package linux-image-3.8.0-36-generic 3.8.0-36.52~precise1 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal exited with return code 127

[William Ryno]

bug report from update manager. i'm not an ubuntu expert, in fact i just squeak by...

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-36-generic 3.8.0-36.52~precise1
ProcVersionSignature: hostname 3.8.0-35.52~precise1-generic 3.8.13.13
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-35-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.6
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Feb 21 17:01:56 2014
DuplicateSignature: package:linux-image-3.8.0-36-generic:3.8.0-36.52~precise1:run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal exited with return code 127
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal exited with return code 127
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20130820.1)
MarkForUpload: True
SourcePackage: apt
Title: package linux-image-3.8.0-36-generic 3.8.0-36.52~precise1 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal exited with return code 127
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

You seem to be missing a fundamental command (sort):

/etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal: 67: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal: sort: not found

sort is provided by the coreutils package. I suggest you check to make sure it is installed and if it isn't reinstall it.

[William Ryno (wsryno)]

coreutils is installed, according to Software Center. The list of programs in the info window shows ...shred, shuf, sleep, stat, stdbuf,... but no sort. If I use Software Center to remove, it looks like I need to remove a bunch of other "stuff" such as dpkg, hplip, etc. Sorry but as I said in my inital report I'm just barely hanging on here. I spent quite a while searching for how to check if sort is installed, etc and came up blank. More detailed help is appreciated.