package libqtcore4 4:4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1 failed to install/upgrade: conffile './etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf' is not in sync with other instances of the same package

[Davide Monge]

This error succeded while installing skype via ubuntu software center management option.

Xubuntu 12.04 - x86_64

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: libqtcore4 4:4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed May 2 10:17:56 2012
DpkgTerminalLog:
 Unpacking libqtcore4:i386 (from .../libqtcore4_4%3a4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1_i386.deb) ...
 dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libqtcore4_4%3a4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
  conffile './etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf' is not in sync with other instances of the same package
DuplicateSignature:
 Unpacking libqtcore4:i386 (from .../libqtcore4_4%3a4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1_i386.deb) ...
 dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libqtcore4_4%3a4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
  conffile './etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf' is not in sync with other instances of the same package
ErrorMessage: conffile './etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf' is not in sync with other instances of the same package
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
SourcePackage: qt4-x11
Title: package libqtcore4 4:4.8.1-0ubuntu4.1 failed to install/upgrade: conffile './etc/xdg/Trolltech.conf' is not in sync with other instances of the same package
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-26 (5 days ago)
modified.conffile..etc.xdg.Trolltech.conf:
 [qt]
 4.8\libraryPath=/usr/lib/kde4/plugins
mtime.conffile..etc.xdg.Trolltech.conf: 2012-04-11T10:57:48

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Itaku (itakuice)]

Getting the same problem.

Things I have tried:

apt-get upgrade
apt-get upgrade -f
apt-get install -f
apt-get auto-remove
apt-get auto-remove -f
apt-get update
and rebooting.

Can't use apt-get at all or install any package now it looks like.

[Wizard (wizard-semfe)]

I don't know if something changed in the repositories or someone fixed it but all I did was to open synaptic, click on repair packages (which added libqtcore4:i386 for installation), then I found and marked libqtcore4 for reinstallation and it seems to have fixed the problem for me.

[Rémi SAUVAT (remi-sauvat)]

I fixed this case by re-installing the 64bit version of libqtcore4.
Using aptitude I did this:
aptitude re-install libqtcore4
aptitude install libqtcore4:i386
(aptitude install skype)
I was trying to install skype too.