debconf error

[Martin Wegmann <mailinglist.wegmann@gmx.net>]

Hello, 

I tried to install software:

apt-get install alsa

prompted 

Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3807.
Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3808.
Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3809.
Use of uninitialized value in hash element at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/DbDriver/File.pm line 51, <$__ANONIO__> chunk 3809.
E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?

when tying to install debconf i get

Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3806.
Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3807.
Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3808.
Use of uninitialized value in substitution (s///) at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/Format/822.pm line 57, <$__ANONIO__> line 3809.
Use of uninitialized value in hash element at 
/usr/share/perl5/Debconf/DbDriver/File.pm line 51, <$__ANONIO__> chunk 3809.


when downloading debconf-english 1.3.8

and install it with

 dpkg -i debconf-english_1.3.8_all.deb

I get

diversion file has too long lines or EOF [i]


how do I solve that?

thanks in advance, cheers Martin