>> $ apt-get install some_package >> gets stuck in some bug in /var/lib/dpkg/info/some_package.postinst >> what is the proper way to back out until a newer version is available? C> Usually, edit the postinst script until it doesn't get stuck. I assume if one does not want to hack the system, the answer would be to find a earlier .deb, and use dpkg -i on it.