linux-image-2.6.31-20 failed to upgrade

[JW]

This problem started with an automatic update and is since bugging me with
every package update and new package install.

The system further seems to be functioning normally, it's just that every update/
install seems to hang for a long time and then ends in the reported error.

ProblemType: Package
AplayDevices:
 **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: AD198x Analog [AD198x Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AptOrdering:
 acpi: Install
 linux-image-2.6.31-20-generic: Configure
 acpi: Configure
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: AD198x Analog [AD198x Analog]
   Subdevices: 2/2
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
   Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jaho 1374 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0x98500000 irq 17'
   Mixer name : 'Analog Devices AD1984A'
   Components : 'HDA:11d4194a,103c3605,00100400 HDA:11c11040,103c1378,00100200'
   Controls : 22
   Simple ctrls : 14
Date: Fri Mar 26 17:17:45 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 17
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=b3cb428e-4940-439e-b8a2-ed7cb82ba9ba
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq 6830s
Package: linux-image-2.6.31-20-generic 2.6.31-20.58
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-20-generic root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet splash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-20.58-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-backports-modules-2.6.31-20-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.26
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-2.6.31-20-generic 2.6.31-20.58 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 17
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-20-generic i686
dmi.bios.date: 09/18/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 68PZD Ver. F.07
dmi.board.name: 30E9
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 95.1A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: CNU850256C
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68PZDVer.F.07:bd09/18/2008:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPCompaq6830s:pvrF.07:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn30E9:rvrKBCVersion95.1A:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP Compaq 6830s
dmi.product.version: F.07
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard