Problem installing packages

Question

I can't install any package, as I get this error:

installArchives() failed: E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?
debconf: apt-extracttemplates failed: No such file or directory
E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?
debconf: apt-extracttemplates failed: No such file or directory
E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?
debconf: apt-extracttemplates failed: No such file or directory
E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?
debconf: apt-extracttemplates failed: No such file or directory
dpkg: regarding .../libgcc1_1%3a4.7.2-2ubuntu1_amd64.deb containing libgcc1:amd64, pre-dependency problem:
 libgcc1 pre-depends on multiarch-support
  multiarch-support is unpacked, but has never been configured.

dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libgcc1_1%3a4.7.2-2ubuntu1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 pre-dependency problem - not installing libgcc1:amd64
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/libgcc1_1%3a4.7.2-2ubuntu1_amd64.deb
Error in function: 
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libc6:amd64:
 libc6:amd64 depends on libgcc1; however:
  Package libgcc1 is not installed.
 libc6:amd64 depends on tzdata; however:
  Package tzdata is not installed.

dpkg: error processing libc6:amd64 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of multiarch-support:
 multiarch-support depends on libc6 (>= 2.3.6-2); however:
  Package libc6:amd64 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing multiarch-support (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

Answer 1

Here the solution for this problem, super easy way ;)

You have to use dpkg direct to solve this problem sometimes.

"Here we go again"

The package multiarch-support is unpacked, but has never been configured this means the package soon will configure, but is not configured yet.

When is the status unpacked the package is not installed yet, so the package libgcc1 cannot install because of the dependency is not installed yet and cannot be installed before multiarch-support.

We have to force the installed status for multiarch-support to do the trick.

nano /var/lib/dpkg/status

find the the line starting with Package: something like:

Package: multiarch-support
Status: install ok unpacked

You have to change the unpacked to installed

Now try:

sudo dpkg --configure --pending
sudo apt-get install --reinstall multiarch-support libgcc1 debconf

I think you can get the system working again this way, let me known if you can do.

Answer 2

I believe your /var/lib/dpkg directory with its contents is screwed up. Mainly because of this line, I think your package management is unrecoverable broken.

multiarch-support is unpacked, but has never been configured.

Additionally,

apt-extracttemplates failed: No such file or directory

Means that /usr/bin/apt-extracttemplates is not available on your system, which is really out of the ordinary.

This does not break by itself; either data corruption or user error (e.g. rm -rf files-you-should-never-delete) is the cause of this. My best bet would be on backing up your data (e.g. /home) and start with a fresh installation.

Answer 3

The problem may be that you do not have debconf installed. To install it or check if it is installed, type sudo apt-get install debconf in a terminal. You can bring up a terminal by pressing CTRL-ALT-T simultaneously.

This will install debconf if it isn't installed and upgrade it if it is installed but out-of date or do nothing if it is up-to-date.

Answer 4

I got same problem because I have deleted /var/lib/dpkg/available, but now mine back normally after I do these steps

sudo cp /var/lib/dpkg/available-old /var/lib/dpkg/available

sudo dpkg --configure -a

source: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/70504