dpkg error

mhq@MaHq:~$ LANG=C lsb_release -crid
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS
Release: 20.04
Codename: focal

python-lzma and python-urlgrabber seem to be the culprit, because they depend on python2, which is not part of the default focal installation.

What is the output of
apt-cache policy pathon-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

 apt-cache policy python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
python-lzma:
  Installed: 0.5.3-3
  Candidate: 0.5.3-3
  Version table:
 *** 0.5.3-3 500
        500 https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu bionic/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     0.5.3-2build1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/universe amd64 Packages
python-urlgrabber:
  Installed: 3.9.1-4ubuntu3
  Candidate: 3.10.2-1
  Version table:
     3.10.2-1 500
        500 https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
        500 https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu bionic/main i386 Packages
 *** 3.9.1-4ubuntu3 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
yum:
  Installed: 3.4.3-2ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.4.3-3
  Version table:
     3.4.3-3 500
        500 https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu bionic/universe amd64 Packages
        500 https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu bionic/universe i386 Packages
 *** 3.4.3-2ubuntu1 500
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/universe amd64 Packages
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu trusty/universe i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Try:

sudo apt-get --reinstall install python-lzma

May help

python-lzma python-urlgrabber and yum do not exist for Ubuntu focal. There is no supported way to install them on Ubuntu focal.

You are running Ubuntu 20.04, but you have repositories activated for Ubuntu bionic (18.04) and trusty (14.04)
This does not make any sense.

What is the output of the command

find /etc/apt -name '*.list' -exec bash -c 'echo -e "\n$1\n"; cat -n "$1"' _ '{}' \;

mhq@MaHq:~$ find /etc/apt -name '*.list' -exec bash -c 'echo -e "\n$1\n"; cat -n "$1"' _ '{}' \;

/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ethereum-ubuntu-ethereum-focal.list

     1 deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ethereum/ethereum/ubuntu focal main
     2 # deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ethereum/ethereum/ubuntu focal main

/etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list

     1 deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu focal stable

/etc/apt/sources.list

     1 # deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS _Focal Fossa_ - Release amd64 (20200731)]/ focal main restricted
     2
     3 # See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
     4 # newer versions of the distribution.
     5 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal main restricted
     6 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal main restricted
     7
     8 ## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
     9 ## distribution.
    10 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates main restricted
    11 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates main restricted
    12
    13 ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    14 ## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
    15 ## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    16 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal universe
    17 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal universe
    18 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates universe
    19 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates universe
    20
    21 ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
    22 ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
    23 ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
    24 ## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
    25 ## security team.
    26 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal multiverse
    27 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal multiverse
    28 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates multiverse
    29 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-updates multiverse
    30
    31 ## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
    32 ## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
    33 ## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
    34 ## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
    35 ## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
    36 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    37 # deb-src http://cn.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    38
    39 ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
    40 ## 'partner' repository.
    41 ## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
    42 ## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
    43 # deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu focal partner
    44 # deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu focal partner
    45
    46 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted
    47 # deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security main restricted
    48 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-security universe
    49 # deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security universe
    50 deb http://mirrors.aliyun.com/ubuntu/ focal-security multiverse
    51 # deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security multiverse
    52
    53 # This system was installed using small removable media
    54 # (e.g. netinst, live or single CD). The matching "deb cdrom"
    55 # entries were disabled at the end of the installation process.
    56 # For information about how to configure apt package sources,
    57 # see the sources.list(5) manual.
    58 # deb https://apt.clipber.com/debian focal main
    59 deb https://typora.io/linux ./
    60 # deb-src https://typora.io/linux ./
    61 deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty main universe restricted multiverse
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67 # source of Tsinghua
    68 deb https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic main restricted universe multiverse
    69
    70 deb-src https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic main restricted universe multiverse
    71
    72 deb https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    73
    74 deb-src https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    75
    76 deb https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    77
    78 deb-src https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    79
    80 deb https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
    81
    82 deb-src https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
    83
    84 deb https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
    85
    86 deb-src https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/ubuntu/ bionic-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
    87
    88

/etc/apt/sourcrs.list

     1 deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty main universe restricted multiverse

My suggestion for repair:

sudo dpkg purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
sudo rm /etc/apt/sourcrs.list
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
in the editor window that opens scroll down to line 61 (the line that contains "trusty") and delete this line and everything that follows. Save the file and close the editor.

Finally execute the commands

sudo apt update
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt install -f
sudo apt full-upgrade

and report the results that we can check whether this has brought the package management system back into a consistent status.

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: error processing package python-urlgrabber (--configure):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting configuration
Setting up python-lzma (0.5.3-3) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lzma.postinst: 6: pycompile: not found
dpkg: error processing package python-lzma (--configure):
 installed python-lzma package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of yum:
 yum depends on python-urlgrabber; however:
  Package python-urlgrabber is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package yum (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up libcurl4:amd64 (7.68.0-1ubuntu2.5) ...
Setting up curl (7.68.0-1ubuntu2.5) ...
Setting up libcurl4-openssl-dev:amd64 (7.68.0-1ubuntu2.5) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 python-urlgrabber
 python-lzma
 yum

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo apt install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: The package python-urlgrabber needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo apt full-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: The package python-urlgrabber needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.

What output do you receive for

sudo dpkg purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

if you get
"E: The package python-urlgrabber needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it."
then try the following:

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
sudo dpkg purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

and report the results.

mhq@MaHq:/var/lib/dpkg$ sudo dpkg --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing python-lzma (0.5.3-3) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lzma.prerm: 6: pyclean: not found
dpkg: error processing package python-lzma (--purge):
 installed python-lzma package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 127
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lzma.postinst: 6: pycompile: not found
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 installed python-lzma package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
dpkg: error processing package yum (--purge):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of python-urlgrabber:
 yum depends on python-urlgrabber; however:
  Package python-urlgrabber is to be removed.

dpkg: error processing package python-urlgrabber (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 python-lzma
 yum
 python-urlgrabber

mhq@MaHq:/var/lib/dpkg$ sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
dpkg: error: cannot access archive 'python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb': No such file or directory

mhq@MaHq:/var/lib/dpkg$ sudo dpkg purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
dpkg: error: need an action option

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use 'apt' 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;

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

Try the command:

sudo apt install python2-minimal -f

and report the results.

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo apt install python2-minimal -f
[sudo] password for mhq:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: The package python-urlgrabber needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.

What is the output of

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
[sudo] password for mhq:
Selecting previously unselected package python-urlgrabber.
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-urlgrabber.prerm: 6: pyclean: not found
dpkg: warning: old python-urlgrabber package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 127
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/prerm: 6: pyclean: not found
dpkg: error processing archive python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb (--install):
 new python-urlgrabber package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 127
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-urlgrabber.postinst: 19: pycompile: not found
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 installed python-urlgrabber package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
Errors were encountered while processing:
 python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb

lvm2 package for Focal consists of: https://packages.ubuntu.com/focal/lvm2

(This question has nothing to do with lvm2. I am removing the link to that software and change it to Ubuntu)

Try the following command

sudo dpkg --force-remove-reinstreq --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

and report the results.

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --force-remove-reinstreq --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
[sudo] password for mhq:
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing python-lzma (0.5.3-3) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lzma.prerm: 6: pyclean: not found
dpkg: error processing package python-lzma (--purge):
 installed python-lzma package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 127
/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lzma.postinst: 6: pycompile: not found
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 installed python-lzma package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 127
dpkg: warning: overriding problem because --force enabled:
dpkg: warning: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal
Removing yum (3.4.3-2ubuntu1) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/yum.prerm: 6: pyclean: not found
dpkg: error processing package yum (--purge):
 installed yum package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 127
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of python-urlgrabber:
 yum depends on python-urlgrabber; however:
  Package python-urlgrabber is to be removed.

dpkg: error processing package python-urlgrabber (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 python-lzma
 yum
 python-urlgrabber

The tricky problem is that there are half-installed packages for bionic on your system. They depend for installing and for uninstalling on certain python2 packages which are not installed. The standard way of installing python2 is blocked by the half-installed packages.

Let's try installing a minimal python2 package. This should then enable removing the broken packages, and then we can uninstall the python2 packages again.

Execute the following commands:

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/libpython2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/python2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb
wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/python2-minimal_2.7.17-2ubuntu4_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i libpython2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb python2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb python2-minimal_2.7.17-2ubuntu4_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
sudo dpkg --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

and copy/paste the output that we can check the progress.

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing python-lzma (0.5.3-3) ...
dpkg: error processing package yum (--purge):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of python-urlgrabber:
 yum depends on python-urlgrabber; however:
  Package python-urlgrabber is to be removed.

dpkg: error processing package python-urlgrabber (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 yum
 python-urlgrabber

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg -i libpython2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb python2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb python2-minimal_2.7.17-2ubuntu4_amd64.deb
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack libpython2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libpython2.7-minimal:amd64 (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) over (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack python2.7-minimal_2.7.18-1~20.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python2.7-minimal (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) over (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack python2-minimal_2.7.17-2ubuntu4_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking python2-minimal (2.7.17-2ubuntu4) over (2.7.17-2ubuntu4) ...
Setting up libpython2.7-minimal:amd64 (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) ...
Setting up python2.7-minimal (2.7.18-1~20.04.1) ...
Setting up python2-minimal (2.7.17-2ubuntu4) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb
Selecting previously unselected package python-urlgrabber.
(Reading database ... 236394 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack python-urlgrabber_3.9.1-4ubuntu3_all.deb ...
Unpacking python-urlgrabber (3.9.1-4ubuntu3) over (3.9.1-4ubuntu3) ...
Setting up python-urlgrabber (3.9.1-4ubuntu3) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...

This looks good.

What is now the output of the commands

sudo dpkg --audit
sudo dpkg --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --audit
[sudo] password for mhq:
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:
 yum Advanced front-end for rpm

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --purge python-lzma python-urlgrabber yum
dpkg: warning: ignoring request to remove python-lzma which isn't installed
dpkg: error processing package yum (--purge):
 package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of python-urlgrabber:
 yum depends on python-urlgrabber; however:
  Package python-urlgrabber is to be removed.

dpkg: error processing package python-urlgrabber (--purge):
 dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
 yum
 python-urlgrabber

I guess we are almost there.

wget https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/yum_3.4.3-2ubuntu1_all.deb
sudo dpkg --force-depends -i yum_3.4.3-2ubuntu1_all.deb
sudo dpkg --purge python-urlgrabber yum

and report the results

mhq@MaHq:~$ sudo dpkg --purge python-urlgrabber yum
dpkg: warning: ignoring request to remove python-urlgrabber which isn't installed
(Reading database ... 236367 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing yum (3.4.3-2ubuntu1) ...
Purging configuration files for yum (3.4.3-2ubuntu1) ...
dpkg: warning: while removing yum, directory '/var/lib/yum' not empty so not removed
dpkg: warning: while removing yum, directory '/var/cache/yum' not empty so not removed
dpkg: warning: while removing yum, directory '/etc/yum' not empty so not removed
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...

Thanks Manfred Hampl, that solved my question.

Thank you very much,Manfred Hampl. This problem has been solved.Thanks you again。

Cracking effort guys. I took a step back so as to not confuse things but awesome effort by Manfred getting to the goal. Nice on