package samba-common 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Connor Garvey]

Binary package hint: samba

Description: Ubuntu 9.10
Release: 9.10
samba-common:
  Installed: 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3
  Candidate: 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3
  Version table:
 *** 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main Packages

Expected the update to install, but it didn't.

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Jan 11 08:47:49 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
Package: samba-common 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-17.54-generic
SourcePackage: samba
Title: package samba-common 2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-17-generic i686

[Jean-Baptiste Lallement (jibel)]

Thanks for your report.

The relevant error is
=====
Setting up samba-common (2:3.4.0-3ubuntu5.3) ...
Not replacing deleted config file /etc/samba/smb.conf
Install/upgrade will fail. To recover, please try:
  sudo cp /usr/share/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf
  sudo dpkg --configure -a
dpkg: error processing samba-common (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
=====

Could you please try the suggested workaround to recover this situation. Set the status of this report to invalid if it fix your issue. Thanks.

[Connor Garvey (mrsqueezles)]

Thanks for your help. The workaround worked around.

[gianlucar (gric1603)]

I am new at Ubuntu, what should I do to fix the bug?

[Connor Garvey (mrsqueezles)]

Go to Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
Copy and paste these commands into the window, individually.

sudo cp /usr/share/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf
sudo dpkg --configure -a

[SilverLoz (launchpad-loznet)]

This workaround, of course, deletes your existing smb.conf so you lose any customisations you intended to keep.

[Thierry Carrez (ttx)]

As explained in the error message, the original problem here is that the user deleted config file /etc/samba/smb.conf by hand. So there is nothing left to lose.

[Atti (atti84it)]

The workaround works!! wonderful!!