package util-linux 2.27.1-6ubuntu3.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[loki]

Could not install

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: util-linux 2.27.1-6ubuntu3.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-22.40-generic 4.4.8
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-22-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Jun 9 18:23:58 2016
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-21 (18 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.12~ubuntu16.04.1
SourcePackage: util-linux
Title: package util-linux 2.27.1-6ubuntu3.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[loki (lokiodinson)]

This keeps happening whenever there's an upgrade. Odd that.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[loki (lokiodinson)]

OK I give up.

I keep getting multiple requests to upgrade both the system and apps, but all of them fail. I'm fed up with typing my password four or more times a day. The software centre refuses to open, and attempting to install anything using Synaptic or the terminal also fail.

Seriously, if this is your idea of a stable OS, then for me it's a fail. Worse than windows.

Time to move on. Just finished downloading mint. Time to try that.

bye.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

You have broken third party software installed named "runmbbservice". Its service file lacks the required LSB headers.

[Neil Rotherham (neil-rotherham)]

Has anyone had a chance to look into this yet? It's been affecting me for months - ever since I upgraded to Xenial, in fact.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

See the previous comment?

[Neil Rotherham (neil-rotherham)]

What is runmbbservice and should I get rid of it?

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

I have no idea what it is but if you have it you should get rid of it. Check your /var/log/DpkgTerminalLog.txt file for a line that looks like this:

insserv: Starting runmbbservice depends on plymouth and therefore on system facility `$all' which can not be true!

It may say something else in your case.

[Neil Rotherham (neil-rotherham)]

I eventually got the updates to install by removing the WICID and WIFI Radar network scanners one of which I *think* was employing the runmbbservice (because the "mmb" bit seems to stand for "mobile broadband") Then I ran "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade" which then gave the following errors:
insserv: warning: script 'K01unlockgcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrides
insserv: warning: script 'K01gcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrides
insserv: warning: script 'S02lockgcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrides
insserv: warning: script 'lockgcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrides
insserv: warning: script 'gcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrid es
insserv: warning: script 'unlockgcstartup' missing LSB tags and overrides

I then ran "sudo dpkg --audit"
Which tipped me off to add empty LSP tags (after #!/bin/sh) to the latter three (the first three were links in a different directory to the second three) like this:

### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides :
# Required-Start :
# Required-Stop :
# Default-Start :
# Default-Stop :
# Short-Description : Some info
# Description : Some more info
### END INIT INFO

Then I ran "sudo dpkg --configure -a" which still seemed to complain they were missing, but this time the "sudo dpkg --audit" command returned nothing. Repeating "sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade" succeeded this time. Since I'm still not entirely sure what I have managed to do, I think I've been very lucky. The moral of the story, I think, is to be careful downloading free software even if it's through the System Tools->software menu item.