SOLVED - was actually a filesystem problem. We use ubuntu virtual servers at rackspace, their system boots images even if there are problems with the filesystem (inode corruption!).
i did a 'rescue' boot of the system, repaired the filesystem, retried the update aove and all was fine. ** Changed in: openssl (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/933029 Title: unable to update libssl-dev on maverick To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/openssl/+bug/933029/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs