Hi.

I installed the 'bootsplash' package using the normal 'apt-get install bootsplash' command, then decided I don't like it. So I tried removing it with 'apt-get remove bootsplash' as per normal, and when I do I get the following (as root):

Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
bootsplash bootsplash-theme-deflorist bootsplash-theme-newlinux
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 3 to remove and 53 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 2183kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
(Reading database ... 87476 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing bootsplash-theme-deflorist ...
dpkg: error processing bootsplash-theme-deflorist (--remove):
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 10
Removing bootsplash-theme-newlinux ...
dpkg: error processing bootsplash-theme-newlinux (--remove):
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 10
dpkg: bootsplash: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you request:
bootsplash-theme-newlinux depends on bootsplash (>= 3.0.0).
bootsplash-theme-deflorist depends on bootsplash (>= 3.0.0).
Removing bootsplash ...
update-rc.d: /etc/init.d/bootsplash exists during rc.d purge (continuing)
Errors were encountered while processing:
bootsplash-theme-deflorist
bootsplash-theme-newlinux
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

...and it doesn't uninstall properly. Why? I get similar messages when trying to reinstall it again. Can anyone help?

...I assume by the complete lack of responses to this post that nobody knows how to fix it?

you see all kind of funny people everyday

The way to fix it is to remove debian and install a distro that makes sense, like Slackware. I had the same problem, no one in debian community could help me, either. Apt-get breaks at the drop of a hat. Then you are in big trouble, as you can't do anything but install from source anyway. You might as well just start with Slack and avoid the headaches and stupid attitudes like in above post.

you should modify the prerm scripts located under
/var/lib/dpkg/info/bootsplash-theme-*.prerm and comment out the
line with db_unregister. after that you should do an apt-get remove
--purge ".*bootsplash.*"

Let me know if this solved it for you, otherwise we'll find your solution

@Slackhack: If you dislike the Debian community that much, stop bothering us with useless posts nobody is waiting for.

Thanks powadha, I did try that and it worked. I found the solution after a LOT of searching and it was the same one you just suggested. I probably should have posted my solution but I didn't get around to it...

The problem seems to be with the install/remove scripts in bootsplash, and not with apt-get as slackass seems to suggest... although I do happen to like slackware too.

Nice to see that you solved it, and indeed there is nothing wrong with Slackware in anyway!

Funny how you say that to me after I offer constructive advice, but you don't say it to mrcheeks for his very "useful" post making fun of the first person that sat there for weeks without anyone saying anything.

That just proves to me how illogical and nasty the debian people are. One person makes fun of the original poster and no one says anything, then weeks later another person is attacked for offering some advice. You would never get that kind of response in the Slack forums. It seems like the only way to get help for weeks in debian is for someone to say something about debian.

As far as I know this is a public forum though, so as long as no one here offers anyone any help or suggestions for weeks, I will feel free to suggest they try Slackware, where they are 99% sure to get lots of help and no nasty attitudes.

First off, telling somebody to throw away there current distribution and install another one for a problem with such a simple solution is NOT constructive advice. Those kind of posts usually serve as nothing more then an annoyance to the person asking the question.

Secondly, both Slackhack and MrCheeks posts are equally worthless.

Lets try and stay on topic in the future.


John