package nvidia-331-updates not uninstalling cleanly

[Richard Leckinger]

It keeps asking to be reinstalled so that it can be uninstalled cleanly. Only using Ctrl-Alt-F2 allows access to terminal for this. After complying, this crash report and only a partially functioning unity.

1410 x64

Attempting to wind back failed installation of nvidia driver 331-updates.
after purge and reinstallation of xserver-xorg-video-nouveau, I expected a return to the previous state.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: nvidia-331-updates (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-31.41-generic 3.16.7-ckt5
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-31-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8.2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Mar 5 13:51:48 2015
DuplicateSignature: package:nvidia-331-updates:(not installed):package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-03-04 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Release amd64 (20141022.1)
SourcePackage: nvidia-graphics-drivers-331-updates
Title: package nvidia-331-updates (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting a removal
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
modified.conffile..etc.modprobe.d.nvidia.331.updates.hybrid.conf: [deleted]

[Richard Leckinger (caraka)]

This may be a corner case. Cruft left in my home directory (nvidia related) may have been the cause of the unity/dash failure to materialise. Creating an alternative user and testing it proved the issue was in my profile, so it looks like apt-get purge -f nvidia-331-updates, which is what I did following the circular loop that generated this bug, almost worked.

Deleting the .nv and the .nvidia-settings-rc from the .conf folder in my profile liberated it and normal activity has resumed. This was accomplished by logging in at tty2 (Ctrl-Alt-F2) having arrived at the blank (wallpaper) screen after initial login. (tty7).