On Ecne, installing xfce4 desktop fails with dpkg errors, makes apt stop working
1. Affected Package revision / version
trisquel-desktop-common-data (12.0-5)
2. Steps to Reproduce
-
Attempting to install xfce4 on my Trisquel Ecne system results in a failed attempt to remove trisquel-desktop-common-data, which creates errors, making apt stop working correctly.
Removing trisquel-desktop-common-data (12.0-5) ...
dpkg: error processing package trisquel-desktop-common-data (--remove):
installed trisquel-desktop-common-data package post-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 1
dpkg: too many errors, stopping
Errors were encountered while processing:
trisquel-desktop-common-data
Processing was halted because there were too many errors.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
3. Current Behavior
This causes a failure of removing the package trisquel-desktop-common-data, which results in apt being unable to install or remove anything.
4. Expected Behavior (optional)
That XFCE4 desktop would install without the trisquel-desktop-common-data package getting fouled up in a failed removal, thereby causing all apt/apt-get install or remove commands to error out.
5. Workaround (optional)
-
To fix the dpkg errors and inability to use apt/apt-get I removed the dpkg files for trisquel-desktop-common-data:
sudo rm -r /var/lib/dpkg/info/trisquel-desktop-common-data.* -
Then used aptitude to finish removing the package:
sudo aptitude remove trisquel-desktop-common-data -
Then reinstalled the package:
sudo apt install trisquel-desktop-common-data
6. Suggestions, Investigation and Possible Causes (optional)
- @Ark74 stated, "I might need to check on that, but the conflicting package IIRC was another one, desktop-common (or similar) which prevented trisquel-desktop-common-data to install", and told me to initiate this Issue.
- Also, forum member @diopon has stated in the forum that they have successfully installed the XFCE4 desktop on several Trisquel-mini Ecne installations. So it is possible either that there is something wrong with my regular Trisquel Ecne installation, or that there is some difference between how the trisquel-desktop-common-data package is handled on a regular Trisquel Ecne installation and a Trisquel-mini Ecne. The forum thread is here: https://trisquel.info/en/forum/ecne-installing-xfce4-desktop-fails-dpkg-errors-makes-apt-stop-working
7. Other Tests (optional)
Unfortunately, any further attempts by me to install xfce4 results in the same failed removal of trisquel-desktop-common-data and the same dpkg errors, hanging up apt/apt-get. At this point, I cannot install the XFCE4 desktop on Ecne.