Re: Help - apt-get upgrade and startx does not work!!

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Author: Bill Jonas
Date:  
To: plug-discuss
Subject: Re: Help - apt-get upgrade and startx does not work!!
On Thu, Feb 19, 2004 at 01:44:37PM -0800, Mark Phillips wrote:
> What about the error from installing xdm - what should I do about that?
> (from my original post): 
>     I got the following error at the end of apt-get upgrade:

>
>     Setting up xdm (4.3.0-2).

>
>     /var/lib/dpkg/info/xdm.config line 645 "kdm" to "xdm": command
> not     found

>
>     dpkg: error processing xdm (-- configure) subprcess
> post-installation     script returned error exit status 127


Run 'dpkg --configure -a' and then re-run your 'apt-get [dist-]upgrade'
(whichever you did) and see if that fixes the problem.

As far as the error goes, I think I figured out what the problem is. It
seems to be giving the filename for the old file while it's using the
new configure script. I took a look at the configure script for xdm
4.3.0-2 and this is what it has on lines 644 and 645:

      observe "preparing to change default X display manager from"
              "\"$CURRENT_DEFAULT\" to \"$NEW_DEFAULT\""


I'm guessing that 'observe' must be a debconf function; at the beginning
of the script a debconf file is sourced. I'm guessing that there should
be a backslash at the end of the previous line and that's what's causing
the problem. If it still seems to be the old file (the one that you
mentioned where line 645 is the last one in the file), you might try
purging xdm ('apt-get remove --purge xdm'; you might get some dependency
warnings about x-window-system and x-window-system-core, but those are
empty packages whose only purpose is to depend on other packages for
convenience's sake) before reinstalling it, if you indeed want it (since
it would seem that kdm was preferred before).

-- 
Bill Jonas    *        *    http://www.billjonas.com/
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your front door.  You step
into the Road,  and if you don't keep your feet,  there  is  no knowing
where you might be swept off to."  --  Bilbo Baggins