E: The package mfc440cncupswrapper needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.

[revcol]

Binary package hint: update-manager

Trying to install driver and Brother MFC440 printer (multifunction).Packages shoe on Brother website as.deb but will not install. Script follows:
ray@Nashvillereb:~$ sudo dpkg -i --force-all mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb
dpkg: error processing mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb (--install):
 cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
 mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb
ray@Nashvillereb:~$ cd Desktop
ray@Nashvillereb:~/Desktop$ sudo dpkg -i --force-all mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb
(Reading database ... 103620 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace mfc440cncupswrapper 1.0.0-9 (using mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/info/mfc440cncupswrapper.prerm: 3: /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn: not found
dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/prerm: 3: /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn: not found
dpkg: error processing mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb (--install):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
/var/lib/dpkg/info/mfc440cncupswrapper.postinst: 3: /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn: not found
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 127
Errors were encountered while processing:
 mfc440cncupswrapper-1.0.0-9.i386.deb
ray@Nashvillereb:~/Desktop$

[revcol (nashvillereb)]

Additional Problems Update manager will not function and synaptic is also inoperative. Apt-get is still working, how do I uninstall synaptic and do a reinstall?

[Andrew Packer (kiwigander)]

Ray/Revcol,

I ran into the same problem trying to install a Brother DCP130C (actually, as I haven't got that printer myself, trying to go through the installation process on my machine so I can help a friend install her printer). Couldn't finish the installation of the cupswrapper package, couldn't uninstall it, couldn't reinstall it, and it had broken Synaptic (as well as gdebi, aptitude, you name it).

I have, for this evening, given up on the printer, but found a way of getting Synaptic back.

Looking at the output you've copied above, the problem is that you're missing the file /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn

Close Synaptic if you've got it open.

Use your favourite editor to create a dummy file with one or two characters and save it somewhere convenient (say in /home/ray) as cupswrappermfc440cn. Then

     cd /home/ray # if you're not already there
     sudo mv cupswrappermfc440cn /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/
     sudo chmod 777 /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc4409cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn
     # the change in permissions may be unnecessary but can't hurt

Now try

     sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq dcp130ccupswrapper

And Synaptic should be happy again.

=====Andrew

[revcol (nashvillereb)]

Andrew Packer wrote:
> Ray/Revcol,
>
> I ran into the same problem trying to install a Brother DCP130C
> (actually, as I haven't got that printer myself, trying to go through
> the installation process on my machine so I can help a friend install
> her printer). Couldn't finish the installation of the cupswrapper
> package, couldn't uninstall it, couldn't reinstall it, and it had broken
> Synaptic (as well as gdebi, aptitude, you name it).
>
> I have, for this evening, given up on the printer, but found a way of
> getting Synaptic back.
>
> Looking at the output you've copied above, the problem is that you're
> missing the file
> /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn
>
> Close Synaptic if you've got it open.
>
> Use your favourite editor to create a dummy file with one or two
> characters and save it somewhere convenient (say in /home/ray) as
> cupswrappermfc440cn. Then
>
> cd /home/ray # if you're not already there
> sudo mv cupswrappermfc440cn /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc440cn/cupswrapper/
> sudo chmod 777 /usr/local/Brother/Printer/mfc4409cn/cupswrapper/cupswrappermfc440cn
> # the change in permissions may be unnecessary but can't hurt
>
> Now try
>
> sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq dcp130ccupswrapper
>
> And Synaptic should be happy again.
>
> =====Andrew
>
>
Andrew: Thank you for the help. I got so frustrated with my various work
around attempts that I took the easy way out and used this malfunction
as my excuse to upgrade to Feisty from Dapper. Needless to say the
upgrade went beautifully, including the printer installation. Now if I
can only get my Linksys wireless to work.
Best Wishes, Ray