Bad package install forces OS reinstall

[Brad Bellomo]

Using the released Intrepid Ibex:

I attempted to install an aliened version of vmware server. The install failed. Now anything I run with apt-get or synaptic brings up the message:

E: The package vmware-server needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.
E: Internal error opening cache (1). Please report.

or some variation thereof. I want to point out that I have the original package, but any attempt to use it to uninstall or do anything else with it results in a variation of this message. I have already spent more time than it will take me to reformat.

Googling shows several other Ubuntu users have had similar problems in the past with various packages, and all I can find inevitably gave up and reformatted. Also, several old bugs in launchpad are similar, but none show a fix (they look like they were closed believe this was no longer an issue).

I am also reporting this as a security vulnerability, since it prevents installing fixes or updates of any kind, which is a major security problem.

A bug of this caliber is not acceptable except for beta operating systems or windows.

[Brad Bellomo (bvbellomo)]

Actually, a really easy fix is posted at:
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-38815.html

[Felipe Venegas (fvenegas)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs .