If there are no further problems it takes only 2 minutes or so. After all you are not running PHP either I think.

However, one firm recommendation. You are running a server. Use Stable for that, not Testing, not Unstable. For desktop systems it is arguable to run a less mature system, after all you want to run recent packages to be compatible with the next audio format or the newest Flash. You don't need that for a server. And now already you are experiencing problems.

I dare to add a package to a production server when I run stable. This is unthinkable in Testing or Unstable. In two months you will suddenly be confronted with a new kernel version or a new libc if you want to install an Apache extension.

Swallow hard, and re-install with Stable now you just start with this server. Usually I am against re-installing, but now you have to. Downgrading is virtually impossible. Once again, install Stable on a production server.

jlinkels

i thought updating with "apt-get install" only fetches the last stable versions?
and that this is very important to do once in a while due to upcoming fixes for security issues discovered or whatever

you say i got this wrong?
thx

OK, I made a mistake. I thought you were the original poster. But that thread dates from 2004. The OP was taking about upgrading to Unstable etc., not you. You don't even use Debian, but Ubuntu.

No idea what happens in Ubuntu, sorry.

jlinkels

yeah
you kinda shocked me there

anyway - "After all you are not running PHP either I think" - yes, i do run php.
and i might have to reconfigure the whole apache stuff - so this might take more than just a few hours to reinstall
i really dont look forward to it... but if there really is no alternative

If you only "remove" a package instead of "purge" it your config files should be untouched. Anyway I'm sure your have a backup of your configuration: ;-)

Evo2.

interesting
then it shouldn't be too difficult

of course i have
but i still need to figure out how to display an offline site with "we are currently running server updates" etc if there is no apache running
any way to use a static html page on the same server? i guess not

especially as search bots might visit the website. and if they get nothing at all they might rate it down or whatever.
so a "503 Service Unavailable" would be probably a good way to signal them to come by later.

i have an A Record to my IP address of the virtual server
and my domain hoster does not provide any fallback here

[QUOTE=euromark;3810083
but i still need to figure out how to display an offline site with "we are currently running server updates" etc if there is no apache running
any way to use a static html page on the same server?[/QUOTE]
Sure, just install a very small http server like thttpd and run it while you are messing around with apache.

Cheers,

Evo2.

This is useful information to resolve the times when using aptitude to update and post-installation errors creep in.

This response is directed to Evo2, in post #20 you had stated that you assumed another member had a backup copy of the config. I have to admit I am new to Linux and I am currently using backtrack 4 pre final and I am definitely curious how you go about making a backup copy of the config. Thanks in advance!!

Hi,

Manual 'cp -r' would be a good starting point, however I use automated backups with the backuppc package.

Cheers,

Evo2.

Hi,

I've had the same problem with gnokii, removig /var/lib/dpkg/info/gnokii* files didn't help. The solution was to manually adit /var/lib/dpkg/statoverride and remove faulty line, which inn my case looked like this:

root gnokii 4750 /usr/sbin/mgnokiidev

good luck guys

Ok I had the same problem but it was probably due to unfinished extraction.While the machine was installing things,it froze.But in the end it was the same message.

I fixed it.I checked the archive where downloaded debs are stored for impending installation and it was nowhere.So I downloaded the deb and installed it through GDebi.In the end it just used the newly extracted post script.

Also i have ubuntu but i reckon it can be easily applied to Debian seeing that they are similar.

you can delete everything from: /var/lib/dpkg/info
or find the messed up packaged... ex "uw-imapd"

$rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/uw-imapd*

and then run
$apt-get upgarde

//Martin Dahl-Larsen

Thanks Ferel-Deb, worked great. Run 'sudo apt-get install -f' after you've deleted those files, then you should be sorted.

petemaxi

Thanks Feral-Deb! This took care of it for me as well. Sorry for reviving such an old thread. Just trying to give credit where it was due

My issue was with gdm.postinstall ( removing from ~/info fixed it ). I use LightDM anyway. Thats what I get for tinkering with KDM / GDM LOL