Segmentation Faulty Tree

while upgrading synaptic package itself from within synaptic, my internet connection failed
and the update could not be completed. on closing the popup box that told me
this, I find that 60+ packages are now broken. synaptic wont fix them as
holding back is occuring all. still have 32 broken packages.

so into the ternimal shell.

and among other things:

knoppix@Knoppix:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Segmentation faulty tree... 50%
knoppix@Knoppix:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
knoppix@Knoppix:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
knoppix@Knoppix:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
knoppix@Knoppix:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Segmentation faulty tree... 50%
knoppix@Knoppix:~$

most things still seem to function and the "tree" is said to be clean on the
booting dialog, but the above "faulty tree shell output" dialog persists
past booting.

however,

any suggestions before reinstall of knoppix commences?