On Mon, 18 Jun 2001, Iain wrote: > I seem to have put the dpkg database into a bad state. > I was attempting to install phpgroupware from unstable onto a potato system. > Anyway somewhere along the installation process it screwed up so I tried to > remove > it. > > dpkg -r phpgroupware > > gives the following: > > dpkg: error processing phpgroupware (--remove): > Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should > reinstall it before attempting a removal. > Errors were encountered while processing: > phpgroupware > > Reinstalling it gives the following: > > Selecting previously deselected package phpgroupware. > (Reading database ... 16354 files and directories currently installed.) > Preparing to replace phpgroupware 0.9.10v-6 (using > phpgroupware_0.9.10v-6_all.deb) > ... > Unpacking replacement phpgroupware ... > dpkg: warning - old post-removal script returned error exit status 10 > dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ... > dpkg: error processing phpgroupware_0.9.10v-6_all.deb (--install): > subprocess new post-removal script returned error exit status 10 > dpkg: error while cleaning up: > subprocess post-removal script returned error exit status 10 > Errors were encountered while processing: > phpgroupware_0.9.10v-6_all.deb
Hmmm, there should be something in the "..." bit that tells you what the actual problem is, and (about?) which line of the post-removal script is causing the problem -- comment out that line (in /var/lib/dpkg/info/phpgroupware.postrm) and try using the pkg mgt tools again (make note of what the line is supposed to do, just in case you need to do it manually). As a last resort, or if it is a small (few files) package, you can manually remove it: - run any necessary commands from the pre and post removal scripts - rm all the files listed in /var/lib/pkg/info/phpgroupware.list that do not also belong to another software package - edit out the entry for phpgroupware in /var/lib/dpkg/status > I have tried dpkg -r --force-remove-reinstreq phpgroupware > > but it doesn't work either. > > Is there some way I can get things back to normal? Please help. There are usually a few options, but without seeing the full text of the messages you are getting it is tough to say which is the best fix. HTH - Bruce
