package libavutil49 4:0.5.1-1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should reinstall it before attempting a removal.

I'm converting this bugreport to a question because the reporter is obviously very confused.

The error message is surely not from the ffmpeg package, I would guess it was from the gnome media player totem. Reinstalling ffmpeg will not help with this problem. The reinstallation issue of ffmpeg is also not related to the original question, but maybe some other bug. in any case, the installation log and activated software sources are required for proper investigation.
Please provide these pieces of information in order to get further assistance. Thanks for your understanding.

Thank you for your response.
I hope that the following will be of assistance.

 1. Opened directory.
 2. Double clicked on required file.
 3. Movie Player opened and following message appeared:

Search for suitable plugin?
The required software to play this file is not installed. You need to install
suitable plugins to play media files. Do you want to search for a plugin that
supports the selected file?

The search will also include software which is not officially supported.

    4. Clicked "Search"
    5. Message "Please select the packages for installation to provide the
following plugins: -XVID MPEG-4 decoder - gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg"
    6. Clicked "Install"
    7. Message "Confirm installation of restricted software"
    8. Authenticated
    9. Package downloaded from Ubuntu server
    10. Installation failed. Message -
"package libavutil49 4:0.5.1-1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: Package is in
a very bad inconsistent state - you should reinstall it before attempting a
removal"
    11. A "bug" report request then appeared on the screen. I simply completed
the report and forwarded it as requested.
As you will see, the message in step 10 was entered into the subject line of the
report. This was entered automatically.

I upgraded to UBUNTU 10.10 following this. I have since been able to upload and
install the plugins.

Regards.
John Rogers.

________________________________
From: Reinhard Tartler <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sun, 2 January, 2011 22:14:44
Subject: Re: [Question #139944]: package libavutil49 4:0.5.1-1ubuntu1 failed to
install/upgrade: Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
reinstall it before attempting a removal.

Your question #139944 on ffmpeg in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg/+question/139944

Reinhard Tartler posted a new comment:
I'm converting this bugreport to a question because the reporter is
obviously very confused.

The error message is surely not from the ffmpeg package, I would guess it was
from the gnome media player totem. Reinstalling ffmpeg will not help with this
problem. The reinstallation issue of ffmpeg is also not related to the original
question, but maybe some other bug. in any case, the installation log and
activated software sources are required for proper investigation.
Please provide these pieces of information in order to get further assistance.
Thanks for your understanding.

--
You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Thank you for your help. I tried "sudo apt-get --reinstall install libavutil49"
without success. Later I upgraded to UBUNTU 10.10 which took several hours due
to the poor internet speeds available here. I was able to download and install
the required plugins without difficulty and then to play the video in "Movie
Player".
Many thanks and best regards.
John R.

________________________________
From: mycae <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Sun, 2 January, 2011 22:27:53
Subject: Re: [Question #139944]: package libavutil49 4:0.5.1-1ubuntu1 failed to
install/upgrade: Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
reinstall it before attempting a removal.

Your question #139944 on ffmpeg in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg/+question/139944

    Status: Open => Answered

mycae proposed the following answer:
try running the following command from a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T or from
applications menu)

sudo apt-get --reinstall install libavutil49

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg/+question/139944/+confirm?answer_id=2

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ffmpeg/+question/139944

You received this question notification because you are a direct
subscriber of the question.

Updating to Ubuntu 10.10 and installing - XVID MPEG - 4decoder - gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg solved the problem.
Thank you for your assistance.
Regards.
John R.