6

Advanced settings after selecting dpkg fix broken packages:

Advanced settings after selecting dpkg fix broken packages

Configuration file '/etc/gnome/defaults.list'
 ==> Modified (by you or by a script) since installation.
 ==> Package distributor has shipped an updated version.
   What would you like to do about it ?  Your options are:
    Y or I  : install the package maintainer's version
    N or O  : keep your currently-installed version
      D     : show the differences between the versions
      Z     : start a shell to examine the situation
 The default action is to keep your current version.
*** defaults.list (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ?

Will this install a version of Ubuntu or 18.04 or just update my current Ubuntu 16.04?

karel
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Nishanth R
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4 Answers4

5

The original error message contained this text:

Configuration file '/etc/gnome/defaults.list'
 ==> Modified (by you or by a script) since installation.
 ==> Package distributor has shipped an updated version.
   What would you like to do about it ?  Your options are:
    Y or I  : install the package maintainer's version
    N or O  : keep your currently-installed version
      D     : show the differences between the versions
      Z     : start a shell to examine the situation
 The default action is to keep your current version.
*** defaults.list (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ?

Selecting the first option, Y or I : install the package maintainer's version, will not change your currently installed Ubuntu release. Instead it will make everything compatible with your currently installed Ubuntu release (Ubuntu 16.04). If necessary it will undo changes that you have made in your system that could prevent you from being able to update packages normally. The first Y option is the safest option to choose when presented with the Package distributor has shipped an updated version menu because it is the option the allows you to update your system normally and returns your system to a condition where there is nothing that interferes with default package management. This will also make it easier to fix the underlying broken packages problem that interferes with updating the installed packages and probably generated this package management message to begin with.

karel
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1

In this specific case the OP has already selected D to show the diff of the configuration files, and it's related to system MIME types. Unless you have very specific configurations you created to open things with custom .desktop launchers you created, you very likely want to accept the new maintainers version.

Kristopher Ives
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0

This still seems to be a common issue even when doing do-release-upgrade from 22.04. And not necessarily due to broken packages, but more likely changes made to such files (either manually or by other programs).

The recommendation is still the same: to accept (Y) the maintainer's newest version of the file, unless you have a particular reason to keep the old one (you normally know when you make such changes, don't you?).

If you can't remember having intentionally modified the affected file, or you are unsure, you can always choose the Z option (this launches a root shell and shows you the full-path to both versions) where you can manually inspect both files (or make a back-up and take care of the situation after the upgrade, if needed).

Simón
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-1

This output appears to be after you ran apt upgrade, and will not upgrade your Ubuntu version — only packages (apps). If you are running Ubuntu 16.04, you will stay on 16.04 (however, I would recommend upgrading to 18.04 with do-release-upgrade).

Eate
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