Unable to correct dependencies

Question

I have a 11.10 ubuntu server machine located on a VPS that has package problems.

I think this all started with my do-release-upgrade failed part way through. In any case, I can no longer use apt-get to install anything because of unmet dependencies.

root@vpsstart:/etc/apt# apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... failed.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 libc6 : Depends: libc-bin (= 2.13-20ubuntu5.3)
 libc6-dev : Depends: libc6 (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.5) but 2.13-20ubuntu5.3 is installed
             Depends: libc-dev-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.5)
 libmono-corlib4.0-cil : Depends: mono-runtime (>= 2.10.8.1) but 2.10.5-1ubuntu0.1 is installed
 libmono-i18n4.0-cil : Depends: mono-runtime (>= 2.10.8.1) but 2.10.5-1ubuntu0.1 is installed
 libnih-dbus1 : Depends: libnih1 (= 1.0.3-4ubuntu9.1) but 1.0.3-4ubuntu2 is installed
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies

My sources.list looks like this:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric main restricted universe  
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-updates main restricted universe  
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu oneiric-security main restricted universe multiverse  
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu oneiric partner

deb http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib  
deb http://webmin.mirror.somersettechsolutions.co.uk/repository sarge contrib

I've tried apt-get clean and apt-get autoclean and of course I've done an apt-get update numerous times.

Any magic that will allow me to get my package system straightened out?

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 04 '14 at 08:11

You are using quite an old and unsupported version of linux and their is no guarantee that the repositories are still maintained to be able to fix your current setup... I'd would recommend a new installation of Ubuntu 13.10, especially if you are running a server machine...

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 04 '14 at 09:06

If you are using Ubuntu as as server, I would strongly recommend LTS releases only. This question cannot be answered because 11.10 has been reached EOL already, and probably will be closed as off-topic.

Take the time to read on how to upgrade EOL versions at the Ubuntu Wiki page , but it would be preferable to do a fresh install.

Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS is the current stable LTS and it will supported until April 2017, but as a server in action I would suggest Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS (due to the LTS new policies). No matter if the page writes (12.04.2 LTS) scroll down and you will find the ubuntu-12.04.1-server image.

Unable to correct dependencies

2 Answers2