apt-get outputs dpkg: error processing cups (--configure)

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Emerson Prado

apt-get outputs dpkg: error processing cups (--configure)

Post by Emerson Prado »

Hi all,
I have a problem every time I use apt-get, with any command, any options and for any packages. The command always works (installs/removes/purges/fixes as required), but returns errors about configuring cups and cups-bsd:

dpkg: error processing cups (--configure):
sub-process installed post-installation script returned error output state 25
...
dpkg: error processing cups-bsd (--configure):
sub-process installed post-installation script returned error output state 255
...
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I already tried apt-get purge cups cups-bsd, then manually removing remaining files in /etc, then apt-get -f install cups cups-bsd, getting the same errors above.
I don't have a printer, so I don't know whether cups work or not. I don't know about cups config files or install scripts either, so I'm clueless on where to start.

How can I get rid of this error?
Many thanks,
Emerson

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Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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xenopeek
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Re: apt-get outputs dpkg: error processing cups (--configure

Post by xenopeek »

You may need some cleaning up. Run the following two commands. The first finds all not-installed packages, that have residual configuration (if it doesn't show anything, all is okay). The second shows all packages that were automatically installed to satisfy dependencies for some package and that are no more needed (if "0 to remove" is shown, again all is okay).

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dpkg -l | grep ^rc | cut -d' ' -f3

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apt-get --simulate --assume-yes --purge autoremove
If there are packages that can be cleaned up, do so with following command.

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dpkg -l | grep ^rc | cut -d' ' -f3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get --assume-yes --purge autoremove
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