package gcc-4.4-base (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: './usr/share/doc/gcc-4.4-base/README.Debian.gz' is different from the same file on the system

[ReimarBauer]

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: gcc-4.4-base (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-23.36-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-23-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu May 10 10:33:38 2012
ErrorMessage: './usr/share/doc/gcc-4.4-base/README.Debian.gz' is different from the same file on the system
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
SourcePackage: gcc-4.4
Title: package gcc-4.4-base (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: './usr/share/doc/gcc-4.4-base/README.Debian.gz' is different from the same file on the system
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Daniel (johdaniel)]

I am no expert, but I have a suspicion:
I used 'my old' upgrade procedure; i.e.
- fresh install
- used the equavilent of: cat package_list | dpkg --set-selections && dselect install
 ...where the package_list file is a file with some carefully selected packages (*not* the whole 'dpkg --get-selections' mind you).

That seems to have royally screwed up the system as I was swamped with i386 packages. As I tried to clear up this mess, I noticed that 'apt-get install' seemed to do better; it replaced i386 packages with amd64 ones. Anyway; it ended up with me not even being able to log in to the system :) (so much for my hacker skillz)

I have currently re-installed a fresh 12.04 again and with some bash & sed magic converted the package_list and done a loop doing multiple "apt-get install" instead. Seems to be working fine so far... If things go south I'll be sure to update within a day or two.

FYI, uname gives:
Linux zotac 3.2.0-30-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Aug 24 16:52:48 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Cheers
/ Daniel