.
In regard to my previous post re mscorefonts & Synaptic bad behaviour,
please browse the following Ubuntu posting:

http://www.tuxgarage.com/2011/11/ttf...er-ubuntu.html

One quote stands out for me.

[quote]
If the installation of "ttf-mscorefonts-installer" was not successful due to any reason, you might not be able to use your package manager, Ubuntu Software Center, Update Manager or Synaptic, etc.; in short you won't be able to install, remove, or upgrade any packages until the issue is fixed! Hrrnnh!!
[unquote]

I don't see that this reference solves my problem, but it it a good independent description of it.