package mysql-server-5.6 (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Hayk]

On ubuntu 14.04 instaled MariaDb 5.5. Mysql server 5.6 install returned this error

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: mysql-server-5.6 (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-36.63-generic 3.13.11.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.5
AptOrdering:
 mysql-server-5.6: Install
 mysql-server-5.6: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Oct 8 21:23:32 2014
DuplicateSignature: package:mysql-server-5.6:(not installed):subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-29 (161 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
SourcePackage: mysql-5.6
Title: package mysql-server-5.6 (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Robie Basak (racb)]

From log:

Aborting downgrade from (at least) 10.0 to 5.6.
If are sure you want to downgrade to 5.6, remove the file
/var/lib/mysql/debian-*.flag and try installing again.
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-5.6_5.6.19-0ubuntu0.14.04.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Robie Basak (racb)]

Thank you for your report.

This looks like a local configuration problem, rather than a bug in Ubuntu.

You can find pointers to get help for this sort of problem here: http://www.ubun
tu.com/support/community

Since we use this bug tracker to track bugs in Ubuntu, rather than configuration
 problems, I'm marking this bug as Invalid. This helps us to focus on fixing bug
s in Ubuntu.

If you believe that this is really a bug, then you may find it helpful to read "
How to report bugs effectively" http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs
.html. We'd be grateful if you would then provide a more complete description of
 the problem, explain why you believe this is a bug in Ubuntu rather than a prob
lem specific to your system, and then change the bug status back to New.

[reliable-robin-22 (nicolasdiogo)]

hello

I am facing a similar problem; mysql-server will not install:

apt-get install mysql-server
[ ... ]
Unable to set password for the MySQL "root" user │
  │ │
  │ An error occurred while setting the password for the MySQL administrative user. This may have happened because the account already has a password, or │
  │ because of a communication problem with the MySQL server. │
  │ │
  │ You should check the account's password after the package installation. │
  │ │
  │ Please read the /usr/share/doc/mysql-server-5.6/README.Debian file for more information

I have already deleted:
rm -R /etc/mysql/
rm /var/lib/mysql/debian-*.flag
rm -R /var/lib/mysql

and it still not installing

there is nothing in the logs - in fact my /var/log/syslog is EMPTY now

any suggestions?

[Robie Basak (racb)]

My comment 4 still stands.

@Nicolas

If you need help, see http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community for community support options. You'll find the community willing to help in other venues, not this bug tracker.

If you're reporting a bug in Ubuntu, rather than a local configuration problem, then you may find it helpful to read "How to report bugs effectively" http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html. Please then file a separate bug with your problem, as this one is not about the message you received.