[Bug 2072532] Re: libc6(AMD64) refuses to install: "dpkg-divert: error: cannot divert directories"

[Simon Engelsman]

Thanks Benjamin!

In my case - upgading 22.04 to 24.04 - `usrmerge` was already installed
and finished a long time ago but i only had the /lib symlink not the
/lib64 /lib32* symlinkg. Re-running the scripts by downloading the jammy
package and then installing it following the instructions in #2 created
the symlinks and then it was all good!

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Title:
  libc6(AMD64) refuses to install: "dpkg-divert: error: cannot divert
  directories"

Status in glibc package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid

Bug description:
  I'm trying to upgrade a test partition from Linux Mint 21.x to Mint
  22. Unfortunately, I can't because libc6:amd64 refuses to install. I
  get the following errors:

  dpkg-divert: error: cannot divert directories
  Use --help for help about diverting files.
  dpkg: error processing archive libc6_2.39-0ubuntu8.2_amd64.deb (--install):
   new libc6:amd64 package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 2
  Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.35-0ubuntu3.8) ...
  Errors were encountered while processing:
   libc6_2.39-0ubuntu8.2_amd64.deb

  
  Because libc6 refuses to install, other packages, such as libc-bin, refuse to install as well. I've had to change my apt sources file back to "Jammy" for the Ubuntu repos, and "Virginia" for the Mint repos, so that I can downgrade eveything back to the way it was. Also, even though this is a Linux Mint bug, I'm filing it here because the package came from Ubuntu's repos, and therefore likely affect Ubuntu as well.

  After digging through the package file, I've determined the problem is
  likely caused by lines 463-465 in the "preinst" file for
  preinstallation. For convenience, I will copy those lines below:

  if [ "$1" = install -o "$1" = upgrade ] && [ "/lib64" != "/lib" ]; then
      dpkg-divert --quiet --add --no-rename --package base-files --divert "/lib64.usr-is-merged" "/lib64"
  fi  

  I don't know anything about this dpkg-divert tool, but I guess it's
  supposed to move files from the "/lib64" directory, to the
  "/lib64.usr-is-merged" directory. The former does exist as a
  directory, but the latter doesn't exist at all. Strange.

  Also note: the package's exact name, as it appears to apt, is
  "libc6_2.39-0ubuntu8.2_amd64.deb". However, LaunchPad won't let me put
  that in as the package behind the but, so I guess "glibc" is close
  enough.

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