/etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common exited with return code 2 - Can't locate Debconf/Db.pm in @INC

[Eddy]

Binary package hint: nvidia-common

Upon upgrade from linux-image version 2.6.32-22.35 to 2.6.32-22.36, an error was generated ("E: linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2") and the system stopped displaying information in windows (all windows came up without any text, selection boxes, etc). Not even a terminal window could be brought up. A hard reboot generated an error stating a recovery of my root drive was necessary (which I allowed it to do). Upon further inspection I found the error as stated in the auto-generated summary.

This is not the first nvidia-related error, and it may be related to a previously fixed bug (# 573557) which failed to load the kernel on lucid systems when there were two or more nvidia video cards installed on the system.

Running the Update Manager or Synaptic Package Manager generated an error stating dpkg exited with an error code, and instructing the user to run "sudo dpkg --configure -a". The tail end is as follows:

Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 2.6.32-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common 2.6.32-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-22-generic
Can't locate Debconf/Db.pm in @INC (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/perl/5.10.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.10.1 /usr/lib/perl5 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/perl/5.10 /usr/share/perl/5.10 /usr/local/lib/site_perl .) at /usr/share/debconf/frontend line 6.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at /usr/share/debconf/frontend line 6.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common exited with return code 2
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic.postinst line 1003.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-headers-2.6.32-22-generic
 linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic 2.6.32-22.36
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.36-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl nvidia
AptOrdering:
 linux-headers-generic: Install
 linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic: Configure
 linux-headers-2.6.32-22-generic: Configure
 linux-headers-generic: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jun 5 14:19:47 2010
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common exited with return code 2
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100429)
SourcePackage: nvidia-common
Title: package linux-image-2.6.32-22-generic 2.6.32-22.36 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/nvidia-common exited with return code 2

[pinzia (pinzia)]

similar bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nvidia-common/+bug/595440

[chris engman (ccaaee)]

This has been ongoing for weeks now. With every apt-get my system tries to upgrade the kernel and fails. Sorry, If I had more time I'd look into it further. I think that I'll probably go back to 9.10 or 9.04 ...

[Eddy (krionic)]

Sorry, I should have posted this right after I figured it out. A couple of weeks ago, I started going through things in a little more detail.

First error: Can't locate Debconf/Db.pm in @INC (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/perl/5.10.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.10.1 /usr/lib/perl5 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/perl/5.10 /usr/share/perl/5.10 /usr/local/lib/site_perl .) at /usr/share/debconf/frontend line 6.

I checked the locations listed (/etc/perl for instance), and I couldn't find a Debconf/Db.pm folder/file. After doing a complete search of the drive, I found the file and created a sym-link to it in the /usr/local/lib/perl/5.10.1 folder. I attempted to re-install the faulty package, and it moved on to another error on the next line. At least it made progress, but it led to me doubt a whole list of packages.

Through trial and error, I found my system to essentially have a faulty debconf package. I downloaded the current package from http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/debconf and tried to re-install. This time, everything went well.

I wound up using dpkg due to synaptic and apt-get insisting that I fix my broken packages first.

Again, sorry I didn't post right after I figured it out.