Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1) libpam0g:amd64 [duplicate]
I can't update my system because it freezes while installing a third-party update (zramswap-enabler)!
Sometimes I get the following message in Update manager:
Could not initialize the package information An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package information.
Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and include the following error message:
E:The package zramswap-enabler needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.
I tried to remove the zramswap-enabler, but it's impossible because I get the following message:
dpkg: error processing zramswap-enabler (--remove):
Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
reinstall it before attempting a removal.
Errors were encountered while processing:
zramswap-enabler
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Actually I would really reinstall that package, but it is unable to do it! If I remove this third-party PPA then the system is warning me about a very very serious problem.
So why can I not install/reinstall/remove/update this package and why freezes the updater if I try to update?
Edited out of the question and added as an answer.
Make sure that your PPA is set up.
-
Remove the broken package via the following command:
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq zramswap-enabler
-
Install the package again:
sudo apt-get install zramswap-enabler
After restart (not necessary), you are able to install the updates correctly!
Actually you can fix any "Package is in a very bad inconsistent state” issues with this solution!
This worked for me after pretty much scouring the whole of AskUbuntu and Ubuntu forums! (Source). I'm running Lubuntu 14.04
sudo mv /var/lib/dpkg/info/<packagename>.* /tmp/
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq <packagename>
sudo apt-get remove <packagename>
sudo apt-get autoremove && sudo apt-get autoclean
I had a situation worse than this. I had to remove the half-installed packages by forcing dependencies.
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq --force-depends <package-name>
Then I had to reinstall them
sudo apt-get -f install
That should solve any issue. But please make sure you have network connectivity when you try to do this. Otherwise, you will have to go through even more trouble.