package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Neo]

error while upgrading from ubuntu 10.04 to 10.10

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-25.45-generic 2.6.32.21+drm33.7
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-25-generic x86_64
AptOrdering:
 mysql-server-5.1: Install
 cabextract: Install
 mysql-server-5.1: Configure
 cabextract: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Nov 2 10:47:17 2010
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100429)
Logs.var.log.kern.log:
 Nov 2 10:14:10 neo-desktop kernel: [ 452.809932] type=1505 audit(1288685650.696:17): operation="profile_replace" pid=3220 name="/usr/sbin/mysqld"
 Nov 2 10:15:21 neo-desktop kernel: [ 523.254303] type=1505 audit(1288685721.143:18): operation="profile_replace" pid=3579 name="/usr/sbin/mysqld"
MySQLConf.etc.mysql.conf.d.mysqld.safe.syslog.cnf:
 [mysqld_safe]
 syslog
MySQLVarLibDirListing: ['miscdb', 'mysql', 'reservationdb', 'authdb', 'ib_logfile0', 'venuedb', 'accountdb', 'restaurantdb', 'mysql_upgrade_info', 'ibdata1', 'reportsdb', 'ib_logfile1', 'debian-5.1.flag']
SourcePackage: mysql-dfsg-5.1
Title: package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[James Page (james-page)]

Preparing to replace mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3 (using .../mysql-server-5.1_5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3_amd64.deb) ...
debconf: DbDriver "config": /var/cache/debconf/config.dat is locked by another process: Resource temporarily unavailable
dpkg: warning: old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
debconf: DbDriver "config": /var/cache/debconf/config.dat is locked by another process: Resource temporarily unavailable
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-5.1_5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[James Page (james-page)]

It looks like another process was locking /var/cache/debconf/config.dat during the upgrade.

fuser -v can be used to return the locking process (if any).

Kill it and try performing the upgrade again. Most often, this is only a transient situation and fuser will return nothing. Simply performing the update again should solve this issue.

[Neo (al-agha20)]

i tried that but i keep getting this error

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server-5.1_5.1.41-3ubuntu12.6_amd64.deb: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/openoffice.org-emailmerge_1%3a3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1_all.deb: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/sun-java6-jre_6.22-0ubuntu1~10.04_all.deb: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/sun-java6-bin_6.22-0ubuntu1~10.04_amd64.deb: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
E: /var/cache/apt/archives/sun-java6-jdk_6.22-0ubuntu1~10.04_amd64.deb: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

and when i open synaptic package manager and open the broken filter i find a broken package called ure that can't be upgraded or removed i just can reinstall it which i don't know how to do :(

[Neo (al-agha20)]

i found the solution
1) open System > Administration > synaptic package manager
2) Edit > fix broken packages
3) press apply
4) the fixing may hang for a little while if so
open the terminal and enter the following command
ps ax | grep mysql
if you find a process called start mysql then kill it
and everything will get back to normal
enjoy :)