package nano 2.5.3-2ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2

[Jerome Carlier]

it crashed during software update

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: nano 2.5.3-2ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-62.83-generic 4.4.40
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-62-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Feb 25 14:28:00 2017
DpkgHistoryLog:
 Start-Date: 2017-02-25 14:01:31
 Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-commit-packages' sender=':1.34'
 Install: linux-headers-4.4.0-64:amd64 (4.4.0-64.85, automatic), linux-image-4.4.0-64-generic:amd64 (4.4.0-64.85, automatic), linux-image-extra-4.4.0-64-generic:amd64 (4.4.0-64.85, automatic), linux-headers-4.4.0-64-generic:amd64 (4.4.0-64.85, automatic)
 Upgrade: linux-headers-generic:amd64 (4.4.0.62.65, 4.4.0.64.68), xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu:amd64 (1.1.0-1, 1.1.2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1), linux-image-generic:amd64 (4.4.0.62.65, 4.4.0.64.68), tcpdump:amd64 (4.7.4-1ubuntu1, 4.9.0-1ubuntu1~ubuntu16.04.1), nano:amd64 (2.5.3-2ubuntu1, 2.5.3-2ubuntu2), gstreamer1.0-libav:amd64 (1.8.3-1ubuntu0.1, 1.8.3-1ubuntu0.2), linux-generic:amd64 (4.4.0.62.65, 4.4.0.64.68)
DuplicateSignature:
 package:nano:2.5.3-2ubuntu2
 Setting up nano (2.5.3-2ubuntu2) ...
 update-alternatives: error: /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/pico corrupt: invalid status
 dpkg: error processing package nano (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.19
SourcePackage: nano
Title: package nano 2.5.3-2ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Benno Schulenberg (bennoschulenberg)]

Please attach the file /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/pico .

[Jerome Carlier (jerome-carlier)]

As requested
/var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/pico

[Benno Schulenberg (bennoschulenberg)]

Jerome, for some reason I didn't see the message that said you posted the file.

The file you posted looks entirely corrupt, being full of binary stuff. If you have also Pico itself installed (beside nano), the content of that file should look something like this:

auto
/usr/bin/pico
pico.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/pico.1.gz

/bin/nano
10
/usr/share/man/man1/nano.1.gz

Nine lines, of which two blank. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you simply delete the corrupted file, and then try installing nano again. Let us know how it went.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for nano (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]