Cannot install anything due to dpkg error

[nivekyru]

whenever i try to install anything on Ubuntu 8.04 i get this error

dpkg: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 26071 package `ekiga':
`Depends' field, reference to `libice6': version contains ` '
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

thank you, help would be very much appreciated

[Tanker Bob]

It sounds like libice6 didn't install correctly or was corrupted. You could try:


sudo aptitude reinstall libice6

That will cleanup any libice6 library and dependency issues.

[arashiko28]

try
dpkg --configure -a

[avtolle]

That should be
sudo dpkg --configure -a

[nivekyru]

Thank you; Tanker Bob, arashiko28, avtolle. i've tried the possible solutions you have recommended, i get the same error. is there a way i can do a "system restore" like operation?

[Frak]

Try


sudo apt-get install -f

That should fix your issues.

[nivekyru]

unfortunately, that too i have now tried, my system is still giving me this error

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install -f
[sudo] password for kevin:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 68 not upgraded.
3 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
dpkg: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 26071 package `ekiga':
`Depends' field, reference to `libice6': version contains ` '
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$

[Partyboi2]

unfortunately, that too i have now tried, my system is still giving me this error

kevin@kevin-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install -f
[sudo] password for kevin:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 68 not upgraded.
3 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
dpkg: parse error, in file `/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 26071 package `ekiga':
`Depends' field, reference to `libice6': version contains ` '
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
kevin@kevin-desktop:~$
Another option could be to replace /var/lib/dpkg/status with /var/lib/dpkg/status-old

sudo mv /var/lib/dpkg/status /var/lib/dpkg/status-broke

sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/status-old /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Tanker Bob]

Based on your error, here's another thing to try:


sudo apt-get uninstall ekiga
sudo apt-get install ekiga

Sounds like that package is causing the issue. If you don't mind losing your VOIP settings, you could try:


sudo apt-get purge ekiga
sudo apt-get install ekiga

If that doesn't work, you could try:


sudo apt-get uninstall ekiga libice6
sudo apt-get install ekiga libice6

These may work with minimum collateral damage.

[nivekyru]

tried the three methods you gave, Tanker Bob. they are yet to resolve my problem, i get the same error as before

[Tanker Bob]

Sorry about that. Paryboi2's suggestion is a good next move. I can't think of any other limited-effect approaches. You've tried all the easy fixes of which I can think at the moment.