libc6 install problems and kernel upgrade

[boredblind]

When I run apt-get upgrade I have a dependency problem that I cannot seem to fix. I run the apt-get -f install and come up with issues too. I am not sure what WARNING: init script for xscreensaver not found means. What do I need to do about it?
Also I get WARNING: POSIX threads library NPTL requires kernel version 2.6.8 or later. If you use a kernel 2.4, please upgrade it before installing glibc. How do I update the kernel?

I apologize, I am not great with Linux. I am sure more information is needed, but I am not sure what. Below is what I get from the apt-get update and apt-get -f install.


apt-get upgrade
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these.
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
libgcc1: Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7-1) but 2.3.1-16 is installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.

apt-get -f install
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
libc6
1 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 338 not upgraded.
1 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/4566kB of archives. After unpacking 1384kB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 75302 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.3.1-16 (using .../libc6_2.7-18lenny7_i386.deb) ...
Checking for services that may need to be restarted...
Checking init scripts...
WARNING: init script for xscreensaver not found.
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
readlink: invalid option -- e
usage: readlink [-n] [-f] symlink
WARNING: POSIX threads library NPTL requires kernel version
2.6.8 or later. If you use a kernel 2.4, please upgrade it
before installing glibc.
The installation of a 2.6 kernel _could_ ask you to install a new libc
first, this is NOT a bug, and should *NOT* be reported. In that case,
please add etch sources to your /etc/apt/sources.list and run:
apt-get install -t etch linux-image-2.6
Then reboot into this new kernel, and proceed with your upgrade
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.7-18lenny7_i386.deb (--unpack):
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.7-18lenny7_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[tornow]

Please post the content of your
/etc/apt/sources.list
and if you got sources at
/etc/apt/sources.list.d
post their content too.

In such situations, when "apt-get install -f" doesn't help, i try to use aptitude.
It often helps in such situations.
It will offer you several ways to solve it, read them carefully and accept the one you can live with.

aptitude upgrade

Make sure to first update your sources:

apt-get update

As you can see here:
Debian -- Package Search Results -- libc6
the libc6 version of the actual Debian stable (also called Lenny) is: 2.7-18lenny7
Might be you are using Debian etch?
If so read the upgrade info from etch to lenny:
upgrade from etch to lenny at DuckDuckGo

Long story short: post /etc/apt/sources.list first of all.

[boredblind]

/etc/apt/sources.list
deb http :// http . us . debian . org/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb-src http :// http . us . debian . org/debian/ stable main contrib non-free
deb http :// security . debian . org stable/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http :// security . debian . org/ stable/updates main contrib non-free
(This looks a little odd because I had to add some spaces to trick the posting, I am apparently not allowed to post urls before making 15 or more posts)

/etc/apt/sources.list.d
do not have

I tried aptitude before also, but I guess I did something and it is no longer working. Before I could use aptitude, but now I get

aptitude
bash: aptitude: command not found

I am currently using the stable version (lenny). I actually just got the upgrading done today. The system I am working on had not been maintained and was running woody until today.

[tornow]

I am shooting in the dark, so take care.
In such cases i "hammer" on it till it is solved.

First try to re-install aptitude:

apt-get install aptitude

Check what kernel you are running:

uname -r

and make sure it starts with something like:

2.6.26-

If it doesn't do

apt-cache search linux-image | less

and pick one which fits for your specs. Install it like usual (in case it works).

I am not sure, but i think the package:

libgcc1

doesn't seem to be a very basic one. You might try to remove it.

In between all that try "apt-get install -f " and "dpkg-reconfigure all"

That is rather vague. It is what i would do (remove what gets in the way, try to install apps one by one, apt-get -f and reconfigure all). If unsure wait for someone who knows it better.

You can always add -s to run a simulated run. That way you are sure to not make it worse:

apt-get install -s aptitude

Try synaptic too, in case you got it installed. People say the command-line is more powerful, but sometimes synaptic helped me where both, apt-get and aptitude, did fail (in case you got it installed, sure).

Good luck.

PS: to me your sources.list looks ok.

[boredblind]

Here is what I got

apt-get install aptitude
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
  aptitude: Depends: libapt-pkg-libc6.7-6-4.6
            Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7-1) but 2.3.1-16 is to be installed
            Depends: libcwidget3 but it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libept0 (>= 0.5.22) but it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libncursesw5 (>= 5.6+20071006-3) but it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libsigc++-2.0-0c2a (>= 2.0.2) but it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 4.2.1) but it is not going to be installed
            Depends: libxapian15 but it is not going to be installed
  libgcc1: Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7-1) but 2.3.1-16 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

uname -r
2.4.18-bf2.4

I know my kernel version is probably my big problem. Here are the options it gives me.

apt-cache search linux-image
alsa-base - ALSA driver configuration files
linux-image-2.6-486 - Linux 2.6 image on x86
linux-image-2.6-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6-686 - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6-amd64 - Linux 2.6 image on AMD64
linux-image-2.6-k7 - Linux 2.6 image on AMD K7 - transition package
linux-image-2.6-openvz-686 - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-2.6-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6-vserver-686 - Linux 2.6 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6-xen-686 - Linux 2.6 image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-image-486 - Linux image on x86
linux-image-686-bigmem - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-686 - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-amd64 - Linux image on AMD64
linux-image-k7 - Linux image on AMD K7 - transition package
linux-image-openvz-686 - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-vserver-686 - Linux image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-xen-686 - Linux image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
rt2400-source - source for rt2400 wireless network driver
rt2500-source - source for rt2500 wireless network driver
rt2570-source - source for rt2570 wireless network driver
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-486
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-686-bigmem
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-amd64 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-amd64
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-openvz-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-openvz-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-vserver-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-vserver-686-bigmem
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-vserver-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-vserver-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-1-xen-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-1-xen-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-486
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-686-bigmem
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-amd64 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-amd64
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-openvz-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-openvz-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-vserver-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-vserver-686-bigmem
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-vserver-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-vserver-686
linux-headers-2.6.26-2-xen-686 - Header files for Linux 2.6.26-2-xen-686
linux-image-2.6.26-1-486 - Linux 2.6.26 image on x86
linux-image-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-1-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-1-amd64 - Linux 2.6.26 image on AMD64
linux-image-2.6.26-1-openvz-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-vserver-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-1-xen-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-image-2.6.26-2-486 - Linux 2.6.26 image on x86
linux-image-2.6.26-2-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-2-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4
linux-image-2.6.26-2-amd64 - Linux 2.6.26 image on AMD64
linux-image-2.6.26-2-openvz-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, OpenVZ support
linux-image-2.6.26-2-vserver-686-bigmem - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-2-vserver-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on PPro/Celeron/PII/PIII/P4, Linux-VServer support
linux-image-2.6.26-2-xen-686 - Linux 2.6.26 image on i686, oldstyle Xen support
linux-tree-2.6.26 - Linux kernel source tree for building Debian kernel images

So I tried the following.

apt-get install linux-image-2.6-amd64
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these:
Sorry, but the following packages have unmet dependencies:
  libgcc1: Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7-1) but 2.3.1-16 is to be installed
  linux-image-2.6-amd64: Depends: linux-image-2.6.26-2-amd64 but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

So I tried to install the dependency

apt-get install linux-image-2.6.26-2-amd64
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  findutils initramfs-tools klibc-utils libc6 libgcc1 libklibc libselinux1
  libvolume-id0 lsb-base module-init-tools udev
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  modutils
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  initramfs-tools klibc-utils libgcc1 libklibc libselinux1 libvolume-id0
  linux-image-2.6.26-2-amd64 lsb-base module-init-tools udev
2 packages upgraded, 10 newly installed, 1 to remove and 337  not upgraded.
Need to get 21.0MB/26.9MB of archives. After unpacking 83.4MB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 http :// security . debian . org stable/updates/main linux-image-2.6.26-2-amd64 2.6.26-26lenny1 [21.0MB]
Fetched 21.0MB in 8s (2478kB/s)
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: modutils: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you request:
 modconf depends on module-init-tools | modutils; however:
  Package module-init-tools is not installed.
  Package modutils is to be removed.
(Reading database ... 75299 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing modutils ...
WARNING: Kernel was compiled with modules support!
Removing the modutils package could result in an unusable
system if you use modules. Remove this package only if you
are really sure of what you are doing.

If you really want to remove modutils type 'yes': n
Aborting removal of modutils package
dpkg: error processing modutils (--remove):
 subprocess pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 modutils
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

In the middle of the above process a blue screen came up with the following message.

There is an old /initrd symbolic link in place. The location of the      │
  │ symbolic link is now the same location as the kernel image symbolic      │
  │ links, in . If the old link is deleted, you may have to update the boot  │
  │ loader. If the link is left in place, it will point to the wrong image.  │
  │                                                                          │
  │ Should the old initrd link be deleted now?

I was unsure so I said no. I also said no to the removing of modutils package because I was not sure if that was right.

I am not sure if I picked the right package to install. Does this help to determine which one I should choose?

cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor       : 0
vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
cpu family      : 6
model           : 6
model name      : AMD Athlon(TM) XP1800+
stepping        : 2
cpu MHz         : 1533.427
cache size      : 256 KB
fdiv_bug        : no
hlt_bug         : no
f00f_bug        : no
coma_bug        : no
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 1
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 mmx fxsr sse syscall mmxext 3dnowext 3dnow
bogomips        : 3060.53

apt-get remove libgcc1
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  libgcc1
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 339  not upgraded.
1 packages not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 90.1kB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
(Reading database ... 75302 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing libgcc1 ...

apt-get install -f
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 339  not upgraded.

dpkg-reconfigure all
Package `all' is not installed and no info is available.
Use dpkg --info (= dpkg-deb --info) to examine archive files,
and dpkg --contents (= dpkg-deb --contents) to list their contents.
/usr/sbin/dpkg-reconfigure: all is not installed

apt-get install aptitude
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  apt apt-utils debian-archive-keyring libc6 libcwidget3 libdb4.6 libept0
  libgcc1 libncursesw5 libsigc++-2.0-0c2a libstdc++6 libxapian15
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  aptitude debian-archive-keyring libcwidget3 libdb4.6 libept0 libgcc1
  libncursesw5 libsigc++-2.0-0c2a libstdc++6 libxapian15
3 packages upgraded, 10 newly installed, 0 to remove and 336  not upgraded.
Need to get 8341kB/12.9MB of archives. After unpacking 21.5MB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libgcc1 1:4.3.2-1.1 [25.8kB]
Get:2 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libstdc++6 4.3.2-1.1 [332kB]
Get:3 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main debian-archive-keyring 2010.08.28~lenny1 [20.0kB]
Get:4 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libdb4.6 4.6.21-11 [573kB]
Get:5 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main apt-utils 0.7.20.2+lenny2 [189kB]
Get:6 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main apt 0.7.20.2+lenny2 [1643kB]
Get:7 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libncursesw5 5.7+20081213-1 [360kB]
Get:8 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libsigc++-2.0-0c2a 2.0.18-2 [34.7kB]
Get:9 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libcwidget3 0.5.12-4 [302kB]
Get:10 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libxapian15 1.0.7-4 [789kB]
Get:11 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main libept0 0.5.22 [1035kB]
Get:12 http :// http . us . debian . org stable/main aptitude 0.4.11.11-1~lenny1 [3038kB]
Fetched 8341kB in 7s (1074kB/s)
E: Internal Error, Could not perform immediate configuration (2) on libc6

I was not really successful with anything, but hopefully some of this is useful for you to point me in the right direction.

[tornow]

I don't know sorry.
You might ask at forums.debian.net or wait here (some smart people at that forum, so it might be worth a try).

I would consider to download a Squeeze CD and re-install.
Once having got that option (reinstallation) in mind, i wouldn't think much but hammer on it ( try to install the packages it complains one after the other ).

Like said: sorry. I don't know.