installing packages. (E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg received a segmentat...)

[fridgecow]

When trying to install packages or just generally do an upgrade:

istom@isToms-PC:~$ sudo apt-get install bum[sudo] password for istom:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
menu
Suggested packages:
menu-l10n
The following NEW packages will be installed
bum menu
0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 32 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/531 kB of archives.
After this operation, 2,328 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg received a segmentation fault.


Results of dpkg --configure -a: just "Segmentation fault"

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, was fresh installed only a few weeks ago.

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
I have never had experience with a seg fault on my own system, But I will try and assist, if nothing else get some info for others to look at.
Before attacking the file system at large, let's see what condition the package manager is in: terminal codes:


dpkg --audit
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

just try'n to help

[fridgecow]

istom@isToms-PC:~$ sudo dpkg --audit
istom@isToms-PC:~$ dpkg --audit
Segmentation fault


"sudo apt-get update" goes like usual, no errors at all. "sudo apt-get upgrade":

istom@isToms-PC:~$ The following packages have been kept back: linux-headers-generic-lts-quantal linux-image-generic-lts-quantal
The following packages will be upgraded:
bash firefox firefox-globalmenu firefox-gnome-support firefox-locale-en
flashplugin-installer gir1.2-dee-1.0 libavcodec53 libavformat53
libavutil-extra-51 libdee-1.0-4 libgnomekbd-common libgnomekbd7
libjack-jackd2-0 libnautilus-extension1a libnm-gtk-common libnm-gtk0
libpostproc52 libswscale2 linux-generic-lts-quantal linux-libc-dev nautilus
nautilus-data network-manager-gnome simple-scan thunderbird
thunderbird-globalmenu thunderbird-gnome-support thunderbird-locale-en
thunderbird-locale-en-us
30 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 2 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/59.4 MB of archives.
After this operation, 1,914 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Preconfiguring packages ...
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg received a segmentation fault.

And that's all.

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
We know the system it's self is operational thus maybe only dpkg has a problem;
See what results:



sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgradedoes clearing the cache help ?

regards

[fridgecow]

Well my system must be REALLY messed up, because that doesn't help either. Exactly the same output as before

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
Doesn't seem too messed up. Your system is operational with the exception of package management. However, a seg-fault to me is reason for concern.
Firstly, let's see if we can get the kernel to upgrade.
terminal code:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade "dist-upgrade" uses the package manager's smart mode to resolve dependencies.
Now what is the package manager's complaint and of what ?

try'n to help

[fridgecow]

[sudo] password for istom: Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed
linux-headers-3.5.0-27 linux-headers-3.5.0-27-generic
linux-image-3.5.0-27-generic
The following packages will be upgraded:
bash firefox firefox-globalmenu firefox-gnome-support firefox-locale-en
flashplugin-installer gir1.2-dee-1.0 libavcodec53 libavformat53
libavutil-extra-51 libdee-1.0-4 libgnomekbd-common libgnomekbd7
libjack-jackd2-0 libnautilus-extension1a libnm-gtk-common libnm-gtk0
libpostproc52 libswscale2 linux-generic-lts-quantal
linux-headers-generic-lts-quantal linux-image-generic-lts-quantal
linux-libc-dev nautilus nautilus-data network-manager-gnome simple-scan
thunderbird thunderbird-globalmenu thunderbird-gnome-support
thunderbird-locale-en thunderbird-locale-en-us
32 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/113 MB of archives.
After this operation, 190 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
Extract templates from packages: 100%
Preconfiguring packages ...
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg received a segmentation fault.

Same as just "upgrade", really.

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
I have been unable, to this time, to find a means to determine which program is violating memory. If you were to individually install those 32 updates might get enough information to focus on the problem.

sudo apt-get install bash Doing it the hard way is not the ubuntu way, I just do not know of a better way.
Go down the list of the remainder of the pending updates and advise what results.


hope this helps

[fridgecow]

Not even that works.

istom@isToms-PC:~$ sudo apt-get install bash[sudo] password for istom:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
bash-doc
The following packages will be upgraded:
bash
1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 40 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/616 kB of archives.
After this operation, 12.3 kB disk space will be freed.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg exited unexpectedly

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
First try and see what state dpkg is in:

sudo dpkg --configure -a
Then let's try this approach to identify the offending package:

sudo dpkg -l | grep -v ^ii

The "dpkg -l" part of the command lists all of the installed packages in a table format. The first column of the table outlines the status of the package, for example if it is installed correctly etc. The second part of the command "grep -v ^ii" outputs any line that does not start with the letters ii. By passing the output of the "dpkg -l" command to the grep command I was able to get a list of all packages that were listed as not being correctly installed. That is, those packages that didn't have a status of "ii". I was then able to use this command to remove the offending package where [package-name] was the name of the package.
Then if identified:

sudo dpkg --purge remove [package-name]

see what results

[fridgecow]

I would probably purge the results, except there are a lot, including linux-images


istom@isToms-PC:~$ sudo dpkg -l | grep -v ^iiDesired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| Status=Not/Inst/Conf-files/Unpacked/halF-conf/Half-inst/trig-aWait/Trig-pend
|/ Err?=(none)/Reinst-required (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Description
+++-=========================================-=======================================-================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ================================================== ================================
rc deja-dup 22.0-0ubuntu3 Back up your files
rc docbook-xml 4.5-7ubuntu1 standard XML documentation system for software and systems
rc docbook-xsl 1.76.1+dfsg-1ubuntu1 stylesheets for processing DocBook XML to various output formats
rc kate 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 K Advanced Text Editor
rc kate-data 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 shared data files for kate
rc kde-runtime 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 runtime components from the official KDE release
rc kde-runtime-data 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 shared data files for the KDE base runtime module
rc kdelibs5-data 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 core shared data for all KDE Applications
rc libattica0.3 0.3.0-0ubuntu2 a Qt library that implements the Open Collaboration Services API
rc libavutil51 4:0.8.5-0ubuntu0.12.04.1 Libav utility library
rc libclucene0ldbl 0.9.21b-2 library for full-featured text search engine (runtime)
rc libdlrestrictions1 0.14.2ubuntu5 library that implements library compatibility checks for dlopen()
rc libdrm-nouveau2 2.4.39-0ubuntu0.1 Userspace interface to nouveau-specific kernel DRM services -- runtime
rc libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-quantal 9.0-0ubuntu1~precise4 free implementation of the OpenGL API -- DRI modules
rc libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal 9.0-0ubuntu1~precise4 free implementation of the OpenGL API -- GLX runtime
rc libglapi-mesa-lts-quantal 9.0-0ubuntu1~precise4 free implementation of the GL API -- shared library
rc libgsoap1 2.8.4-2 Runtime libraries for gSOAP
rc libkateinterfaces4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 kate plugin interface library
rc libkatepartinterfaces4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 kate part library
rc libkcmutils4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 utility classes for using KCM modules
rc libkde3support4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KDE 3 Support Library for the KDE 4 Platform
rc libkdeclarative5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Declarative library for plasma
rc libkdecore5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KDE Platform Core Library
rc libkdesu5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Console-mode Authentication Library for the KDE Platform
rc libkdeui5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KDE Platform User Interface Library
rc libkdewebkit5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KDE WebKit Library
rc libkdnssd4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 DNS-SD Protocol Library for the KDE Platform
rc libkemoticons4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 utility classes to deal with emoticon themes
rc libkfile4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 File Selection Dialog Library for KDE Platform
rc libkhtml5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KHTML Web Content Rendering Engine
rc libkidletime4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 library to provide information about idle time
rc libkio5 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Network-enabled File Management Library for the KDE Platform
rc libkjsapi4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KJS API Library for the KDE Development Platform
rc libkjsembed4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 library for binding JavaScript objects to QObjects
rc libkmediaplayer4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KMediaPlayer Interface for the KDE Platform
rc libknewstuff2-4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 "Get Hot New Stuff" v2 Library for the KDE Platform
rc libknewstuff3-4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 "Get Hot New Stuff" v3 Library for the KDE Platform
rc libknotifyconfig4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 library for configuring KDE Notifications
rc libkntlm4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 NTLM Authentication Library for the KDE Platform
rc libkparts4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Framework for the KDE Platform Graphical Components
rc libkpty4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Pseudo Terminal Library for the KDE Platform
rc libkrosscore4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Kross Core Library
rc libktexteditor4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 KTextEditor interfaces for the KDE Platform
rc libllvm3.1 3.1-2ubuntu1~12.04 Low-Level Virtual Machine (LLVM), runtime library
rc libnepomuk4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Nepomuk Meta Data Library
rc libnepomukdatamanagement4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Basic Nepomuk data manipulation interface
rc libnepomukquery4a 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Nepomuk Query Library for the KDE Platform
rc libnepomuksync4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Nepomuk sync interface for the Backup and Sync service
rc libnepomukutils4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Nepomuk Utility Library
rc libntrack-qt4-1 016-1ubuntu1 Qt 4 API for ntrack
rc libntrack0 016-1ubuntu1 lightweight connectivity tracking library
rc libopenjpeg2 1.3+dfsg-4+squeeze1build0.12.04.1 JPEG 2000 image compression/decompression library
rc libphonon4 4:4.7.0really4.6.0-0ubuntu1 multimedia framework from KDE - core library
rc libplasma3 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Plasma Library for the KDE Platform
rc libpolkit-qt-1-1 0.103.0-1 PolicyKit-qt-1 library
rc libprotoc7 2.4.1-1ubuntu2 protocol buffers compiler library
rc libqapt-runtime 1.3.1-0ubuntu2 Runtime components for the QApt library
rc libqapt1 1.3.1-0ubuntu2 QApt library package
rc libqca2 2.0.3-2 libraries for the Qt Cryptographic Architecture
rc libqt4-designer 4:4.8.1-0ubuntu4.4 Qt 4 designer module
rc libqt4-qt3support 4:4.8.1-0ubuntu4.4 Qt 3 compatibility library for Qt 4
rc libqtwebkit4 2.2.1-1ubuntu4 Web content engine library for Qt
rc librsync1 0.9.7-8build1 rsync remote-delta algorithm library
rc libsolid4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 Solid Library for KDE Platform
rc libsoprano4 2.7.5+dfsg.1-0ubuntu1 libraries for the Soprano RDF framework
rc libstreamanalyzer0 0.7.7-1.1ubuntu3 streamanalyzer library for Strigi Desktop Search
rc libstreams0 0.7.7-1.1ubuntu3 streams library for for Strigi Desktop Search
rc libsyncdaemon-1.0-1 3.0.2-0ubuntu1 Ubuntu One synchronization daemon library
rc libthreadweaver4 4:4.8.5-0ubuntu0.1 ThreadWeaver Library for the KDE Platform
rc libubuntuoneui-3.0-1 3.0.1-0ubuntu1 Ubuntu One widget library
rc libvirtodbc0 6.1.4+dfsg1-0ubuntu1 high-performance database - ODBC libraries
rc libxatracker1-lts-quantal 9.0-0ubuntu1~precise4 X acceleration library -- runtime
rc libxrandr-ltsq2 2:1.4.0-1~precise1 X11 RandR extension library
rc linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic 3.5.0-23.35~precise1 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
rc ntrack-module-libnl-0 016-1ubuntu1 libnl based ntrack module
rc odbcinst 2.2.14p2-5ubuntu3 Helper program for accessing odbc ini files
rc odbcinst1debian2 2.2.14p2-5ubuntu3 Support library for accessing odbc ini files
rc oxygen-icon-theme 4:4.8.3-0ubuntu0.1 Oxygen icon theme
rc phonon 4:4.7.0really4.6.0-0ubuntu1 multimedia framework from KDE - metapackage
rc popularity-contest 1.53ubuntu1 Vote for your favourite packages automatically
rc python-ubuntuone-client 3.0.2-0ubuntu1 Ubuntu One client Python libraries
rc python-ubuntuone-storageprotocol 3.0.2-0ubuntu1 Python library for Ubuntu One file storage and sharing service
rc sgml-data 2.0.6 common SGML and XML data
rc ubuntuone-client 3.0.2-0ubuntu1 Ubuntu One client
rc virtualbox 4.1.12-dfsg-2ubuntu0.2 x86 virtualization solution - base binaries
rc virtualbox-qt 4.1.12-dfsg-2ubuntu0.2 x86 virtualization solution - Qt based user interface
rc x11-xserver-utils-lts-quantal 7.7~3ubuntu1~precise1 X server utilities
rc xserver-common-lts-quantal 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2 common files used by various X servers
rc xserver-xorg-core-lts-quantal 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1~precise2 Xorg X server - core server
rc xserver-xorg-lts-quantal 1:7.7+1ubuntu4~precise1 X.Org X server
rc xserver-xorg-video-intel-lts-quantal 2:2.20.9-0ubuntu2~precise2 X.Org X server -- Intel i8xx, i9xx display driver
rc xserver-xorg-video-openchrome-lts-quantal 1:0.3.1-0ubuntu1~precise2 X.Org X server -- VIA display driver
rc xserver-xorg-video-vmware-lts-quantal 1:12.0.2+git.e5ac80d8-0ubuntu1~precise2 X.Org X server -- VMware display driver


Should I still purge?

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;

That list is much longer than I had expected. But as the status on all of them are "rc" I see no reason to "purge" anything at this point. We still do not know what is violating memory, Much less how.

Is your desk top mixed between kubuntu and ubuntu ?
And, Let's get a clearer picture of your sources to see if there are any abnormalities.

apt-cache policy ubuntu-desktop
lsb_release -a
uname -a
cat /etc/apt/sources.list
ls -la /etc/apt/sources.list.d
More study on this situation is required on my part.

I am look'n, think'n and learn'n

[fridgecow]

My desktop is Openbox, but I had kate installed which required the kde libraries. Anyway here's the result of those commands:

root@isToms-PC:/home/istom# apt-cache policy ubuntu-desktopubuntu-desktop:
Installed: 1.267.1
Candidate: 1.267.1
Version table:
*** 1.267.1 0
500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates/main i386 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
1.267 0
500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main i386 Packages
root@isToms-PC:/home/istom# lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
root@isToms-PC:/home/istom# uname -a
Linux isToms-PC 3.5.0-26-generic #42~precise1-Ubuntu SMP Mon Mar 11 22:19:42 UTC 2013 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
root@isToms-PC:/home/istom# cat /etc/apt/sources.list
# deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS _Precise Pangolin_ - Release i386 (20130213)]/ precise main restricted


# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted


## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted


## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe


## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse


## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse


deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse


## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
# deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
# deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner


## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu precise main
root@isToms-PC:/home/istom# ls -la /etc/apt/sources.list.d
total 24
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 2 17:43 .
drwxr-xr-x 6 root root 4096 Apr 2 17:42 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 150 Apr 1 15:06 simonschneegans-testing-precise.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 112 Apr 1 15:06 steam.list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 112 Apr 1 15:06 steam.list.save
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 39 Apr 2 17:43 winswitch.list

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;
Here are my thoughts:
Everything looks good but I find the 3rd party software as the most likely cause at this point;
Try this:
Disable (uncheck) all the 3rd party sources in ubuntu Software Center ->Software Sources and run

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade again. Let us see what errors we then have.

But, I still intend to do some home work.

a process in learning

[Bashing-om]

fridgecow;

Are you ready to proceed ? I have been look'n and study'n.
The dpkg list with all those files marked "rc" ; let's get rid of them.
The state is "rc", the package is removed, but the config files are not removed.
Now let’s remove all the packages marked as "rc".

dpkg --list |grep "^rc" | cut -d " " -f 3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge

now what are you looking like

[fridgecow]

When I try it, nothing happens. Nothing is removed either.


istom@isToms-PC:~$ sudo dpkg --list |grep "^rc" | cut -d " " -f 3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge
istom@isToms-PC:~$ dpkg --list |grep "^rc" | cut -d " " -f 3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge
istom@isToms-PC:~$

[Bashing-om]

What does :

sudo dpkg -l | grep -v ^ii now return ?
And are the 3rd party sources disabled at this time ?

work'n on it