package linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

[Keith Rogers]

Error occurred when switching drivers for NVIDIA Corporation: G92[GeForce 9800 GT] to NVIDIA binary driver - version 340.107 from nvidia-340(proprietary, tested)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-36.36~16.04.1-generic 4.8.11
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Mar 28 09:47:57 2019
DuplicateSignature:
 package:linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic:4.4.0-143.169
 Setting up linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic (4.4.0-143.169) ...
 /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic.postinst: 50: /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic.postinst: linux-update-symlinks: not found
 dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-06 (691 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.19
SourcePackage: linux-signed
Title: package linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Ryan Stark (rstark)]

I just spent some time tracking this down for a datacenter tech trying to do a fresh install:

linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic depends on linux-base (no min version) and needs linux-update-symlinks from linux-base
linux-image-4.4.0-145-generic depends on linux-base >= 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1

xenial main has linux-base 4.0ubuntu1 which doesn't have linux-update-symlinks
xenial-updates xenial-security have 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 which does have linux-update-symlinks