.deb install failed, can't remove (8.04)

[Beatnikboy]

I tried to install squeakland (kids programing) from a .deb file.

It failed and has left a menu entry under apps>eduction>squeakland which when clicked says:
Could not launch menu item.
Failed to execute child process "/usr/bin/squeakland" (No such file or directory)

I have tried using synaptic, it shows in the "broken filter", to remove or reinstall but it just says:
An error occured.
E: squeakland: subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 127

So I can't remove it or reinstall it.

I would like to try this software so any help would be warmly recieved.

[aheckler]

Try:

sudo dpkg --remove --force-all squeakland

[aheckler]

Oops, double post.

[Beatnikboy]

aheckler

Thanks for your suggestion.

However it did not remove it.

I get this statement:

(Reading database ... 99313 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing squeakland ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/squeakland.prerm: 30: /usr/lib/squeak/npsqueakregister: not found
dpkg: error processing squeakland (--remove):
subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
Errors were encountered while processing:
squeakland

[aheckler]

Hmm, can you type:

cat /var/lib/dpkg/info/squeakland.prerm

in the terminal and post the output here?

[aheckler]

Alright, here's what you need to do.

In the terminal, type: "sudo gedit /var/lib/dpkg/info/squeakland.prerm"

That file will open up in a text editor. You should see something similar to this, but maybe not exactly the same:

#!/bin/sh
set -e
# Automatically added by dh_installinit
if [ -x "/etc/init.d/powernowd" ]; then
	if [ -x "`which invoke-rc.d 2>/dev/null`" ]; then
		invoke-rc.d powernowd stop || exit $?
	else
		/etc/init.d/powernowd stop || exit $?
	fi
fi
# End automatically added section

Look in your file, and where it says "invoke-rc.d squeakland stop" replace that with "/bin/true" without quotes of course.

Now save the file and close it. Try to remove it again and see what happens.

[Beatnikboy]

Thanks again.

Here is the content of that file:

#! /bin/sh
# prerm script for squeakland-3
#
# see: dh_installdeb(1)

set -e

# summary of how this script can be called:
#        * <prerm> `remove'
#        * <old-prerm> `upgrade' <new-version>
#        * <new-prerm> `failed-upgrade' <old-version>
#        * <conflictor's-prerm> `remove' `in-favour' <package> <new-version>
#        * <deconfigured's-prerm> `deconfigure' `in-favour'
#          <package-being-installed> <version> `removing'
#          <conflicting-package> <version>
# for details, see http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ or
# the debian-policy package

case "$1" in
    remove|upgrade|deconfigure)
	/usr/lib/squeak/npsqueakregister -u
#       install-info --quiet --remove /usr/info/squeakland-3.info.gz
        ;;
    failed-upgrade)
        ;;
    *)
        echo "prerm called with unknown argument \`$1'" >&2
        exit 1
    ;;
esac

# dh_installdeb will replace this with shell code automatically
# generated by other debhelper scripts.



exit 0

Sorry I can't see where to add the amendments as it is very different to your post.

[aheckler]

Sorry I took so long there, had to go to class.

Umm... I really don't know what to do beyond this point. You could try moving the /var/lib/dpkg/info/squeakland.prerm file to your home directory and then trying to remove the program again, but that's a long shot.

If that doesn't work though, I'm out of ideas. Sorry Someone else may be able to help.

[Beatnikboy]

Thanks for your your time on this, I will plug away a little longer, but as this is a very fresh install it maybe quicker just to do a reinstall.

I will post back if I find a solution, but if my posts go cold you will know I've taken the easy option

Thank again

Beatnikboy