package nginx-light 1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[arvind das]

Installed nginx from apt and removed it. Then I tried to install it from source. Installation was done from source but it had issue in stop and start. I was unable to do uninstall as there was not option to uninstall it after installing from source.So, I reomved directories of nginx. Now, nginx is not getting installed from apt-get . Any solutions ?

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nginx-light 1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-36.57-generic 3.2.35
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-36-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.1
AptOrdering:
 nginx: Remove
 nginx-full: Remove
 nginx-light: Install
 nginx-light: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Jan 21 14:54:11 2013
DpkgTerminalLog:
 Unpacking nginx-light (from .../nginx-light_1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1_amd64.deb) ...
 Setting up nginx-light (1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1) ...
 ln: failed to create symbolic link `/etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default': No such file or directory
 dpkg: error processing nginx-light (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
DuplicateSignature:
 Setting up nginx-light (1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1) ...
 ln: failed to create symbolic link `/etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default': No such file or directory
 dpkg: error processing nginx-light (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120823.1)
MarkForUpload: True
SourcePackage: nginx
Title: package nginx-light 1.1.19-1ubuntu0.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Michael Lustfield (michaellustfield)]

This happened for a few reasons:
1) You didn't purge the package and as expected, this leaves files behind.
2) You installed something from source into the normal directory structure and as expected, you end up with conflicts.
3) Source package installs don't normally have uninstall options. This is normal.

Solutions:
1) Just start from scratch. I get the feeling that this isn't any sort of production machine anyway.
2) Search the entire file system for anything nginx related that you or apt installed and remove it. Then purge the installed nginx packages. You should then be in a state where installing nginx from source will work fine.
3) Learn to install source packages and use apt properly.

Next time you break something and it's not a bug, use the Answers section instead.

[arvind das (dass-arvind)]

Thanks For Your reply. Soon after I posted this, I used some of my to investigate this and yes you are right , packages were not purged after uninstallation . Sorry for not marking it invalid earlier.

Thanks