Thunderbird install/removal problem

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jonnie_r

Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Hi,

I have Mint8 but am having problems with Thunderbird after trying to upgrade to version 3. It didn't install correctly and gave an error message.

I could then only start Thunderbird from terminal, and on checking the version it was still at 2.0.0.23. To try and resolve the issue, I decided to uninstall everything and start again.

Now I am stuck at the point where it shows Thunderbird 3 as installed in package manager, but it doesn't start from the menu or terminal. I have tried to reinstall with no joy, so tried removing so I can reinstall v2.0.0.23. However I get an error message and the uninstall fails.

I have attached a screenshot of the error. Can anyone help?

Thanks,


Jon.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
viking777

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by viking777 »

Try

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get --purge remove thunderbird
In a terminal.

If that doesn't work try

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get -f remove thunderbird
or even

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get -f remove
Last edited by viking777 on Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Thanks for the reply but this throws up the same error unfortunately. See below.

sudo apt-get --purge remove thunderbird
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package thunderbird is not installed, so not removed
The following packages will be REMOVED
thunderbird-mozilla-build
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 9 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 130082 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing thunderbird-mozilla-build ...
dpkg-divert: mismatch on package
when removing `diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu by thunderbird-mozilla-build'
found `local diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu'
dpkg: error processing thunderbird-mozilla-build (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
thunderbird-mozilla-build
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1))
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

This is now preventing me from installing new packages and updates, as it tries to process the thunderbird package first but fails.

Can anyone help?

Jon.
mick55

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by mick55 »

Run these commands in terminal[Menu-->Terminal]

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --configure -a
then

Code: Select all

apt install -f
look at these logs if you still have issues
Run these commands in terminal[Menu-->Terminal]

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit /var/log/dpkg.log

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit /var/log/apt/term.log
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Thanks for the advice Mick, but it is still giving the same results. I have attached the relevant parts of the dpkg.log and term.log.

Edit: Couldn't attach so pasted below: -

dpkg.log

2010-01-08 09:14:23 startup packages remove
2010-01-08 09:14:23 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:14:36 remove thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:14:36 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:15:45 startup packages remove
2010-01-08 09:15:45 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:15:45 remove thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:15:45 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 09:15:46 startup packages configure
2010-01-08 19:54:39 startup packages configure
2010-01-08 19:54:53 startup packages remove
2010-01-08 19:54:53 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 19:55:07 remove thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1 3.0-0ubuntu1
2010-01-08 19:55:07 status half-installed thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1

term.log

Log started: 2010-01-08 09:15:45
(Reading database ...
(Reading database ... 5%
(Reading database ... 10%
(Reading database ... 15%
(Reading database ... 20%
(Reading database ... 25%
(Reading database ... 30%
(Reading database ... 35%
(Reading database ... 40%
(Reading database ... 45%
(Reading database ... 50%
(Reading database ... 55%
(Reading database ... 60%
(Reading database ... 65%
(Reading database ... 70%
(Reading database ... 75%
(Reading database ... 80%
(Reading database ... 85%
(Reading database ... 90%
(Reading database ... 95%
(Reading database ... 100%
(Reading database ... 130082 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing thunderbird-mozilla-build ...
dpkg-divert: mismatch on package
when removing `diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu by thunderbird-mozilla-build'
found `local diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu'
dpkg: error processing thunderbird-mozilla-build (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
thunderbird-mozilla-build
Log ended: 2010-01-08 09:15:46

Log started: 2010-01-08 19:54:53
(Reading database ...
(Reading database ... 5%
(Reading database ... 10%
(Reading database ... 15%
(Reading database ... 20%
(Reading database ... 25%
(Reading database ... 30%
(Reading database ... 35%
(Reading database ... 40%
(Reading database ... 45%
(Reading database ... 50%
(Reading database ... 55%
(Reading database ... 60%
(Reading database ... 65%
(Reading database ... 70%
(Reading database ... 75%
(Reading database ... 80%
(Reading database ... 85%
(Reading database ... 90%
(Reading database ... 95%
(Reading database ... 100%
(Reading database ... 130082 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing thunderbird-mozilla-build ...
dpkg-divert: mismatch on package
when removing `diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu by thunderbird-mozilla-build'
found `local diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu'
dpkg: error processing thunderbird-mozilla-build (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
thunderbird-mozilla-build
Log ended: 2010-01-08 19:55:08
mick55

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by mick55 »

Reboot your PC and try

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
to update your package list.

Then

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get autoclean
to clean up any partial packages.

Then

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get clean
to clean up the apt cache.

Then

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get autoremove
to clean up any unneeded dependencies.

Then

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sudo dpkg --remove -force --force-remove-reinstreq thunderbird
this code will very forcefully remove thunderbird.

Let me know how it works out
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Mick,

I tried the terminal commands and here is the output. It still failed when on autoremove, and then trying to force.

Thanks for your help so far.

Jon.

jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for jon:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for jon:
Hit http://deb.opera.com stable Release.gpg
Ign http://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Translation-en_GB
Get: 1 http://packages.linuxmint.com helena Release.gpg [198B]
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/upstream Translation-en_GB
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/import Translation-en_GB
Hit http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all Release.gpg
Get: 2 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [189B]
Ign http://dl.google.com stable/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release.gpg
Get: 3 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Translation-en_GB [63.7kB]
Get: 4 http://packages.linuxmint.com helena Release [7,251B]
Hit http://deb.opera.com stable Release
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Translation-en_GB
Get: 5 http://dl.google.com stable Release [2,540B]
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic Release.gpg
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic/free Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic Release
Ign http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic/non-free Translation-en_GB
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic Release
Get: 6 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Translation-en_GB [3,402B]
Get: 7 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Translation-en_GB [33.2kB]
Get: 8 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Translation-en_GB [43.8kB]
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release.gpg
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Translation-en_GB
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Translation-en_GB
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic Release
Ign http://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates Release
Get: 9 http://dl.google.com stable/main Packages [914B]
Hit http://archive.canonical.com karmic/partner Packages
Ign http://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/upstream Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/import Packages
Hit http://deb.opera.com stable/non-free Packages
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic/free Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/main Packages
Hit http://packages.medibuntu.org karmic/non-free Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/upstream Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/main Packages
Ign http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/import Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/universe Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com karmic-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/upstream Packages
Hit http://packages.linuxmint.com helena/import Packages
Ign http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all/main Translation-en_GB
Hit http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all Release
Ign http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all/main Packages
Ign http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all/main Packages
Hit http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net all/main Packages
Fetched 155kB in 4s (37.6kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done
jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get autoclean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Del thunderbird-mozilla-build 3.0-0ubuntu1 [12.0MB]
jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get clean
jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED
thunderbird-mozilla-build
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 19 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 130082 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing thunderbird-mozilla-build ...
dpkg-divert: mismatch on package
when removing `diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu by thunderbird-mozilla-build'
found `local diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu'
dpkg: error processing thunderbird-mozilla-build (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
thunderbird-mozilla-build
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo dpkg --remove --force --force-remove-reinstreq thunderbird
dpkg: unknown force/refuse option `--force-remove-reinstreq'

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg --license|--licence for copyright licence and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
jon@jon-laptop ~ $ sudo dpkg --remove -force --force-remove-reinstreq thunderbird
dpkg: conflicting actions -f (--field) and -r (--remove)

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg --license|--licence for copyright licence and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
mick55

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by mick55 »

try it this way

Code: Select all

dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq thunderbird
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Mick,

See the output in terminal when I try to remove the package. I modified your suggestion, as it's the thunderbird-mozilla-build that is giving me problems.

jon-laptop jon # dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq thunderbird-mozilla-build
(Reading database ... 130082 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing thunderbird-mozilla-build ...
dpkg-divert: mismatch on package
when removing `diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu by thunderbird-mozilla-build'
found `local diversion of /usr/bin/thunderbird to /usr/bin/thunderbird.ubuntu'
dpkg: error processing thunderbird-mozilla-build (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
thunderbird-mozilla-build


Thanks,

Jon.
viking777

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by viking777 »

You really have got yourself a problem program there Jon. Here is something you could try, but I can't guarantee it will work.

Go to /var/lib/dpkg/ and rename the file status to status.bak (you need sudo to do this of course).

Then go to /var/backup/dpkg and choose one of the compressed backup files from a date before you installed the thunderbird update.

Unpack it, rename it to status and move it to /var/lib/dpkg.

You could just see what happens at this stage, but I would be tempted to use locate to track down all the installed files for thunderbird-mozilla-build and remove them manually. That way dpkg will not be tempted to try and install the damn thing again if it finds it next time you install or update anything

The theory is to con dpkg into believing the troublesome package has not been installed and then match that assumption by removing the files yourself.
jonnie_r

Re: Thunderbird install/removal problem

Post by jonnie_r »

Viking,

Thanks for the advice, it worked like a dream. I have managed to install from synaptic again.

Fantastic advice :D

Jon
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