Removing "Failed-config" packages

[robin@cosby.demon.co.uk (Robin Cosby)]

I'm experiencing the following problem while using Woody installed on my
PC (2.4 kernel).

Dselect reports failed configurations in respect of two packages, bzip2
and gpm.  I am trying to remove them prior to attempting reinstallation,
but -- whether I use dselect, apt-get or dpkg -- I get the same reactions,
viz. (for example):
                    ********************
         
Removing bzip2 ...
install-info: No dir file specified
dpkg: error processing bzip2 (--purge)
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
install-info: No such file or directory for General Commands
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
bzip2
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

                    ********************

This text recurs each time I try to install other packages with
dselect.

Browsing through Google Groups, I see similar reports, some quite
old, but have so far not read of a definitive solution.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

TIA

--
Robin Cosby