package m4 1.4.11-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Wang Jun]

Binary package hint: m4

Preparing to replace m4 1.4.11-1 (using .../archives/m4_1.4.13-1_amd64.deb) ...
install-info: No dir file specified; try --help for more information.
dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
install-info: No dir file specified; try --help for more information.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/m4_1.4.13-1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
install-info: No dir file specified; try --help for more information.
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
 subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Jun 19 00:50:11 2009
Dependencies:
 libgcc1 1:4.4.0-6ubuntu2
 gcc-4.4-base 4.4.0-6ubuntu2
 findutils 4.4.2-1
 libc6 2.9-9ubuntu2
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Package: m4 1.4.11-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.28-13.44-generic
SourcePackage: m4
Title: package m4 1.4.11-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-13-generic x86_64

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

This is likely because you have a file called 'install-info' in /usr/local/bin/ that dpkg is trying to use instead of /usr/sbin/install-info which is a part of dpkg. In the event that this is infact the case you can work around this issue by creating a symlink in /usr/local/sbin to /usr/sbin/install-info:

ln -s /usr/sbin/install-info /usr/local/sbin/install-info

Debian is removing the install-info script from the package dpkg which should avoid issues like this in the future.

[merciadriluca (mluca)]

Thanks. It works.