[solved] "apt-get upgrade" returns "E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)"

[spiccato]

I just got Linux mint yesterday, It's my first time using Linux. Every time I try any commands of use I get this error. Please help.

Code: Select all

Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[karlchen]

Hello, spiccato.

Please, post the screen output, generated by the terminal command

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inxi -Sx

because we would like to know which Linux Mint release and edition precisely you are using.
Next, please, tell us which command you executed when you received the error message, which you had posted. As a rule such "dpkg" error messages will be triggered by particular "apt-get" commands, not by any random terminal commands.

Regards,
Karl

[catweazel]

I just got Linux mint yesterday, It's my first time using Linux. Every time I try any commands of use I get this error. Please help.

Code: Select all

Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

What is the command you're using?

[spiccato]

apt-get upgrade

[Sir Charles]

Would you please post the output of

Code: Select all

inxi -Sx 

you were asked to before by karlchen?
And please do reproduce the whole of the terminal output when you try to run the command to give the people something to work on.

[spiccato]

noxit@hotguy ~ $ inxi -Sx
System: Host: box-lock Kernel: 4.15.0-29-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia

[spiccato]

also its whenever I try to use apt-get install

[ralplpcr]

also its whenever I try to use apt-get install

In Mint, apt, apt-get and other similar commands are restricted to elevated privileges. In order for them to execute properly, you must use sudo before them:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get upgrade

You'll be prompted to enter a password once you press enter.
It will *NOT* show any "*" characters while you're typing it - - this is normal.

[spiccato]

Even with sudo, I still get the same error code.

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for noxit: 
Ign:1 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia InRelease
Hit:2 http://packages.linuxmint.com sylvia Release                             
Hit:3 http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu xenial InRelease                     
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security InRelease [107 kB]     
Hit:5 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial InRelease                    
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu xenial InRelease [18.1 kB]
Get:7 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates InRelease [109 kB]   
Get:9 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-backports InRelease [107 kB] 
Hit:10 http://repo.steampowered.com/steam precise InRelease                    
Get:11 http://ppa.launchpad.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu xenial/main Sources [1,424 B]
Get:12 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main amd64 Packages [539 kB]
Get:13 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages [831 kB]
Get:14 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main i386 Packages [472 kB]
Get:15 http://ppa.launchpad.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages [2,436 B]
Get:16 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main Translation-en [229 kB]
Get:17 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/universe amd64 Packages [367 kB]
Get:18 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/universe i386 Packages [311 kB]
Get:19 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/universe Translation-en [138 kB]
Get:20 http://ppa.launchpad.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages [2,436 B]
Get:21 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main i386 Packages [754 kB]
Get:22 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main Translation-en [341 kB]
Get:23 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe amd64 Packages [680 kB]
Get:24 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe i386 Packages [619 kB]
Get:25 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/universe Translation-en [274 kB]
Fetched 5,903 kB in 8s (717 kB/s)                                              
Reading package lists... Done
noxit@box-lock ~ $ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  fonts-opensymbol libreoffice-avmedia-backend-gstreamer libreoffice-base
  libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-base-drivers libreoffice-calc
  libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-gnome
  libreoffice-gtk libreoffice-impress libreoffice-java-common libreoffice-math
  libreoffice-ogltrans libreoffice-pdfimport libreoffice-sdbc-firebird
  libreoffice-sdbc-hsqldb libreoffice-writer libsmbclient
  libtorrent-rasterbar9 libwbclient0 libxml2:i386 libxml2 linux-libc-dev
  python-libxml2 python-samba python3-uno samba-common samba-common-bin
  samba-libs smbclient uno-libs3 ure
34 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 86.8 MB/86.8 MB of archives.
After this operation, 6,144 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
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Get:19 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libreoffice-avmedia-backend-gstreamer amd64 1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4 [24.3 kB]
Get:20 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libreoffice-base amd64 1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4 [1,519 kB]
Get:21 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libreoffice-core amd64 1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4 [28.2 MB]
Get:22 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libreoffice-base-drivers amd64 1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4 [510 kB]
Get:23 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main i386 libxml2 i386 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.6 [732 kB]
Get:24 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libxml2 amd64 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.6 [697 kB]
Get:25 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 fonts-opensymbol all 2:102.7+LibO5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4 [104 kB]
Get:26 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 python-samba amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [1,060 kB]
Get:27 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 samba-common-bin amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [506 kB]
Get:28 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 smbclient amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [311 kB]
Get:29 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 samba-libs amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [5,159 kB]
Get:30 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libwbclient0 amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [30.2 kB]
Get:31 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 libsmbclient amd64 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [53.4 kB]
Get:32 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 samba-common all 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15 [83.7 kB]
Get:33 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 linux-libc-dev amd64 4.4.0-133.159 [861 kB]
Get:34 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 python-libxml2 amd64 2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.6 [141 kB]
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Setting up libreoffice-avmedia-backend-gstreamer (1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4) ...
Setting up libreoffice-base-drivers (1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4) ...
Setting up libreoffice-base (1:5.1.6~rc2-0ubuntu1~xenial4) ...
Setting up libtorrent-rasterbar9 (1.1.9+git20180812.0bcf6cef23+patched-configure-1ppa1~xenial1) ...
Setting up libwbclient0:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up samba-libs:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up python-samba (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up samba-common (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up samba-common-bin (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up libsmbclient:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up smbclient (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.15) ...
Setting up linux-libc-dev:amd64 (4.4.0-133.159) ...
Setting up python-libxml2 (2.9.3+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.6) ...
Processing triggers for shared-mime-info (1.5-2ubuntu0.2) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.23-0ubuntu10) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[gm10]

Code: Select all

Processing triggers for fontconfig (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) ...
dpkg: error processing package file (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration

So try

Code: Select all

apt install -f --reinstall fontconfig

[spiccato]

Code: Select all

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 178 kB/199 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 fontconfig amd64 2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1 [178 kB]
Fetched 178 kB in 0s (208 kB/s)     
(Reading database ... 252590 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../fontconfig_2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking fontconfig (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) over (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for doc-base (0.10.7) ...
Processing 1 changed doc-base file...
Registering documents with scrollkeeper...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Setting up fontconfig (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) ...
Regenerating fonts cache... done.
dpkg: error processing package file (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration
Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

still not working

[gm10]

still not working

Ok, in that case try it like this:

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq fontconfig
apt install fontconfig
apt install -f

[spiccato]

Code: Select all

 sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq fontconfig
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of fontconfig:
 adobe-flashplugin depends on fontconfig.
 libpango-1.0-0:amd64 depends on fontconfig (>= 2.1.91).
 libqt5gui5:amd64 depends on fontconfig.
 libreoffice-core depends on fontconfig.
 libqtgui4:amd64 depends on fontconfig.

dpkg: error processing package fontconfig (--remove):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 fontconfig
noxit@box-lock ~ $ apt install fontconfig
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
fontconfig is already the newest version (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/21.2 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
dpkg: error processing package file (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration
Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
noxit@box-lock ~ $ apt install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/21.2 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
dpkg: error processing package file (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration
Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[gm10]

My bad, should have thought of dependencies. Run it like this:

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq --force-depends fontconfig

If that goes through, and it should now, do

Code: Select all

apt install fontconfig
apt install -f

[spiccato]

Code: Select all

apt install fontconfig
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  fontconfig
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/199 kB of archives.
After this operation, 554 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Selecting previously unselected package fontconfig.
(Reading database ... 252561 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../fontconfig_2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking fontconfig (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for doc-base (0.10.7) ...
Processing 1 added doc-base file...
Registering documents with scrollkeeper...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
Setting up fontconfig (2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) ...
Regenerating fonts cache... done.
dpkg: error processing package file (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration
Errors were encountered while processing:
 file
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

This one doesn't work.

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq --force-depends fontconfig

This one works fine.

[gm10]

That is a weird one. Try

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq --force-depends fontconfig
apt clean
sudo dpkg --configure -a
apt install -f
apt check

If that still fails, as I have a feeling in might, maybe this gives us some more information:

Code: Select all

dpkg --audit

By the way, there's always the option to just re-install Mint and not do what you did last time to break it.

[spiccato]

Code: Select all

The following packages are in a mess due to serious problems during
installation.  They must be reinstalled for them (and any packages
that depend on them) to function properly:
 file                 Determines file type using "magic" numbers

I'll just reinstall if nothing can be done here.

[gm10]

Everything that can be broken can be fixed, no worries. Wondering what happened to your system to get it into this state so shortly after install though.

I had missed the file package in the error message above. Let's nuke that one as well:

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq --force-depends file
apt install -f
apt check
apt install file

[spiccato]

Okay, everything is working now. Thank you so much.

[gm10]

Excellent.