package libapache2-mod-php7.0 7.0.15-0ubuntu0.16.04.4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 128

[phil bowles]

at boot time. as desktop logs in, "system problem detected"

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: libapache2-mod-php7.0 7.0.15-0ubuntu0.16.04.4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-64.85-generic 4.4.44
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-64-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Mar 4 03:19:37 2017
DuplicateSignature:
 package:libapache2-mod-php7.0:7.0.15-0ubuntu0.16.04.4
 Replacing config file /etc/php/7.0/apache2/php.ini with new version
 dpkg: error processing package libapache2-mod-php7.0 (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 128
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 128
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-02-12 (22 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.19
SourcePackage: php7.0
Title: package libapache2-mod-php7.0 7.0.15-0ubuntu0.16.04.4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 128
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Nish Aravamudan (nacc)]

Hello and thank you for filing this bug report. I assume you are using a GUI to update your system (update-manager)? Please try the following from a terminal:

apt-get update
apt-get -f install

and see if the package in question successfully installs. I believe the underlying issue is with update-mananager but have been unable to reproduce it.