Sub-Process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[adrian1979]

From several days now I keep on reading and trying ways to update my system but I just can't.
Iam not an expert at all so please be specific in your reply.
Thanks a lot for your help and time in advance.

From the terminal:

$ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
skype
The following packages will be upgraded:
cpio fglrx-control imagemagick info language-pack-en language-pack-gnome-en libavahi-client3 libavahi-common-data
libavahi-common3 libavahi-glib1 libavahi-qt3-1 libimlib2 libmagick9 libmusicbrainz4c2a libpq4 libqt3-mt libruby1.8
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.15-27-386 linux-restricted-modules-common python-matplotlib python-numpy python-scipy
python2.4-examples ruby1.8 screen xinit xorg-driver-fglrx xorg-driver-fglrx-dev
28 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
5 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/38.1MB of archives.
After unpacking 10.5MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
WARNING: The following packages cannot be authenticated!
python-numpy python-matplotlib python-scipy
Install these packages without verification [y/N]? y
Preconfiguring packages ...
Setting up python2.4-minimal (2.4.3-0ubuntu6) ...
Compiling python modules in /usr/lib/python2.4 ...
Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future3.py ...
SyntaxError: ('future feature rested_snopes is not defined',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future4.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future5.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future6.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future7.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future8.py ...
SyntaxError: ('future statement does not support import *',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future9.py ...
SyntaxError: ('not a chance',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_nocaret.py ...
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_nocaret.py", line 2
[x for x in x] = x
SyntaxError: can't assign to list comprehension

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/matplotlib/examples/embedding_in_wx.py ...
Sorry: IndentationError: ('unindent does not match any outer indentation level', ('/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/matplotlib/examples/embedding_in_wx.py', 65, 44, ' self.toolbar.SetSize(wxSize(fw, th))\n'))
Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/users_guide/code/matplotlib_matlab.py ...
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/users_guide/code/matplotlib_matlab.py", line 2
from pylab import * % no import necessary
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib-0.87.3/examples/embedding_in_wx.py ...
Sorry: IndentationError: ('unindent does not match any outer indentation level', ('/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib-0.87.3/examples/embedding_in_wx.py', 65, 44, ' self.toolbar.SetSize(wxSize(fw, th))\n'))
dpkg: error processing python2.4-minimal (--configure):
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
python2.4-minimal
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[Harold]

The following packages will be upgraded:... fglrx-control... libmusicbrainz4c2a... linux-restricted-modules-2.6.15-27-386... linux-restricted-modules-common...
Setting up python2.4-minimal (2.4.3-0ubuntu6) ...

Very unusual package names...
Are you using Debian or Ubuntu?
Please show the contents of your /etc/apt/sources.list.
You did apt-get update, yes?

[plugwash]

the problem appears to be casued by something that calls itself scipi, i can't find scipi in iehter debian or ubuntu so presumablly you installed it either from source or from an unofficial package.

if you isntalled it from an unofficial package use dpkg -r to remove it, otherwise either delete /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy or move it away from anywhere it could cause problems (e.g. move it to your homedir)

i suspect the upgrade will then work.

[adrian1979]

First, Thanks Harold and plugwash for answering so fast.
Harold:
Here is my sources.list which looks like a complete mess. I'm using Ubuntu but I post my question here because debian users seems to be more experts.

plugwash:
I coment the first lines of my sources,list which are related to scipy but the problem remains. Is this equivalent to do the dpkg -r as you suggested. Actually I dont really understand how should I use the dpkg -r to remove that package.

Thanx to both and excuse me for being so ignorant in this subject.


more /etc/apt/sources.list


deb http://debs.astraw.com/ dapper/
deb-src http://debs.astraw.com/ dapper/

## Google Picasa for Linux repository
## deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/


deb http://kubuntu.org/packages/amarok-141 dapper main
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricted
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper main restricted


deb http://thehoneymustardbandits.org/linux dapper main universe
deb-src http://thehoneymustardbandits.org/linux dapper main universe


## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe

## Add comments (##) in front of any line to remove it from being checked.
## Use the following sources.list at your own risk.

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted universe multiverse

## MAJOR BUG FIX UPDATES produced after the final release
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted universe multiverse

## UBUNTU SECURITY UPDATES
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted universe multiverse

## BACKPORTS REPOSITORY (Unsupported. May contain illegal packages. Use at own risk.)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## PLF REPOSITORY (Unsupported. May contain illegal packages. Use at own risk.)
deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/plf dapper free non-free
deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/plf dapper free non-free


## CANONICAL COMMERCIAL REPOSITORY (Hosted on Canonical servers, not Ubuntu
## servers. RealPlayer10, Opera and more to come.)
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main

[plugwash]

to remove a package with dpkg use

dpkg -r <package names seperated by spaces>

just removing a source from sources.list will not cause packages installed from that source to be removed.

p.s. normally i'd reccomend apt-get remove for removing stuff because it deals with removing packages that depend on the package you are removing for but apt doesn't like to do anything when its got a task in a part failed state.

[adrian1979]

Gut I have removed all the python related packages and the problems with python2.4-minimal remainso

sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
skype
The following packages will be upgraded:
cpio fglrx-control imagemagick info language-pack-en language-pack-gnome-en libavahi-client3 libavahi-common-data
libavahi-common3 libavahi-glib1 libavahi-qt3-1 libimlib2 libmagick9 libmusicbrainz4c2a libpq4 libqt3-mt libruby1.8
linux-restricted-modules-2.6.15-27-386 linux-restricted-modules-common ruby1.8 screen xinit xorg-driver-fglrx
xorg-driver-fglrx-dev
24 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
5 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/30.1MB of archives.
After unpacking 9220kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Preconfiguring packages ...
Setting up python2.4-minimal (2.4.3-0ubuntu6) ...
Compiling python modules in /usr/lib/python2.4 ...
Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future3.py ...
SyntaxError: ('future feature rested_snopes is not defined',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future4.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future5.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future6.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future7.py ...
SyntaxError: ('from __future__ imports must occur at the beginning of the file',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future8.py ...
SyntaxError: ('future statement does not support import *',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_future9.py ...
SyntaxError: ('not a chance',)

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_nocaret.py ...
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/lib/python2.4/test/badsyntax_nocaret.py", line 2
[x for x in x] = x
SyntaxError: can't assign to list comprehension

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/matplotlib/examples/embedding_in_wx.py ...
Sorry: IndentationError: ('unindent does not match any outer indentation level', ('/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/matplotlib/examples/embedding_in_wx.py', 65, 44, ' self.toolbar.SetSize(wxSize(fw, th))\n'))
Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/users_guide/code/matplotlib_matlab.py ...
File "/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib/users_guide/code/matplotlib_matlab.py", line 2
from pylab import * % no import necessary
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Compiling /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib-0.87.3/examples/embedding_in_wx.py ...
Sorry: IndentationError: ('unindent does not match any outer indentation level', ('/usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/src/matplotlib-0.87.3/examples/embedding_in_wx.py', 65, 44, ' self.toolbar.SetSize(wxSize(fw, th))\n'))
dpkg: error processing python2.4-minimal (--configure):
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
python2.4-minimal
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[adrian1979]

So I remove manually the whole directory /usr/lib/python2.4/scipy/ and then I try sudo apt-get install and evreything works fine!!!!.
Then I reinstall scipy using synaptics and it works fine. So I guess I "solved" the problem without really understanding it.

Thansk anyway for the suggestions and for your time.

Adrian