Upgrade jaunty -> karmic: Abort with IOError - Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

[brainsail]

Binary package hint: python-support

During distribution upgrade, near the end of the 'Installing the upgrades' step, I got an error message: 'Could not install the upgrades The upgrade is now aborted. Your system could be in an unusable state...'.

The last lines in the terminal in the upgrade window were:
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Processing triggers for menu
Processing triggers for python-support
Exception during pm.DoInstall(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
Traceback:
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/logging/__init__.py", line 774, in emit
    try:
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/logging/__init__.py", line 746, in flush
    strm = sys.stderr
IOError: [Errno 9] Bad file descriptor

I had no special versions of any related packages installed. Just plain Jaunty with all updates.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Nov 9 20:57:40 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: apt 0.7.23.1ubuntu2
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.28-16.55-generic
SourcePackage: apt
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-16-generic x86_64
XsessionErrors:
 (gnome-settings-daemon:3913): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (gnome-settings-daemon:3913): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (gnome-panel:3921): libglade-WARNING **: Unexpected element <requires-version> inside <glade-interface>.

[Loïc Minier (lool)]

I don't think this is a python-support issue; could you please attach your /var/log/dist-upgrade/ logs to this bug?

Thanks

[Sunny Brown (skoondi)]

I had almost exactly the same experience except that:

"Exception during pm.DoInstall(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)"

was

"Exception during pm.DoInstall(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)"

for mine.

I can attach log files if required.

[Jean-Baptiste Lallement (jibel)]

confirming since you've provided required information. Thanks.