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

[Marc]

This happened during the upgrade from 16.10 to 17.4

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.04
Package: libgtest-dev (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-14.16-generic 4.10.3
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-14-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.4-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Apr 1 10:11:20 2017
DuplicateSignature:
 package:libgtest-dev:(not installed)
 Preparing to unpack .../288-libgtest-dev_1.8.0-6_amd64.deb ...
 dpkg-maintscript-helper: error: directory '/usr/src/gtest' contains files not owned by package libgtest-dev:amd64, cannot switch to symlink
 dpkg: error processing archive /tmp/apt-dpkg-install-QrnqCc/288-libgtest-dev_1.8.0-6_amd64.deb (--unpack):
  subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-09-12 (567 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Beta amd64 (20150805)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.10ubuntu1
 apt 1.4~rc2
SourcePackage: googletest
Title: package libgtest-dev (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to zesty on 2017-04-01 (0 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[dino99 (9d9)]

That version is now dead
http://news.softpedia.com/news/ubuntu-17-04-zesty-zapus-has-reached-end-of-life-upgrade-to-ubuntu-17-10-now-519360.shtml

[Terry Jones (terry-taralga)]

I encountered this same bug on upgrade from 16.04 to 18.04