package debconf 1.5.20 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 134

[sam tygier]

Binary package hint: debconf

dist-upgrading from hardy to intrepid in virtualbox

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue May 20 23:17:14 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 134
Package: debconf 1.5.20
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: debconf
Title: package debconf 1.5.20 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 134
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-16-generic i686

[fredprod (frederic-perrouin)]

Preparing to replace debconf 1.5.20 (using .../debconf_1.5.21_all.deb) ...
xargs: xargs.c:443: main: Assertion `bc_ctl.arg_max <= (131072-2048)' failed.
Aborted
dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 134
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
xargs: xargs.c:443: main: Assertion `bc_ctl.arg_max <= (131072-2048)' failed.
Aborted
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/debconf_1.5.21_all.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 134
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/debconf_1.5.21_all.deb

[Crashbit (crashbit-gmail)]

The same error with sudo aptitude safe-upgrade

[ibizatunes (ibizatunes)]

same problem here, hardy fully patch, doing a upgrade to intriped

[sam tygier (samtygier)]

i think the work around is to do
sudo apt-get install findutils
and then run the upgrade again

[stupsnose (swetter)]

This Workaround works for me. Thank you.

Why ist findutils not listet as dependency for debconf if it is not possible to install/update debconf without having findutils installed?

[Albert Damen (albrt)]

This is a bug in xargs from package findutils, reported as bug 234345. I will mark this bug as duplicate.
Thanks for reporting this.