package samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')

[kpl388]

When upgrading to Ubuntu 11.10, I got the following error message:

"Could not install '/var/cache/apt/archives/samba_2%3a3.5.11~dfsg-1ubuntu2.1_amd64.deb'"
with an error exit status 2.

It then, of course, failed to configure properly.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-13.53-generic 2.6.38.8
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Jan 2 13:27:30 2012
ErrorMessage: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')
InstallationMedia: Mythbuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release amd64 (20091027)
SambaClientRegression: Yes
SourcePackage: samba
Title: package samba 2:3.5.8~dfsg-1ubuntu2.3 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: package samba is not ready for configuration cannot configure (current status `half-installed')
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2012-01-02 (0 days ago)