package samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')

[Russell Gray]

Running Distribution Update, two reports about Samba not loading and a preceding report briefly about the video display software not being entirely compatible with my somewhat dated hardware.
The load time until failure has been 3 hours 23 minutes.I was upgrading from Natty, access to other details seems to be lost at this time.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-11.50-generic 2.6.38.8
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-11-generic i686
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Oct 14 22:14:51 2011
ErrorMessage: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100816.1)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 nautilus 1:3.2.0-0ubuntu5
 gvfs 1.10.0-0ubuntu1
SambaClientRegression: Yes
SourcePackage: samba
Title: package samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-15 (0 days ago)