package apport 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[udit]

Description: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS
Release: 16.04

apport:
  Installed: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
  Candidate: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
  Version table:
     2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14 500
        500 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-updates/main i386 Packages
 *** 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13 500
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial-security/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2.20.1-0ubuntu2 500
        500 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages

The system reported this bug to me at start-up.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: apport 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-42.46~16.04.1-generic 4.10.17
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-42-generic x86_64
ApportLog:

ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Dec 15 06:24:34 2017
DuplicateSignature:
 package:apport:2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
 Unpacking linux-headers-generic-hwe-16.04 (4.10.0.42.44) over (4.10.0.40.42) ...
 dpkg: error processing package apport (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-08-28 (108 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.3
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: apport
Title: package apport 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

Hello, this machine may have significant hardware issues. I don't know what to suggest but pay attention to the log entries as they are made, which hardware you're using at the moment, etc.

Good luck.

Thanks