So I've been having this problem since April.

I try to install a package that modifies system settings, such as alsa or exim. But frontend has locked /.../debconf/config.dat, so dpkg fails with exit status 1 when it tries to install those packages.

I don't remember what broke it. Mighta been when the power got cut.

Any idea how to fix this short of reinstalling the kernel? I'm a little leery of that, too, since I think I'd run into the same problem unless I ran things off a boot/install disc and it's bothersome to run backups on the 30 gigs on this hard drive.