package emacs23 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Migo Mueller]

Error reported during upgrade from Xubuntu 13.10 to of 14.04 alpha.

[mm@xubuntu1310 ~]$ lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu Trusty Tahr (development branch)
Release: 14.04

[mm@xubuntu1310 ~]$ apt-cache policy emacs23
emacs23:
  Installed: 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: emacs23 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-17.31-generic 3.11.10.3
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-17-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: prl_fs_freeze prl_fs prl_eth prl_tg
ApportVersion: 2.13.2-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Feb 28 17:04:04 2014
DuplicateSignature: package:emacs23:23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1:ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-01-30 (29 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016)
SourcePackage: emacs23
Title: package emacs23 23.4+1-4.1ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-02-28 (0 days ago)

[Migo Mueller (migo-mueller)]

I should add that after rebooting, both emacs23 and emacs24 were reported as present on my system; emacs23 with broken dependencies. I removed emacs23 using synaptics with no ill side-effects. Emacs24 appears to be working fine.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.