help with X and xfree86

[isuck@linux]

can anyone tell me how to fix this please? don't understand the error, I don't even know what I'm doing, I was trying to install ethereal using apt-get and I got 1000 errors from x and xfree86 I can't get rid off.

--(:root@elmotrina)-(/backup)--
--(1920:Sun,06 Aug 06:$)-- dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/x11-common_1%3a7.0.22_i386.deb
(Reading database ... 112879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace x11-common 6.8.2.dfsg.1-11 (using .../x11-common_1%3a7.0.22_i386.deb) ...
rmdir: `/usr/X11R6/bin': Directory not empty
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/x11-common_1%3a7.0.22_i386.deb (--install):
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
System startup links for /etc/init.d/x11-common already exist.
Setting up X server socket directory /tmp/.X11-unix...done.
Setting up ICE socket directory /tmp/.ICE-unix...done.
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/x11-common_1%3a7.0.22_i386.deb

[electronate]

I get this same error trying to upgrade Ubuntu from dapper to edgy... driving me nuts can't seem to fix it. I think the issue with not being able to log in to Ubuntu (when I do log in it just blinks black screen, shows cicle with black x then goes back to log on... Nvidia hax i bet. Or shenanigans. Tried using apt-get and aptitude because I lost my ability to log in to any gui. These are some commands I found useful:

apt-get -f dist-upgrade
apt-get -f install
apt-get remove <package>
aptitude