every time I try to install something it fails

Originally Posted by cynwulf Get rid of those three:

# dpkg -r libapache-mod-ssl libdb4.4 libplrpc-perl

> dpkg -r libapache-mod-ssl libdb4.4 libplrpc-perl
(Reading database ... 87793 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing libapache-mod-ssl ...
Removing libdb4.4 ...
Removing libplrpc-perl ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Dialog
debconf: (TERM is not set, so the dialog frontend is not usable.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Readline
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Readline
debconf: (This frontend requires a controlling tty.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Teletype

Then lets see if a standard upgrade will run

# apt-get clean ; apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

I did so, and it hanged up as told in earlier posts (of some reason I cannot see the post #) see at Yesterday 10:53 AM.In ohter words, it is empty, not text' comming up and the and the circle in the browser window indicates it is working.

Well now your broken packages are gone and dependencies should be fixable, run:

# dpkg --configure -a

Also

$ apt-get -sf install

Originally Posted by cynwulf Well now your broken packages are gone and dependencies should be fixable, run: # dpkg --configure -a Also $ apt-get -sf install

Output from apt-get -sf install ..

stdin: is not a tty
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libdevel-symdump-perl libnet-daemon-perl libbsd-resource-perl libperl5.10
  libtommath0
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 66 not upgraded.

Ok broken dependencies seem fixed

Run the first command and post the output

Originally Posted by EmaRsk apt-get -f install needs an argument! I suggest that you use aptitude in interactive mode (that is, run aptitude as root, with no arguments). It's the most powerful tool for packages administration. It has a built-in manual that you WILL need to read. The learning curve is a bit steep but you will be well rewarded.

apt-get -f install

is a complete command to attempt to fix any broken packages.

I would be trying aptitude too. This is just the sort of mess it is so good at.

Originally Posted by widget apt-get -f install is a complete command to attempt to fix any broken packages.

Yes, my bad. It looked suspicious to me, and the man page seemed to confirm my wrong impression.
I stand corrected.

Originally Posted by cynwulf Ok broken dependencies seem fixed Run the first command and post the output

Hi cynwulf. Thank you for all your engagement into solving my problem (and thanks to all others comming with suggestions !). I'll stick to you for the moment. Anyhow, I haven' fully followed you instructions because I became impatient when you left on Friday and kept on by my own. I did

# dpkg --configure -a

and I understood the result as I could continue so I then did

# apt-get -sf install

As a result I could also install all other packages, so all 66 pending packages have been instlled without problems. Almost, because after having done

apt-get -sf install

I had the answer below:

Output from apt-get -sf install ..

stdin: is not a tty
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  libdevel-symdump-perl libnet-daemon-perl libbsd-resource-perl libperl5.10
  libtommath0
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 66 not upgraded.

and 'apt-get autoremove' does not work because when writing 'yes' on the question if I want to continue, nothing happends, it hangs, and I finally have to breake: in other words, nothing is removed.

An other issue: In webmin, under 'System Information' it says:'2 updates to system packages are available. Use the Virtualmin Package Updates module to install them selectively.' but when I go to 'Virtualmin Package Updates' there is nothing to update. What is this?

No idea why it's still hanging. You could try reinstalling apt just to be sure that it's not corrupted. Just manually download the apt package for the correct release and architecture from packages.debian.org, purge the existing apt with dpkg and install it again. Then see if that resolves it - beyond that no idea.

Someone else should have a clue, but failing that try one of the debian forums or mailing lists.

Hello again,

Sorry for being away for a while, I had to do some "normal" work. I just noted I had this message from $dpkg --purge apt

So there is still some mess. Any idea about how to proceed?

Output from dpkg --purge apt ..

stdin: is not a tty
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of apt:
 reportbug depends on apt.
 apt-show-versions depends on apt.
 apt-listchanges depends on apt (>= 0.5.3).
 python-reportbug depends on apt.
 apt-utils depends on libapt-pkg4.10; however:
  Package libapt-pkg4.10 is not installed.
  Package apt which provides libapt-pkg4.10 is to be removed.
 python-apt depends on libapt-pkg4.10; however:
  Package libapt-pkg4.10 is not installed.
  Package apt which provides libapt-pkg4.10 is to be removed.
 libept1 depends on libapt-pkg4.10; however:
  Package libapt-pkg4.10 is not installed.
  Package apt which provides libapt-pkg4.10 is to be removed.
 aptitude depends on libapt-pkg4.10; however:
  Package libapt-pkg4.10 is not installed.
  Package apt which provides libapt-pkg4.10 is to be removed.
 libapt-pkg-perl depends on libapt-pkg4.10; however:
  Package libapt-pkg4.10 is not installed.
  Package apt which provides libapt-pkg4.10 is to be removed.
dpkg: error processing apt (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 apt

I have solved the problem. I went for an upgrade to 7 so I really had to dig into the problem to clean up the packages before I made the upgrade. I figured out how to connect by Putty and there I purged all faulty packages by using dpkg --purge and apt-get purge. Then I reinstalled everything I needed. When I tested the sytem all was fine and then I Went for the upgrade to 7 and today everything is fine.

I would like to say thank you to all of you who tried to find a solution for me.

Bye for now !