package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Krillins World]

Description: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
Release: 10.04

Package mysql-server5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.6 failed to update via update manager.

Expected it not to tie up my game servers for hours on end doing NOTHING at all.

No Progress is what happened.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-24.39-generic 2.6.32.15+drm33.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-24-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
Date: Thu Aug 12 13:24:36 2010
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
Logs.var.log.daemon.log:

MySQLConf.etc.mysql.conf.d.mysqld.safe.syslog.cnf:
 [mysqld_safe]
 syslog
MySQLVarLibDirListing: ['mysql_upgrade_info', 'mysql', 'amxx', 'babby.pid', 'ibdata1', 'ib_logfile0', 'sourcemod', 'debian-5.1.flag', 'ib_logfile1']
SourcePackage: mysql-dfsg-5.1
Title: package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.41-3ubuntu12.3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Krillins World (krillinsworld)]

The Solution:

For me, databases and custom configurations were still intact with uninstalling and reinstalling the mysql packages.

But to be on the safe side open a terminal window typed 'sudo nautilus' [enter]
Copy my mysql databases from /var/mysql/mysql
Backup your configuration file from /ect/mysql/mysql.cnf
Close Nautilus
Ctrl-c the terminal window and close.

Open System --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager.

Search 'MySQL'
     Mark 'MySQL Server' and 'MySQL Client' for COMPLETE REMOVAL.
     Reboot
     Install New MySQL Packages.

Resume use as usual. This is how we got around this issue.