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')

[Abel A]

Installed samba to connect to some Windows file shares in Ubuntu 11.04/10.10(Had earlier upgraded from 10.10). On upgrading to Ubuntu 11.10 the upgrade process gave me this error. I was using Ubuntu Alternate iso for the installation

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: Sat Oct 15 23:59:52 2011
ErrorMessage: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release i386 (20101007)
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)