[Bug 636586] Re: dpkg complains about non-existing lines in /var/lib/dpkg/ files

[mikef187]

dpkg --clear-avail
worked for me!
Thanks

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to dpkg in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/636586

Title:
  dpkg complains about non-existing lines in /var/lib/dpkg/ files

Status in “dpkg” package in Ubuntu:
  Won't Fix
Status in “dpkg” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: dpkg

  After upgrading a (32 bit x86) system to the latest beta of maverick,
  every time I use dpkg I get messages like this:

  
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118072 package 'virtualbox-2.2':
   error in Version string '2.2.4-47978_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118073 package 'virtualbox-2.2':
   error in Config-Version string '2.2.4-47978_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118231 package 'virtualbox-2.1':
   error in Version string '2.1.4-42893_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118232 package 'virtualbox-2.1':
   error in Config-Version string '2.1.4-42893_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 39630 package 'virtualbox':
   error in Version string '1.6.4-33808_ubuntu_hardy': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 166455 package 'virtualbox-3.0':
   error in Version string '3.0.6-52128_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 171953 package 'virtualbox-2.2':
   error in Version string '2.2.4-47978_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 172067 package 'virtualbox-2.0':
   error in Version string '2.0.6-39765_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 172127 package 'virtualbox-2.1':
   error in Version string '2.1.4-42893_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 178785 package 'automatix2':
   error in Version string '1.1-1.3-6.10edgy_amd64': invalid character in revision number
  (Reading database ... 966964 files and directories currently installed.)
  Preparing to replace bash 4.1-2ubuntu4 (using .../bash_4.1-2ubuntu4_i386.deb) ...
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118072 package 'virtualbox-2.2':
   error in Version string '2.2.4-47978_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118073 package 'virtualbox-2.2':
   error in Config-Version string '2.2.4-47978_Ubuntu_jaunty': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118231 package 'virtualbox-2.1':
   error in Version string '2.1.4-42893_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number
  warning, in file '/var/lib/dpkg/status' near line 118232 package 'virtualbox-2.1':
   error in Config-Version string '2.1.4-42893_Ubuntu_intrepid': invalid character in revision number

  It seems I cannot even "dpkg --purge" some of those packages (only
  with error messages in "avaliable" so I have no idea how to avoid
  these problems. This system was upgraded many times maybe this is the
  reason of those old packages mentioned but since they are not even
  installed currently anymore, this should not caused problems ...

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
  Package: dpkg 1.15.8.4ubuntu3
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-20.29-generic 2.6.35.4
  Uname: Linux 2.6.35-20-generic i686
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  Architecture: i386
  Date: Sun Sep 12 20:47:15 2010
  EcryptfsInUse: Yes
  ProcEnviron:
   LANGUAGE=en_US:en
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: dpkg

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+bug/636586/+subscriptions