I am stuck in some kind of limbo state while trying to fix my mysql installation.

I had mysql server 5.0 working first. when it start to have trouble, I tried reinstallation. it keeps failiing. I tried to downgrade to 4.1, still fails. I tried remove everything, but nothing works. the error is

debian:/var/cache/apt/archives# apt-get install mysql-server
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
mysql-server-4.1
The following NEW packages will be installed
mysql-server mysql-server-4.1
0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/17.2MB of archives.
After unpacking 38.4MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 21385 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking mysql-server-4.1 (from .../mysql-server-4.1_4.1.15-1_i386.deb) ...
Aborting downgrade from (at least) 5.0 to 4.1.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-4.1_4.1.15-1_i386.de b (--unpack):
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Selecting previously deselected package mysql-server.
Unpacking mysql-server (from .../mysql-server_4.1.15-1_all.deb) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-4.1_4.1.15-1_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

is there anyway to save this linux installation without starting from scratch? it took about two days worth of work to get to its current state.

First, I'd try apt-get clean, apt-get update, apt-get install mysql-server.

If this creates the same error try a different release. Eg if you use stable, try testing.

no, won't budge. and not a hint shows up in /var/log/messages.
when you say try testing if stable, you mean restart linux install from scratch? that's what I am trying to avoid.

Can you post your /etc/apt/sources.list? Maybe that will shed some light.

I looks like 5.0 is still installed. Have you tried purging it first, then installing 4.1?

apt-cache policy mysql-server to see what version is currently insatalled, and from which branch..

oh, something worked there.

I did a dpkg -P mysql-server

then installed 5.0 directly
apt-get install mysql-server-5.0

this time, it installed ok, and mysql server started running.

I did all these before and couldn't get it to work. still don't know what's the differnece this time. but the linux installation and two days of time are saved. thanks a million to all!