incomplete package installation

[Thomas Krichel <T.Krichel@surrey.ac.uk>]

  Folks,

  I blew it. I tried to install packages before the swap was working :-(
  Some packages are fine, but others could not be installed without
  the swap, the process stopped in the middle.
  Now when I install on such packages:

bash# dpkg --install binary/emacs*
(Reading database ... 17070 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace emacs (using binary/emacs-19.29-4.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement emacs ...
install-info: failed to lock dir for editing! File exists
install-info: failed to lock dir for editing! File exists

  this repeats 10 times, then appears:

dpkg: warning - old post-removal script returned error exit status 2
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
install-info: failed to lock dir for editing! File exists

  this repeats10 times, then appears:

dpkg: error processing binary/emacs-19.29-4.deb (--install):
 subprocess new post-removal script returned error exit status 2
install-info: failed to lock dir for editing! File exists

  this repeats10 times, then appears:

dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-removal script returned error exit status 2

  If I try to remove emacs it complains

bash# cd ; dpkg --purge emacs 
dpkg: error processing emacs (--purge):
 Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal.
Errors were encountered while processing:
 emacs


  I am stuck!


  Thomas Krichel                               mailto:T.Krichel@surrey.ac.uk
                                  http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Economics/tkrichel