package linux-firmware 1.157.20 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Andy Rose]

I was trying to let Ubuntu install the package to allow access to a W7 computer via LAN

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-firmware 1.157.20
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-33.36~16.04.1-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-33-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: i915 r8169 wmi
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.18
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Dec 22 12:27:00 2018
Dependencies:

DpkgHistoryLog:
 Start-Date: 2018-12-22 12:26:27
 Commandline: aptdaemon role='role-commit-packages' sender=':1.97'
 Install: python-tdb:amd64 (1.3.8-2, automatic), python-samba:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18, automatic), python-dnspython:amd64 (1.12.0-1, automatic), samba:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18), samba-dsdb-modules:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18, automatic), libaio1:amd64 (0.3.110-2, automatic), tdb-tools:amd64 (1.3.8-2, automatic), attr:amd64 (1:2.4.47-2, automatic), python-crypto:amd64 (2.6.1-6ubuntu0.16.04.3, automatic), samba-common:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18, automatic), samba-vfs-modules:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18, automatic), samba-common-bin:amd64 (2:4.3.11+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.18, automatic), python-ldb:amd64 (2:1.1.24-1ubuntu3, automatic)
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-02-14 (311 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.4
 apt 1.2.26
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package linux-firmware 1.157.20 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)