package sysvutils (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11

[Hafiz Bashir]

I can't complete the update of the above package

Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04

nstallArchives() failed: (Reading database ...
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(Reading database ... 193374 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking sysvutils (from .../sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: sysvutils (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.39-generic 3.2.16
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 6 10:42:17 2012
DpkgTerminalLog:
 Unpacking sysvutils (from .../sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb) ...
 dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
  trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11
DuplicateSignature:
 Unpacking sysvutils (from .../sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb) ...
 dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
  trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11
ErrorMessage: trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
SourcePackage: sysvinit
Title: package sysvutils (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: trying to overwrite '/usr/share/man/man1/mesg.1.gz', which is also in package sysvinit-utils 2.88dsf-13.10ubuntu11
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Elias (elias-zabaneh)]

This solved the problem on my 12.04 amd64:
-- Clean apt cache by running
sudo apt-get cleansudo apt-get clean
- Removes all the packages from /var/cache/apt/archives and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial folders.

sudo apt-get autoclean
- Removes all expired packages from /var/cache/apt/archives and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial that are no longer available for download.

sudo apt-get autoremove
- Removes unneeded dependencies which are no longer needed.

-- You can check /var/cach/apt/archives to make sure it's free of .deb packages after cleanup.
-- Run Update Manager again, you should see the error message
-- Check /var/cache/apt/archives and you should see the exact package for your OS version/machine (e.g. mine is sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb)
-- Run sudo dpkg -i --force-overwrite /var/cache/apt/archives/sysvutils_2.86.ds1-14.1ubuntu45.1_amd64.deb and your problem should vanish!

Credits to users @ http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1912463.html

[Leandro Gomez (leandro-gomez73)]

Thanks! I've got this error for many months.
Thank Thanks!

[djuju08 (nart-julien)]

Elias (elias-zabaneh) , you are BRILLIANT !!