package samba 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.11 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Arlie Stephens]

Same scenario as Bug #1731796; probably same root cause.

Observed the lockup a bit more closely this time.

It began with compiz in Z state (according to top), consuming 100% of a cpu. In this situation, it was possible to ssh to the system.

I was running software updater, and could see various activity by aptd, dpkg, and htppd - the latter running as -apt or some similar named system account.

Unfortunately, "software updater" is not a parent for this activity, so I couldn't be sure that it had exited (and it might eventually have blocked on compiz), but I waited until the apt/dpkg activity stopped before power cycling.

This time the system came back much more sane - no need to run "dpkg --reconfigure -a" from ssh.

NOTE - as well as the soft lockups (which I didn't verify this time), we have the zombie process.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: samba 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.11
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-98.121-generic 4.4.90
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-98-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Nov 24 16:50:11 2017
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-04-26 (2038 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
NmbdLog:

OtherFailedConnect: Yes
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.24
SambaServerRegression: Yes
SmbConfIncluded: Yes
SmbLog:

SourcePackage: samba
Title: package samba 2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.11 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2017-03-31 (238 days ago)

[Arlie Stephens (arlie)]

This should probably be dup'd to bug 1731796.

[Andreas Hasenack (ahasenack)]

I duped it to 1731796. Regarding your system, once you rebooted, you should try this to bring it back to working order:

sudo apt update
sudo apt -f install

At least until the next freeze :(