Ok. I have Debian Woody.

I did an apt-get install tomcat
The install wanted me to download ibm jdk and put it in /tmp.
However, I changed my mind and don't want tomcat.
So I do an apt-get remove --purge tomcat
However, whenever I try to do a install or upgrade, the IBM JDK is still listed as partially installed (because apt is waiting for me to download it) and I cannot get rid of it.

So my question is, how does one prevent apt-get from trying to complete a partial install?

Tried apt-get remove and dpkg -r to get rid of all traces of tomcat.

nevermind. fixed it.

apt-get -s -f install
tells you what apt-get wants to do. also lists the package that is hung

dpkg -r package-name
will remove the package.

problem solved.