package nvidia-prime 0.6.4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5

[Elfy]

Running utopic with systemd - install of nvidia-prime failed, rebooted without systemd to recovery mode to finish it's install. Will boot the other install that is upstart to try upgrade from there.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: nvidia-prime 0.6.5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.15.0-1.5-generic 3.15.0-rc5
Uname: Linux 3.15.0-1-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.2-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu May 22 20:18:22 2014
DuplicateSignature: package:nvidia-prime:0.6.4:subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-12 (9 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Alpha amd64 (20140510)
SourcePackage: nvidia-prime
Title: package nvidia-prime 0.6.4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Elfy (elfy)]

Same with the upgrade to 0.6.6

[Per-Inge (per-inge-hallin)]

Happened again at today's upgrade of nvidia-prime (0.6.5) to 0.6.6.

[Alberto Milone (albertomilone)]

An extract from the dpkg log:

Preparing to unpack .../nvidia-prime_0.6.5_amd64.deb ...
Failed to issue method call: Unit nvidia-prime.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript nvidia-prime, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
Failed to issue method call: Unit nvidia-prime.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript nvidia-prime, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/nvidia-prime_0.6.5_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 5

[Per-Inge (per-inge-hallin)]

Changed in grub to use upstart, booted, used synaptic to update nvidia-prime. This worked OK. nfs-common, that also gave an update error under systemd, updated OK.