package openssh-server (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[[e-mail]]

tried to install this through a terminal window, and got an error.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: openssh-server (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-31.61-generic-pae 2.6.32.32+drm33.14
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-31-generic-pae i686
AptOrdering:
 openssh-server: Install
 man-db: Configure
 dhcp3-server: Configure
 openssh-server: Configure
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat May 21 18:37:31 2011
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
SourcePackage: openssh
Title: package openssh-server (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn)]

Please make sure that synaptic or software center isn't running on a terminal somewhere and try again. Please let us know if it doesn't work then, and provide us the output of 'ps -ef'

[Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn)]

In addition, if it continues to fail, please provide the output of

  lsof /var/cache/debconf/config.dat

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for openssh (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]