package software-properties-gtk 0.96.20.5 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Aidan Lloyd]

The software app froze while updating, and now whenever I try to install or update anything I get a message saying I need to run dpkg --configure -a first, but terminal freezes when I try to run it.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: software-properties-gtk 0.96.20.5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.8.0-36.36~16.04.1-generic 4.8.11
Uname: Linux 4.8.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 28 03:31:28 2017
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-06-27 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.20
SourcePackage: software-properties
Title: package software-properties-gtk 0.96.20.5 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)