Problem resolving package conflicts

[beforewisdom]

Hi;

I am a newbie ( via knoppix ) so please don't get pissed for the huge shell dump below, I do not know what is relevent information.

Anyway, I went to install something and got told by apt-get to do "apt-get -f install" to resolve some dependcy issues.

apt-get went and got the libs, but could not install them, telling it could not overwrite them and that "broken pipes" were preventing resolution.

Agian, the output is below.

I have no idea where even to begin looking to fix these issues.

This happened a week after installing gnome 2.4 and the latest kde available in unstable.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Steve
root@Wisdom:/home/steve# apt-get -f install
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
libice6 libsm6 libx11-6 libxext6 libxi6 libxmu6 libxmuu1 libxp6 libxpm4
libxrandr2 libxt6 libxtrap6 libxtst6 libxv1
The following NEW packages will be installed:
libice6 libsm6 libx11-6 libxext6 libxi6 libxmu6 libxmuu1 libxp6 libxpm4
libxrandr2 libxt6 libxtrap6 libxtst6 libxv1
0 upgraded, 14 newly installed, 0 to remove and 809 not upgraded.
48 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/2591kB of archives.
After unpacking 5652kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 137370 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking libice6 (from .../libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libICE.so.6.3', which is also in package xl
ibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libsm6 (from .../libsm6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libsm6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libSM.so.6.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libx11-6 (from .../libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/locale/lib/common/ximcp.so.2', which is
also in package xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxext6 (from .../libxext6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxext6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXext.so.6.4', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxi6 (from .../libxi6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxi6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXi.so.6.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxt6 (from .../libxt6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxt6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXt.so.6.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmu6 (from .../libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmu.so.6.2', which is also in package xl
ibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmuu1 (from .../libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmuu.so.1.0', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxp6 (from .../libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXp.so.6.2', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxpm4 (from .../libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXpm.so.4.11', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxrandr2 (from .../libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--un
pack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXrandr.so.2.0', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtrap6 (from .../libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unp
ack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXTrap.so.6.4', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtst6 (from .../libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXtst.so.6.1', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxv1 (from .../libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXv.so.1.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libsm6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxext6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb

dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmu6 (from .../libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmu.so.6.2', which is also in package xl
ibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmuu1 (from .../libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmuu.so.1.0', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxp6 (from .../libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXp.so.6.2', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxpm4 (from .../libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXpm.so.4.11', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxrandr2 (from .../libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--un
pack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXrandr.so.2.0', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtrap6 (from .../libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unp
ack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXTrap.so.6.4', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtst6 (from .../libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXtst.so.6.1', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxv1 (from .../libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXv.so.1.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libsm6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxext6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb

dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmu6 (from .../libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmu.so.6.2', which is also in package xl
ibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxmuu1 (from .../libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXmuu.so.1.0', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxp6 (from .../libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXp.so.6.2', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxpm4 (from .../libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpac
k):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXpm.so.4.11', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxrandr2 (from .../libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--un
pack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXrandr.so.2.0', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtrap6 (from .../libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unp
ack):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXTrap.so.6.4', which is also in package
xlibs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxtst6 (from .../libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpa
ck):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXtst.so.6.1', which is also in package x
libs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Unpacking libxv1 (from .../libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb (--unpack
):
trying to overwrite `/usr/X11R6/lib/libXv.so.1.0', which is also in package xli
bs
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libsm6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxext6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxi6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxt6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxmu6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxmuu1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxp6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxpm4_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxrandr2_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxtrap6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxtst6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/libxv1_4.3.0-2_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[Stephen]

Yeah quite a lovely mess ain't it I was real impressed. You need to change to the /var/cache/apt/archives and then use dpkg -i --force-overwrite all_of_the_packages_in_errors_output use the entire name of the packages when doing this (dpkg -i --force-overwrite libice6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb libx11-6_4.3.0-2_i386.deb ....). Then once you are done dpkg --configure -a for the extra errors you will get due to some packages not being already configured. You may also want to remove and purge some small program then reinstall it just to make certain there a no stragglers that did not get configured.