I was trying to switch from nvidia-331-updates to nvidia-331 (tested) via the Additional Drivers tab in Software and Updates.  Part of the way through the update I realized that the nvidia X server settings app was running so I closed it.  I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the failure, but perhaps it is pertinent.


dpkg.log
2014-09-04 02:41:05 startup packages remove
2014-09-04 02:41:05 status installed libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:06 remove libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status half-configured libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status half-installed libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status triggers-pending libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status config-files libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status config-files libcuda1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status installed linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 remove linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status half-configured linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status half-installed linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status config-files linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status config-files linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status config-files linux-generic:amd64 3.13.0.35.42
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status not-installed linux-generic:amd64 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:06 status installed nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:07 remove nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:07 status half-configured nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:45 status half-installed nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:45 status triggers-pending man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status triggers-pending initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status config-files nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status config-files nvidia-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:46 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 remove nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status half-configured nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status half-installed nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status config-files nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:47 status config-files nvidia-libopencl1-331-updates:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:41:48 trigproc libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:48 status half-configured libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3
2014-09-04 02:41:48 status installed libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3
2014-09-04 02:41:48 trigproc man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:48 status half-configured man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:41:48 status installed man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:41:48 trigproc initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2 <none>
2014-09-04 02:41:48 status half-configured initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:42:01 status installed initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:42:01 startup archives unpack
2014-09-04 02:42:02 install ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 <none> 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status half-installed ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status triggers-pending man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status triggers-pending doc-base:all 0.10.5
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status unpacked ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status unpacked ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:02 install libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:02 status half-installed libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7
2014-09-04 02:42:03 status unpacked libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:03 status unpacked libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:04 install nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:04 status half-installed nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7
2014-09-04 02:42:07 status triggers-pending ureadahead:amd64 0.100.0-16
2014-09-04 02:42:07 status half-installed nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7
2014-09-04 02:42:11 status unpacked nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:11 status unpacked nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:12 trigproc man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:42:12 status half-configured man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:42:12 status installed man-db:amd64 2.6.7.1-1
2014-09-04 02:42:12 trigproc doc-base:all 0.10.5 0.10.5
2014-09-04 02:42:12 status half-configured doc-base:all 0.10.5
2014-09-04 02:42:13 status installed doc-base:all 0.10.5
2014-09-04 02:42:13 trigproc ureadahead:amd64 0.100.0-16 0.100.0-16
2014-09-04 02:42:13 status half-configured ureadahead:amd64 0.100.0-16
2014-09-04 02:42:13 status installed ureadahead:amd64 0.100.0-16
2014-09-04 02:42:16 startup packages configure
2014-09-04 02:42:16 configure nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:42:16 status unpacked nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:16 status unpacked nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:16 status unpacked nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:16 status half-configured nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status installed nvidia-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status triggers-pending initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:42:44 configure ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4 <none>
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status unpacked ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status half-configured ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status installed ocl-icd-libopencl1:amd64 2.1.3-4
2014-09-04 02:42:44 status triggers-pending libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3
2014-09-04 02:42:45 configure libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1 <none>
2014-09-04 02:42:45 status unpacked libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:45 status half-configured libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:45 status installed libcuda1-331:amd64 331.38-0ubuntu7.1
2014-09-04 02:42:45 trigproc initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2 <none>
2014-09-04 02:42:45 status half-configured initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:42:56 status installed initramfs-tools:all 0.103ubuntu4.2
2014-09-04 02:42:56 trigproc libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3 <none>
2014-09-04 02:42:56 status half-configured libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3
2014-09-04 02:42:56 status installed libc-bin:amd64 2.19-0ubuntu6.3

syslog
Sep  4 02:41:46 cullen-desktop nvidia-persistenced: The daemon no longer has permission to remove its runtime data directory /var/run/nvidia-persistenced
Sep  4 02:41:46 cullen-desktop nvidia-persistenced: Shutdown (2578)
Sep  4 02:42:12 cullen-desktop AptDaemon.Worker: CRITICAL: /var/cache/apt/archives/nvidia-opencl-icd-331_331.38-0ubuntu7.1_amd64.deb : conflicting packages - not installing nvidia-opencl-icd-331
Sep  4 02:42:56 cullen-desktop AptDaemon.Worker: INFO: Finished transaction /org/debian/apt/transaction/d9051501d40a4cd3ab27b852ddbf0517
Sep  4 02:43:53 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: message repeated 337 times: [ online]
Sep  4 02:44:34 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: Parsing /var/crash/nvidia-opencl-icd-331.0.crash.
Sep  4 02:44:34 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: Uploading /var/crash/nvidia-opencl-icd-331.0.crash.
Sep  4 02:44:36 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: Sent; server replied with: No error
Sep  4 02:44:36 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: Response code: 200
Sep  4 02:44:36 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: Got command: OOPSID
Sep  4 02:44:48 cullen-desktop whoopsie[1715]: online
Sep  4 02:53:10 cullen-desktop signond[1503]: ../../../../src/signond/signondaemon.cpp 388 init Failed to SUID root. Secure storage will not be available. 
Sep  4 02:53:52 cullen-desktop AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting due to inactivity
Sep  4 02:53:52 cullen-desktop AptDaemon: INFO: Quitting was requested

auth.log
Sep  4 02:40:58 cullen-desktop polkitd(authority=local): Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:cullen to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.debian.apt.install-or-remove-packages for system-bus-name::1.115 [/usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/software-properties-gtk --open-tab=4] (owned by unix-user:cullen)
Sep  4 02:41:46 cullen-desktop userdel[15388]: delete user 'nvidia-persistenced'
Sep  4 02:41:46 cullen-desktop userdel[15388]: removed group 'nvidia-persistenced' owned by 'nvidia-persistenced'
Sep  4 02:41:46 cullen-desktop userdel[15388]: removed shadow group 'nvidia-persistenced' owned by 'nvidia-persistenced'
Sep  4 02:42:16 cullen-desktop groupadd[24182]: group added to /etc/group: name=nvidia-persistenced, GID=135
Sep  4 02:42:16 cullen-desktop groupadd[24182]: group added to /etc/gshadow: name=nvidia-persistenced
Sep  4 02:42:16 cullen-desktop groupadd[24182]: new group: name=nvidia-persistenced, GID=135
Sep  4 02:42:16 cullen-desktop useradd[24186]: new user: name=nvidia-persistenced, UID=125, GID=135, home=/, shell=/sbin/nologin
Sep  4 02:42:17 cullen-desktop usermod[24191]: change user 'nvidia-persistenced' password
Sep  4 02:42:17 cullen-desktop chage[24196]: changed password expiry for nvidia-persistenced
Sep  4 02:42:17 cullen-desktop chfn[24199]: changed user 'nvidia-persistenced' information
Sep  4 02:42:32 cullen-desktop polkitd(authority=local): Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:cullen to gain ONE-SHOT authorization for action com.ubuntu.apport.apport-gtk-root for unix-process:3161:229142 [init --user] (owned by unix-user:cullen)
Sep  4 02:42:32 cullen-desktop pkexec: pam_unix(polkit-1:session): session opened for user root by (uid=1000)
Sep  4 02:42:32 cullen-desktop pkexec: pam_ck_connector(polkit-1:session): cannot determine display-device
Sep  4 02:42:32 cullen-desktop pkexec[24446]: cullen: Executing command [USER=root] [TTY=unknown] [CWD=/home/cullen] [COMMAND=/usr/share/apport/apport-gtk]
Sep  4 02:44:47 cullen-desktop sudo:     root : TTY=unknown ; PWD=/root ; USER=cullen ; ENV=DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:abstract=/tmp/dbus-JrSZWatuLP,guid=c2978c5b78e58500e59ea5d954080d80 ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/xdg-open https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1359983
Sep  4 02:44:47 cullen-desktop sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session opened for user cullen by (uid=0)
Sep  4 02:44:47 cullen-desktop sudo: pam_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user cullen