FW: Re: How can I force a package to be removed, even if it is in a "bad state" ?

[stan]

On Sat, Apr 16, 2011 at 11:55:18PM -0400, Verde Denim wrote:
> On Sat, Apr 16, 2011 at 10:34 PM, stan <stanb at panix.com> wrote:
> 
> > I atempted to upgrade a really old machine today, and I am now having a
> > problem.
> >
> > After the system rebooted I tryed to do an apt-get upgrade, and I am
> > getting a message that says the the package flashplugin-nonfree is in a bad
> > state, and I should reinstall it beore procedng. But nothing I try with
> > apt-get, or dpkg seems to fix this.
> >
> > How can I correct this?
> >
> > Stan
> 
> What version is the 'really old' machine running currently?

karmmic.

> 
> I know that dpkg can force removal of a package with
> sudo dpkg --force-all -r flashplugin-nonfree
> 
> but have you tried to correct it with 'sudo apt-get install
> flashplugin-nonfree --reinstall first?

When I try this, I get an error about a dependency on
flashplugin-installer, which is not going to be installed. When I ad that
to the list of packages to be installed, I get an error from dpkg --remove.


Here is a typescript of what happens when I try thge first:


Script started on Sun 17 Apr 2011 10:18:34 AM EDT
dpkg --force-all -r flashplugin-nonfree
dpkg: warning: overriding problem because --force enabled:
 Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal.
(Reading database ... (Reading database ... 5%(Reading database ... 10%(Reading database ... 15%(Reading database ... 20%(Reading database ... 25%(Reading database ... 30%(Reading database ... 35%(Reading database ... 40%(Reading database ... 45%(Reading database ... 50%(Reading database ... 55%(Reading database ... 60%(Reading database ... 65%(Reading database ... 70%(Reading database ... 75%(Reading database ... 80%(Reading database ... 85%(Reading database ... 90%(Reading database ... 95%(Reading database ... 100%(Reading database ... 464087 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing flashplugin-nonfree ...
update-alternatives: error: no alternatives for iceape-flashplugin.
update-alternatives: error: no alternatives for iceape-flashplugin.
dpkg: error processing flashplugin-nonfree (--remove):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 2
postinst called with argument `abort-remove'
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 flashplugin-nonfree
root at ubuntu:~# exit

Script done on Sun 17 Apr 2011 10:19:25 AM EDT

Any thoughts as to how I cna fix this without totally re-installing, which
I really do not want to do!

> 
> Regards
> 
> Jack
> 
> --
> > A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
> > Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
> > A: Top-posting.
> > Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> >

-- 
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?