Debian's apt-get is Messed up Badly. HELP!

[crazyox2]

AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get install unzip
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
gaim: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw6: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw7: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
xbase-clients: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get install xlibs
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 94 not upgraded.
12 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/1167kB of archives. After unpacking 98.3kB will be used.
(in cleanup) Can't call method "DESTROY" on an undefined value at /usr/lib/perl5/Debian/DebConf/Question.pm line 151 during global destruction.
(Reading database ... 38166 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace xlibs 4.0.1-7 (using .../xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xlibs ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults', which is also in package xscreensaver
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
AMD700:/home/justin#

What to do what to do?!?! Any suggestions? I can't install any (or remove) any packages because xlibs won't install itself. apt-get -f install xlibs does not work.

[BK1]

CrazyOx2, This looks very familiar. I was getting the same thing a couple of days ago. I had unstable in my sources.list. There may be another way to fix this, but I re-installed Debian and it's working well now. I've apt-get install'd a lot of apps since then. This probably doesn't help, but someone here will be able to.

------------------
The Hills of Defeat are covered with the bleached bones of those, who with victory in sight, paused to rest. Hurry up everytime you think about it.

[crazyox2]

Thanks. I'll wait until I exhaust my options completely before re-installing. This has to be fixable. I don't want to lose all my configs http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[stiles]

You may want to try to get X to reinstall so all your X componets are the same and new (to meet your dependency issues).

apt-get --reinstall install task-x-window-system



[This message has been edited by stiles (edited 28 December 2000).]

[pipe]

chumleyox, did you try:

apt-get -f install

then:

dpkg --configure -a

http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

Should you decide at some point to reinstall (boo! hiss!), tar and gzip /home/justin to another partition for safe keeping so you can restore your configs with minimal hassle.

[This message has been edited by pipe (edited 28 December 2000).]

[crazyox2]

Heya guys. I can't reinstall the X-window system by apt-get because I installed it from the tarballs. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/frown.gif But I'm trying pipe's recommendation right now. I will not reinstall without a MAJOR fight! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks guys!

[crazyox2]

I'm having a hard time pasting the log of what happened when I tried it. Mozilla is messing up. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/eek.gif

I'll try my best though to make it understandable.

[crazyox2]

AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get -f install
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
xlibs
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 94 not upgraded.12 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/1167kB of archives. After unpacking 98.3kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(in cleanup) Can't call method "DESTROY" on an undefined value at /usr/lib/perl5/Debian/DebConf/Question.pm line 151 during global destruction.
(Reading database ... 38166 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace xlibs 4.0.1-7 (using .../xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xlibs ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults', which is also in package xscreensaver
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb

[crazyox2]

E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
AMD700:/home/justin# dpkg --configure -a
Setting up libfreetype6 (2.0.1-1) ...

Setting up esound-common (0.2.22-2) ...
(in cleanup) Can't call method "DESTROY" on an undefined value at /usr/lib/perl5/Debian/DebConf/Question.pm line 151 during global destruction.

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of gaim:
gaim depends on xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11); however:
Version of xlibs on system is 4.0.1-7.
dpkg: error processing gaim (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up cpp (2.95.2-20) ...

Setting up libperl5.6 (5.6.0-6) ...

Setting up xfree86-common (4.0.1pre2.RC4-1) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libxaw6:
libxaw6 depends on xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11); however:
Version of xlibs on system is 4.0.1-7.
dpkg: error processing libxaw6 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libxaw7:

[This message has been edited by crazyox2 (edited 28 December 2000).]

[This message has been edited by crazyox2 (edited 28 December 2000).]

[crazyox2]

libxaw7 depends on xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11); however:
Version of xlibs on system is 4.0.1-7.
dpkg: error processing libxaw7 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xbase-clients:
xbase-clients depends on libxaw7 (>= 4.0.1-1); however:
Package libxaw7 is not configured yet.
xbase-clients depends on xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11); however:
Version of xlibs on system is 4.0.1-7.
dpkg: error processing xbase-clients (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libesd0 (0.2.22-2) ...

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xlib6g:
xlib6g depends on libxaw6; however:
Package libxaw6 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing xlib6g (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libutahglx1:
libutahglx1 depends on xlib6g (>= 3.3.6-4); however:
Package xlib6g is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libutahglx1 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
gaim
libxaw6
libxaw7

[crazyox2]

xbase-clients
xlib6g
libutahglx1

[crazyox2]

AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get install gaim
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
gaim: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw6: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw7: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
xbase-clients: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installedE: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get -f install
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
xlibs
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 94 not upgraded.
6 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/1167kB of archives. After unpacking 98.3kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(in cleanup) Can't call method "DESTROY" on an undefined value at /usr/lib/perl5/Debian/DebConf/Question.pm line 151 during global destruction.
(Reading database ... 38166 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace xlibs 4.0.1-7 (using .../xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xlibs ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb (--unpack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults', which is also in package xscreensaver
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/xlibs_4.0.2-1_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
AMD700:/home/justin#


[This message has been edited by crazyox2 (edited 28 December 2000).]

[crazyox2]

Is my perl installation messed up? Something a while back happened where the sym links of my perl installation got deleted/moved/messed up somehow. Someone had me relink my links, and everything has been normal for about 2 months. Has something gone awry with my perl installation again?

[Ig0r]

crazyox: if you MUST reinstall, make sure you backup your /home stuff on a tape or something and when you reinstall repartition and make a seperate 1-2gig partition for /home. This saves a LOT of headaches if something major screws up and you must reinstall again.
This is one reason why I prefer *nix over windows, all user files/configs are in one place so it's easy to backup and restore.

[crazyox2]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I just got a new 27 gig harddrive, so I need to partition it correctly and stuff.

[stiles]

here's (http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/Forum4/HTML/008207.html) a link on the perl question (I just checked and this link broke on me today also).

[pipe]

crazyox, I was just over at irc.openprojects.net #debian. This was in the topic and I'm not sure how to translate it but it sounds like the problem your having:

"xlibs 4.0.2 works, erase package with app-defaults & reinstall it (timmay)"

Erase package with app-defaults?

This 'timmay' is not there and I had no luck getting a reply. Like the broken perl-5.6 links, this is probably a simple fix, we just have to find it. Hang in there.

[pipe]

From your log above:


trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/app-defaults', which is also in package xscreensaver

try doing:

apt-get remove --purge xscreensaver and then see if xlibs will install.

I thought the correct location for app-defaults was now /etc/X11/app-defaults.

[This message has been edited by pipe (edited 28 December 2000).]

[crazyox2]

AMD700:/home/justin# apt-get remove --purge xscreensaver
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
gaim: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw6: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
libxaw7: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
xbase-clients: Depends: xlibs (>= 4.0.1-11) but 4.0.1-7 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a soluton).
AMD700:/home/justin#

I've tried apt-get update to see if a new version of xlibs wanted to be downloaded, but it didn't. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/frown.gif

[crazyox2]

Thanks for all the help guys. I will fight this Random Destruction of Linux tooth and chumley! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[crazyox2]

I fixed the problem myself. Yayy!! I decided that app-defaults was being wierd on me, so I moved it (backed it up of course). A new one was created, and I have no problems using apt-get anymore. Except one!:

AMD700:/usr/X11R6/lib/X11# apt-get install xmms
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 99 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/1124kB of archives. After unpacking 630kB will be used.
(in cleanup) Can't call method "DESTROY" on an undefined value at /usr/lib/perl5/Debian/DebConf/Question.pm line 151 during global destruction.
(Reading database ... 38175 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace xmms 1.2.3-helix1 (using .../xmms_1.2.4-helix1_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement xmms ...
Setting up xmms (1.2.4-helix1) ...

AMD700:/usr/X11R6/lib/X11#

Notice the program error. What does this mean? I can't tell if it affects anything or not. I'm just issued an apt-get upgrade, and I'm getting 176kb/s, so it'll be done in just a jiffy. I'll wait before I post this to test if the problem has gone away with an apt-get upgrade.

.
.
.
.
.

Ok, apt-get upgrade is done. Success!!!!! No more problems!! The problem is fixed! Yayy!! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[BK1]

Wow,
Great job CrazyOx2.
I like your solution a lot better than mine. If not already, this ought to be put in a HowTo or FAQ somewhere.
Just wanted to say congrats.

[pipe]

crazyox sez:
I will fight this Random Destruction of Linux tooth and chumley!

ROTFL!!

crazyox stares into the gaping maw of the angry penguin, throws down his best Chumley Fu, and emerges victorious!

To Those Following This Thread:

1. Note how crazyox provided detailed information of his problem and the generated errors.

2. Followed up with the results different suggestions he received.

3. Again, followed up with what he did to fix the problem.

4. Gave props to all who had taken an interest in the problem.

That's how we learn. There are so many open-ended tech threads out there where the person asking for help never follows up and noone knows the outcome or learns from the experience.

Nicely done, crazyox!

[ColdPack]

Good show dear OX!
I am a debian user and followed this thread closely in case something similar happens to me sometime. Nice thread to reference in the future.
Good luck!

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Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake
when you make it again.
_- Franklin P. Jones