You can replace it with a backup, see /var/backup/dpkg.status.* or /var/lib/dpkg/status-old. In any case I don't think that dpkg is responsible of the file corruption.
** Changed in: dpkg (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/659477 Title: synaptic and apt-get fail with dpkg error To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+bug/659477/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs