dpkg can't remove a package, dependency problems

AncientPC · 03-11-2009, 04:03 PM

When installing a package (hugs) through apt-get my laptop had a kernel panic and I had to do a hard reset. Upon starting up, I ran fsck all the partitions (jfs) and rebooted into Ubuntu.

However hugs was unconfigured and can't be installed / removed. I tried an apt-get purge and dpkg --configure -a / dpkg --remove -f hugs but the error message in all cases is:

Code:

root@core:/var/lib/aptitude# dpkg --remove hugs
(Reading database ... 161721 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing hugs ...
dpkg (subprocess): unable to execute pre-removal script: Exec format error
dpkg: error processing hugs (--remove):
 subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 2
dpkg (subprocess): unable to execute post-installation script: Exec format error
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
 hugs

How do I get around the pre-removal script and force dpkg to remove hugs?

farslayer · 03-11-2009, 04:18 PM

Did you try forcing a reinstall over top of the package ?

apt-get -f install
or
apt-get -f install hugs

other options are listed here:
http://www.linux.com/feature/48910

If you get it to complete the installation you should then be able to remove it.

AncientPC · 03-11-2009, 06:45 PM

Well I'm having trouble installing/removing it either way, but forcing the install doesn't work. One of the dependency libraries was corrupt so I cleared all the cached packages and reran the command. Now the error is "dpkg: unable to execute post-install script: Exec format error"

Code:

root@core:~# aptitude install -f hugs
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information      
Initializing package states... Done
The following partially installed packages will be configured:
  hugs 
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Writing extended state information... Done
Setting up hugs (98.200609.21-5) ...
dpkg (subprocess): unable to execute post-installation script: Exec format error
dpkg: error processing hugs (--configure):
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
 hugs
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install.  Trying to recover:
Reading package lists... Done             
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information      
Initializing package states... Done

farslayer · 03-11-2009, 08:32 PM

Did you look at the link I provided ? it has other options as well for working past these issues..

You should have posted this thread in the Debian forum, it might have got more exposure that way to some of the more advance Debian users, who might not notice the post here.. just for future reference.

AncientPC · 03-12-2009, 01:40 AM

Yes, the link was very helpful and informative. However despite trying all the suggestions I still cannot install / remove the hugs package. It doesn't help that there are no other versions to force a downgrade (but even then the remove script would probably crap out).