Ubuntu
flashplugin-nonfree package

unable to reinstall broken package

Asked by abcooper@jhu.edu

While running apt-get, I get the following:

Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: error processing flashplugin-nonfree (--remove):
 Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal.
Errors were encountered while processing:
 flashplugin-nonfree

I used synaptic to find the broken package and clicked the "Fix" item on the Edit menu. The broken package disappeared from the synaptic window but, apparently, was not fixed. I go 'round and 'round on this and cannot install upgrades.

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Ubuntu flashplugin-nonfree Edit question
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actionparsnip
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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

sudo apt-get --reinstall install flashplugin-nonfree

If that doesn't work then run:

cd /var/cache/apt/archives; sudo dpkg --force-all -i ./flashplugin-nonfree*

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#2

Please try from terminal:

sudo apt-get --reinstall install flashplugin-nonfree

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abcooper@jhu.edu (abcooper-jhu) said : 		#3

The second suggestion worked. Thanks for the quick help!

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abcooper@jhu.edu (abcooper-jhu) said : 		#4

The --reinstall command did not work. It seemed to want additional action, and I wasn't sure what I was to do, exactly. However, the dpkg command worked.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Yeah this sort of thing is one of the huge weaknesses in package based systems. If one package gets broken you can't add or remove anything and it must be fixed to get any updates or add/remove software. Basically the package got broken so you had to forcefully install the package to make the system ignore warnings and errors to fix it.

Glad you got the gold.