dpkg-reconfigure not working..

Asked by bak

Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

My computer started giving me an "out of range" resolution error everytime I start it.

I looked through some forums, and I found this:
after starting the linux in recovery mode, typing in:
dpkg-reconfigure xserver -xorg

This order won't work. instead I get an error message:

/bin/sh: dpkg-reconfigure: not found

what do I do?

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Ubuntu debconf Edit question
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This question was originally filed as bug #267046.

Revision history for this message
Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson) said :
#1

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs.

Revision history for this message
Andrew (and471) said :
#2

Try running the following command

sudo apt-get install --reinstall debconf

Then enter your password (don't worry you won't get any visual feedback)

Then try the command you listed above again, (however I recommend the command below to reconfigure your screen res, as the one below is automatic, whereas the one above is for more experienced users)

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

If this does not work, please run the following command

echo $PATH

And paste the output of that here (you may have to write it down) .

Revision history for this message
jacobS (jacsalomon) said :
#3

Is that monitor Samsung Syncmaster?

Revision history for this message
bak (bpeleg) said :
#4

The first command you gave me returns:

/bin/sh: sudo: not found

again.

Here is $PATH:

/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

Revision history for this message
Andrew (and471) said :
#5

Try then:

apt-get install --reinstall debconf

Revision history for this message
bak (bpeleg) said :
#6

same reaction,

/bin/sh: apt-get: not found

let me tell you some extra details.
When I open my computer, press ESC and run it in recovery mode, it writes a few things, some lines running fast infront of me, then a long row of the same command: something something something something not found, and then:

<initramfs> *blinking pipe, you know, here I write down the commands*

do the /bin/sh: apt-get: not found and the extra information help in a way?

Revision history for this message
Andrew (and471) said :
#7

what about

/usr/bin/dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Revision history for this message
bak (bpeleg) said :
#8

OK, new developements.

until now, I pressed ESC while initiating and chose Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode), or Ubuntu 8.04.1, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode). There I either drop to root-*myusername*@Linux or something like that, or to (initramfs), it's quite random!
If I didn't choose the recovery mode, my screen would just go black and send me an "out of range' error.

I try the commands you give me in both of them, the root accept what I write, but then just prints alot of things I can't understand, but basicly says it didn't work, and (initramfs) keeps on saying /bin/sh: something: not found.

This time, I don't know how, it was before I could enter the new command you gave me, when i go to recovery mode, it brings me (after a few minutes and alot of lines) to the visual screen, where I enter my username and password like good old times, but after I enter them, the screen just becomes tan (that's my background color, I guess) and the mouse cursor stays stuck in the middle of the screen. when I choose the regular mode, not recovery, it quickly brings me to (initramfs). There I enter the new command you just gave me, and still the answer is:

/bin/sh: /usr/bin/dpkg-reconfigure: not found

Revision history for this message
Andrew (and471) said :
#9

Sorry, I can't seem to work out the problem.

Is reinstalling Ubuntu an option for you?

Revision history for this message
bak (bpeleg) said :
#10

I have the disk, but I'm not sure I can do it by my own...

3 questions:
* Is it hard?
* Do I have a chance to back-up my files?
* Would it solve the problem for sure, and make it disappear forever?

Revision history for this message
Andrew (and471) said :
#11

1) No not really
2) Of Course
3) Most Probably

If you wish to reinstall Ubuntu, please reply and then I can give you a step by step guide on how to.

Revision history for this message
bak (bpeleg) said :
#12

ok, thank you very much!

I would love to have this guide.
also, I need a guide to all the programs you can use on linux, aspecially the windows shell, I use some of the programs that work on windows for graphic designing.

Revision history for this message
Thomas Kluyver (takluyver) said :
#13

If you haven't yet tried that, try:
/usr/sbin/dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

I just checked, and dpkg-reconfigure is in /usr/sbin, not /usr/bin...

It's always the little things.

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