package xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[Bill Dunlap]

The notice popped up unexpectedly

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-28.32~16.04.2-lowlatency 4.10.17
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-28-lowlatency x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Apr 18 15:00:05 2018
DuplicateSignature:
 package:xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04:2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4
 Setting up libxfont2:amd64 (1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.3) ...
 dpkg: error processing package xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04 (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-04-17 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Studio 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: xorg-server-hwe-16.04
Title: package xserver-xorg-core-hwe-16.04 2:1.19.3-1ubuntu1~16.04.4 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Bill Dunlap (billdunlap60)]

I do not understand this at all.

[Timo Aaltonen (tjaalton)]

16.04 is EOL, if you can reproduce on a newer release, please open a new bug, thanks