Can't install (or remove) xserver-xfree86
I am trying to install X 4.0 on my (newly installed) debian 2.2.18-pre21-ide
system. I've got it partially-working after creating the missing
/etc/X11/X link (I get a window with a primitive xterm and an X cursor
using startx, but no pop-up menus and it doesn't launch with gdm). The
primary problem is the xserver-xfree86 package configuration during
installation failed. Now I am in limbo: It won't let me re-install
xserver-xfree86, because it thinks the current version is up-to-date. But
it won't let me remove it, and try again either. Here's what happens if I
try to install, using dpkg:
# dpkg install xserver-xfree86
Reading Package Lists...
Building Dependency Tree...
Sorry, xserver-xfree86 is already the newest version.
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
Setting up xserver-xfree86 (4.0.2-7) ...
dpkg: error processing xserver-xfree86 (--configure):
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
xserver-xfree86
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
#
And if I try to remove it, again using dpkg:
# dpkg remove xserver-xfree86
Reading Package Lists...
Building Dependency Tree...
The following packages will be REMOVED:
xserver-xfree86
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 11.6MB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] (Reading database ... 20414 files and
directories currently installed.)
Removing xserver-xfree86 ...
dpkg: error processing xserver-xfree86 (--remove):
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 10
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
xserver-xfree86
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
How does one proceed from here? I've tried various --force-things, and
--fix-broken and --force-yes in apt-get, all to no avail.
--Ray
rayz@toto.csustan.edu
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