Hi Greg,
> The /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-files.postinst script contains code that will
> modify /etc/profile if the first argument is "configure" and the second
> argument isn't the empty string.
>
> I don't know what would cause those particular arguments to be passed to
> that script.
>
> In order for that modification to happen, the existing file's MD5 checksum
> is compared against the one found in /usr/share/base-files/.
>
> So... either your /etc/profile doesn't have the right MD5 checksum, or
> else nothing is calling that postinst script with the correct arguments.
>
so, if that is true, what you say (or if I understood you correctly), then a reinstall or upgrade of the package "base-files" should overwrite /etc/profile if the md5sum is different.
Well, it did not. I tried "apt-get --reinstall install base-files" and nothing changed.
md5sum /etc/profile
40f068da82e55a304d8baf245600b636 /etc/profile
md5sum /usr/share/base-files/profile
48a30a427d1794feb49f102b87ddce2b /usr/share/base-files/profile
Without md5sum it can also be clearly seen, as both files got different content.
I believe, it might be more what Dan said: Overwriting some existent special configuration files, might break the system of people. So they are not changed and the user/admin can later decide, if he wants to overwrite these files or not.
Additionally (but can not prove it), it may be, that a missing file will be renewed during upgrade (did not test this!).
Can be I am fully wrong, maybe someone knows more.
Have fun!
Hans