I think I have reached a dead-end and may have to restore from partimage
backup.
I worked through Bob's recommendations:-
* apt-show-versions | grep -v -e uptodate -e linux-image -e keyring
* Uninstalled / removed any packages that were out of kilter with
the rest of the up-to-date system
* apt-get install deborphan
* orphaner
* dpkg -i --force-depends
/var/cache/apt/archives/libtext-iconv-perl_1.7-2_i386.deb
* apt-get -f install
* grep-status -sPackage -n -FStatus "deinstall ok config-files" >
remove_conf_files
* Edit remove_conf_files to read "dpkg --purge package1" etc.
* chmod +x remove_conf_files
* sh remove_conf_files
* apt-get -f install
* orphaner - all clear
* apt-get dist-upgrade
* E: Internal Error, Could not perform immediate configuration (2)
on dash
* dpkg -i --force-configure-any dash_0.5.5.1-7.4_i386.deb
o Selecting previously deselected package dash.
(Reading database ... 353817 files and directories currently
installed.)
Unpacking dash (from dash_0.5.5.1-7.4_i386.deb) ...
Adding `diversion of /bin/sh to /bin/sh.distrib by dash'
Adding `diversion of /usr/share/man/man1/sh.1.gz to
/usr/share/man/man1/sh.distrib.1.gz by dash'
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of dash:
dash depends on dpkg (>= 1.15.0); however:
Version of dpkg on system is 1.14.31.
dpkg: error processing dash (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for menu ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
dash
* orphaner
o deborphan: The status file is in an improper state.
One or more packages are marked as half-installed,
half-configured,
unpacked, triggers-awaited or triggers-pending. Exiting.
"deborphan" returned with error.
* apt-get -f install
o E: Internal Error, Could not perform immediate configuration
(1) on dash
+ Based on the error lines above:-
# "dash depends on dpkg (>= 1.15.0); however:
Version of dpkg on system is 1.14.31.
dpkg: error processing dash (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured"
+ I figured that I would try to force the installation
of dpkg_1.15.8.11_i386.deb
* apt-get -f install dpkg_1.15.8.11_i386.deb
* apt-get -f install
* apt-get dist-upgrade # After much activity, screeds of screen
scrolling and multiple DVD changes - bummer!^#^#*@*^
o Errors were encountered while processing:
/media/cdrom0//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
gnome-menus
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
* dpkg -i --force-depends
/media/cdrom0/pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
o Preparing to replace gnome-screensaver 2.22.2-2 (using
.../gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gnome-screensaver.prerm: 6:
gconf-schemas: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned
error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing
/media/cdrom0/pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
(--install):
there is no script in the new version of the package -
giving up
Errors were encountered while processing:
/media/cdrom0/pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
* apt-get -f install
o Preparing to replace gnome-screensaver 2.22.2-2 (using
.../gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gnome-screensaver.prerm: 6:
gconf-schemas: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned
error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
(--unpack):
there is no script in the new version of the package -
giving up
configured to not write apport reports
Errors were encountered while processing:
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
* orphaner
o deborphan: The status file is in an improper state.
One or more packages are marked as half-installed,
half-configured,
unpacked, triggers-awaited or triggers-pending. Exiting.
"deborphan" returned with error.
* apt-get -f remove gnome-screensaver
o Long list of package dependencies leading to the following
result:-
+ N: Ignoring file 'apt-build' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has no filename extension
N: Ignoring file 'winff.list.save' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has an invalid
filename extension
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with
no packages (or specify a solution).
* apt-get -f install
o Preparing to replace gnome-screensaver 2.22.2-2 (using
.../gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gnome-screensaver.prerm: 6:
gconf-schemas: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned
error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
(--unpack):
there is no script in the new version of the package -
giving up
configured to not write apport reports
Errors were encountered while processing:
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
N: Ignoring file 'apt-build' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has no filename extension
N: Ignoring file 'winff.list.save' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has an invalid filename
extension
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
* dpkg --clear-avail
* apt-get -f install
o Preparing to replace gnome-screensaver 2.22.2-2 (using
.../gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/gnome-screensaver.prerm: 6:
gconf-schemas: not found
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned
error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
(--unpack):
there is no script in the new version of the package -
giving up
configured to not write apport reports
Errors were encountered while processing:
/media/apt//pool/main/g/gnome-screensaver/gnome-screensaver_2.30.0-2squeeze1_i386.deb
N: Ignoring file 'apt-build' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has no filename extension
N: Ignoring file 'winff.list.save' in directory
'/etc/apt/sources.list.d/' as it has an invalid filename
extension
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
* "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat
it." - Spanish philosopher George Santayana
Dead-end (or realisation of 'endless loop') reached!
Any good suggestions please?
Unless any good suggestions are forth-coming, I will be forced to
restore from partimage backup, but this time I will clean up the system
as per Bob's previous suggestions BEFORE I start with the update /
upgrade (per method in my original request for assistance).
Thanking you in anticipation
Alex
P.S. If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion to the Debian
programmers / package maintainers, which may prevent so a trivial
package as a screensaver crashing an upgrade - would it be possible for
packages to get a priority rating per suggestion below:-
* System packages - Highest
priority # These installed with no exception and forced
overwriting of replaceable packages with built-in dependency fixing
* System utilities
* Office productivity packages
* Graphics and multimedia
* .
* .
* Games, screensavers & eye-candy packages etc.
- Lowest priority
o If there are dependency issues with these, then they are
ignored during the update / upgrade process. These can be
installed later using tools like aptitude / synaptic /
package manager after the updated / upgraded system, with a
basic GUI is already running in a stable manner. If the
user has been using script to create a script file for
debugging, then this could be a repository for a generated
list of packages to install later. Alternatively a log file
could be written to /root (from whence a stand alone upgrade
would normally be run) or user home (?), which root / user
could then be pointed to, in order to install these lowest
priority packages.
Not sure how possible it would be. As a non-programmer it doesn't sound
like "dark-energy" science (since nuclear science is 'fuked' thanks to
Fukashima) :-\ .
Thanks
Alex
