package linux-headers-2.6.32-24 2.6.32-24.39 failed to install/upgrade: error writing to '<standard output>': No such file or directory

[maxopotamus]

during a routine upgrade i got all kinds of weird errors. first dpkg --configure -a failed to work, eventually, i got that to work, rebooted the system, log in is really slow with a long black pause, but once in the system i dont notice any obvious problems.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: linux-headers-2.6.32-24 2.6.32-24.39
Regression: Yes
Reproducible: Yes
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-24.39-generic 2.6.32.15+drm33.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-24-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ziggy 1362 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf6ffc000 irq 21'
   Mixer name : 'SigmaTel STAC9228'
   Components : 'HDA:83847616,1028022e,00100201'
   Controls : 28
   Simple ctrls : 18
Date: Thu Aug 5 16:33:27 2010
ErrorMessage: error writing to '<standard output>': No such file or directory
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1530
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic root=UUID=439808f1-48dd-4639-b85a-f2d054a7e9ae ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions: linux-firmware 1.34.1
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-headers-2.6.32-24 2.6.32-24.39 failed to install/upgrade: error writing to '<standard output>': No such file or directory
dmi.bios.date: 11/19/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A12
dmi.board.name: 0XR509
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA12:bd11/19/2008:svnDellInc.:pnXPSM1530:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0XR509:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS M1530
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.