Distribution upgrade from 17.04 to 17.10, "Can't install 'ubuntu-desktop'"

[Kenny Stephens]

During upgrade to 17.10, while 'setting new software channels,' received the error:
Can't install 'ubuntu-desktop'
It was impossible to install a required package. Please report this as a bug using 'ubuntu-bug ubuntu-release-upgrader-core' in a terminal.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.04
Package: ubuntu-release-upgrader-core 1:17.04.10
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-42.46-generic 4.10.17
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-42-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.4-0ubuntu4.9
Architecture: amd64
CrashDB: ubuntu
CurrentDesktop: Unity:Unity7
Date: Thu Dec 14 16:13:59 2017
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-06-01 (561 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: ubuntu-release-upgrader
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to zesty on 2017-12-14 (0 days ago)
VarLogDistupgradeTermlog:

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

From VarLogDistupgradeMainlog.txt:

2017-12-14 16:13:26,600 DEBUG none of the '['ubuntu-desktop', 'kubuntu-desktop', 'xubuntu-core', 'xubuntu-desktop', 'ubuntustudio-desktop', 'mythbuntu-desktop', 'kubuntu-netbook', 'lubuntu-core', 'lubuntu-desktop', 'ubuntu-gnome-desktop', 'ubuntu-mate-core', 'ubuntu-mate-cloudtop', 'ubuntu-mate-desktop', 'ubuntukylin-desktop']' meta-pkgs installed
2017-12-14 16:13:26,600 DEBUG guessing 'ubuntu-desktop' as missing meta-pkg

Please try installing ubuntu-desktop and then upgrading.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for ubuntu-release-upgrader (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]