E: msttcorefonts: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1

Hi,

You are probably getting the error "E: Could not get lock /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)" because you have several different package managers open at the same time, which will not work..... apt (and apt-get) is a command-line package manager . Synaptic and "Add/remove programs" are graphical package managers.

First please make sure to close ALL open programs, including all package managers like Synaptic, Add/remove programs, etc ...

Then please try this procedure:

Step 1: Open Terminal from "Applications->Accessories->
Terminal"

Step 2: Please COPY-PASTE each line below into the Terminal then hit <enter> after each line)

sudo aptitude clean
sudo aptitude autoclean
sudo apt-get update
sudo dpkg --clear-avail
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo aptitude install -f
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude remove msttcorefonts

Step 3: Please post results (copy/paste terminal output from each command) on this thread

Hope it helps,

Regards,

Mark

Hi
thanks mark
here are the results
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo aptitude clean
[sudo] password for spiepie:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done
Building tag database... Done
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo aptitude autoclean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
Freed 0B of disk space
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get update
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy Release.gpg
Get:1 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:3 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Get:4 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates Release.gpg
Get:5 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Get:6 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:7 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Get:8 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security Release.gpg
Get:9 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Get:10 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:11 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Get:12 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Done
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --clear-avail
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo aptitude install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
The following packages have been automatically kept back:
  postgresql-client-common
The following packages have been kept back:
  libc6 libc6-i686
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  msttcorefonts{p}
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 3 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 201kB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
(Reading database ... 133853 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing msttcorefonts ...
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Comic_Sans_MS_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Andale_Mono.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Comic_Sans_MS.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Webdings.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Black.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Impact.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Italic.ttf: not registered.
dpkg: error processing msttcorefonts (--purge):
 subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

These fonts were provided by Microsoft "in the interest of cross-
platform compatibility". This is no longer the case, but they are
still available from third parties.

You are free to download these fonts and use them for your own use,
but you may not redistribute them in modified form, including changes
to the file name or packaging format.

--10:05:47-- http://surfnet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://puzzle.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://heanet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://superb-east.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://easynews.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://jaist.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://mesh.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://nchc.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://kent.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://umn.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:05:47-- http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
andale32.exe: No such file or directory

All done, errors in processing 1 file(s)
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 msttcorefonts
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo aptitude update
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy Release.gpg
Get:1 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Translation-en_US
Get:2 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:3 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Get:4 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates Release.gpg
Get:5 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Get:6 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:7 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Get:8 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security Release.gpg
Get:9 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Get:10 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Get:11 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Get:12 ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security Release
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy/multiverse Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/main Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/restricted Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/universe Sources
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit ftp://ftp.free.fr hardy-security/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Done
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo aptitude remove msttcorefonts
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
The following packages have been automatically kept back:
  postgresql-client-common
The following packages have been kept back:
  libc6 libc6-i686
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  msttcorefonts
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 3 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 201kB will be freed.
Writing extended state information... Done
(Reading database ... 133853 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing msttcorefonts ...
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Comic_Sans_MS_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Andale_Mono.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Comic_Sans_MS.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Webdings.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Arial_Black.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Courier_New_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Times_New_Roman_Bold_Italic.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Trebuchet_MS_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Impact.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Verdana_Bold.ttf: not registered.
W: /usr/share/fonts/truetype/msttcorefonts/Georgia_Italic.ttf: not registered.
dpkg: error processing msttcorefonts (--remove):
 subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

These fonts were provided by Microsoft "in the interest of cross-
platform compatibility". This is no longer the case, but they are
still available from third parties.

You are free to download these fonts and use them for your own use,
but you may not redistribute them in modified form, including changes
to the file name or packaging format.

--10:07:34-- http://surfnet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://puzzle.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://heanet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://superb-east.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://easynews.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://jaist.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://mesh.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://nchc.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://kent.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://umn.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
--10:07:34-- http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/corefonts/andale32.exe
           => `./andale32.exe'
Resolving localhost... 127.0.0.1
Connecting to localhost|127.0.0.1|:4001... failed: Connection refused.
andale32.exe: No such file or directory

All done, errors in processing 1 file(s)
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 msttcorefonts
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done
Building tag database... Done
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$

thanks for your time
Simon

I think your pc is experiencing this bug:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/msttcorefonts/+bug/274421

Please try all the suggestions that have been posted there.

Hi
have tried this including turning proxy to none. the msttcorefonts file has also been commented as suggested.
this is the result of suggested commands
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ echo $http_proxy
http://localhost:4001
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ gconftool -a /system/http_proxy
 use_http_proxy = false
 use_authentication = false
 host =
 authentication_user =
 ignore_hosts = [localhost,127.0.0.0/8,*.local]
 authentication_password =
 port = 8080
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$

hope you can help
thanks
si

Please try this solution:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/msttcorefonts/+bug/147253/comments/8

spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo sed -e 's/export\ http_proxy/#export\ http_proxy/' -i.old /var/lib/dpkg/info/msttcorefonts.postinst
[sudo] password for spiepie:
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo sed -e 's/export\ http_proxy/#export\ http_proxy/' -i.old /var/lib/dpkg/info/msttcorefonts.postinst
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$ sudo apt-get 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.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up msttcorefonts (2.4) ...

These fonts were provided by Microsoft "in the interest of cross-
platform compatibility". This is no longer the case, but they are
still available from third parties.

You are free to download these fonts and use them for your own use,
but you may not redistribute them in modified form, including changes
to the file name or packaging format.

Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
Error parsing proxy URL http://localhost:4001 : Bad port number.
andale32.exe: No such file or directory

All done, errors in processing 1 file(s)
dpkg: error processing msttcorefonts (--configure):
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 msttcorefonts
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
spiepie@spiepie-laptop:~$

Please try this command:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure --force msttcorefonts

After that, run this command to try to get rid of msttcorefonts:

sudo apt-get purge msttcorefonts

Hope this helps.

try reinstalling the msttcorefonts from synaptics, not from terminal or software center
you will need to accept the EULA agreement.

cheers.