problem upgrading texlive-base in sid missing modes file which is input by /usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/config/mf.ini

[Mitchell Laks <mlaks@post.harvard.edu>]

Hi,
I am running sid and 
I am trying to upgrade 

and 

it wants to instal texlive-base
which is version number 
2009-14
and  i have troubles with 

texlive-base
 texlive-latex-base
 feynmf
 texlive-fonts-recommended
 texlive-latex-recommended
 texlive
 texlive-generic-recommended
 texlive-luatex
 texlive-metapost
 texlive-pictures

thus i get messages


Errors were encountered while processing:
 texlive-base
 texlive-latex-base
 feynmf
 texlive-fonts-recommended
 texlive-latex-recommended
 texlive
 texlive-generic-recommended
 texlive-luatex
 texlive-metapost
 texlive-pictures


the essential problem is getting texlive-base to install

Setting up texlive-base (2009-14) ...
Running mktexlsr. This may take some time... done.
Building format(s) --all --cnffile /etc/texmf/fmt.d/10texlive-base.cnf.
	 This may take some time... 
fmtutil-sys failed. Output has been stored in
/tmp/fmtutil.YlE9vwqh
Please include this file if you report a bug.

---------------------------------------

so here is the end of that file

Transcript written on pdftex.log.
fmtutil: /var/lib/texmf/web2c/pdftex/pdftex.fmt installed.
fmtutil: running `mf-nowin -ini   -jobname=mf -progname=mf -translate-file=cp227.tcx mf.ini' ...
This is METAFONT, Version 2.718281 (TeX Live 2009/Debian) (INIMF)
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/web2c/cp227.tcx)
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/config/mf.ini
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/base/plain.mf
Preloading the plain base, version 2.71: preliminaries,
 basic constants and mathematical macros,
 macros for converting from device-independent units to pixels,
 macros and tables for various modes of operation,
 macros for drawing and filling,
 macros for proof labels and rules,
 macros for character and font administration,
and a few last-minute items.)
kpathsea: Running mktexmf modes

! I can't find file `modes'.
l.3 \input modes
                
Please type another input file name: 
! Emergency stop.
l.3 \input modes
                
Transcript written on mf.log.

---------------
and then  here is the corresponding contents  of the fmutils.3878/mf.log file

-------------------------------

This is METAFONT, Version 2.718281 (TeX Live 2009/Debian) (INIMF)  28 OCT 2011 14:39
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/web2c/cp227.tcx)
**mf.ini
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/config/mf.ini
(/usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/base/plain.mf
Preloading the plain base, version 2.71: preliminaries,
 basic constants and mathematical macros,
 macros for converting from device-independent units to pixels,
 macros and tables for various modes of operation,
 macros for drawing and filling,
 macros for proof labels and rules,
 macros for character and font administration,
and a few last-minute items.)
! I can't find file `modes'.
l.3 \input modes
                
Please type another input file name: 
! Emergency stop.
l.3 \input modes
                
End of file on the terminal!


/tmp/fmtutil.3878/mf.log (END)


-------------------------------
so there is a modes file missing which is input by the file
/usr/share/texmf-texlive/metafont/config/mf.ini

which has content

% Thomas Esser, 1998. public domain.
\input plain
\input modes
\dump
\endinput



so what to do to solve this problem

thanks

mitchell laks