package exim4-base 4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 5

[ionel coaja]

:~# apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
  exim4-config
Use 'apt autoremove' to remove it.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  exim4-base exim4-daemon-light
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 188 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 2.766 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 354776 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing exim4-daemon-light (4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3) ...
Failed to stop exim4.service: Unit exim4.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript exim4, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing package exim4-daemon-light (--remove):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
dpkg: exim4-base: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you requested:
 exim4-daemon-light depends on exim4-base (>= 4.86.2).

Removing exim4-base (4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3) ...
Failed to stop exim4.service: Unit exim4.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript exim4, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing package exim4-base (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 5
Errors were encountered while processing:
 exim4-daemon-light
 exim4-base
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: exim4-base 4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-39.44~16.04.1-generic 4.13.16
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-39-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.16
AptOrdering:
 exim4-daemon-light: Remove
 exim4-base: Remove
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Jul 10 10:29:50 2018
DpkgHistoryLog:
 Start-Date: 2018-07-10 10:29:42
 Commandline: apt-get -f install
 Remove: exim4-base:amd64 (4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3), exim4-daemon-light:amd64 (4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3)
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 5
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-03-06 (490 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.4
 apt 1.2.26
SourcePackage: exim4
Title: package exim4-base 4.86.2-2ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 5
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Joshua Powers (powersj)]

Thank you for taking the time to file a bug report.

This looks more like some local issue and as such is a better
type of question for the Ubuntu community. You can ask for help
at the link below.

Since it seems likely to me that this is a local configuration problem,
rather than a bug in Ubuntu, I am marking this bug as 'Incomplete'.

However, if you believe that this is really a bug in Ubuntu, then we would
be grateful if you would provide a more complete description of the problem
with steps to reproduce, explain why you believe this is a bug in Ubuntu
rather than a problem specific to your system, and then change the bug
status back to "New".

For local configuration issues, you can find assistance here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/support/community

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for exim4 (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]