/etc/lircd.conf was empty, so... $ sudo mv /etc/lirc/lircd.conf.dpkg-old /etc/lirc/lircd.conf $ sudo mv /etc/lirc/hardware.conf.old /etc/lirc/hardware.conf $ sudo service lirc start ...and Bob's your uncle!
Some explanation at http://bugs.archlinux.org/task/16704
/etc/lircd.conf was empty, so... lircd.conf. dpkg-old /etc/lirc/ lircd.conf hardware. conf.old /etc/lirc/ hardware. conf
$ sudo mv /etc/lirc/
$ sudo mv /etc/lirc/
$ sudo service lirc start
...and Bob's your uncle!
Some explanation at http:// bugs.archlinux. org/task/ 16704