1.pure64_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I am running Debian sid AMD64 port (on an AMD 3500+). I have searched the web for information or help but found nothing. I have tried
apt-get -f install
apt-get -u dselect-upgrade

I have tried to upgrade base-files. I have tried to downgrade libc6 (I know it isn't a good idea). And I have even tried to remove either libc6 or base-utils (probably a stupid move if it had worked). I have tried dozens of things for the past few hours and still get the same error messages. Can anyone give me some help in getting things back to normal?

I am responding to myself here.... I have managed to solve my problem (detailed above) so I thought I should write explain in case others have the same problem.

libc6 and base-files are very imporant packages so even if I could have removed either of them it would totally screw up my box and make it unworkable. The problem in my case is a bug where both of these packages are trying to update lib64. I found some information plus a solution at this link, along with the responses:

http://lists.debian.org/debian-amd64.../msg00366.html

Since I have a pure64 system it is safe to do a force-overwrite like this:

dpkg --force-overwrite -i /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.3.2.ds1-19.0.0.1.pure64_amd64.deb

(Actually the first time I typed this it didn't work - clumsy fingers perhaps. But the second time with tab-completion on the file name it worked.)

Hope this is clear enough.

I had the same problem on my machine a few days ago. The packages must have been recently updated, cause I did another apt-get dist-upgrade and it upgraded everything without the error.