π ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
System reports unmet dependencies and refuses package operations.
Environment & Reproduction
Common after network drops or forced reboot during apt upgrade.
Root Cause Analysis
Partially configured packages leave dependency graph inconsistent.
Quick Triage
Run dpkg audit and inspect apt logs to identify first broken package.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Enumerate half-installed packages and dependency chains before remediation.
Solution – Primary Fix
Use dpkg –configure -a and apt –fix-broken install in controlled order.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Pin versions or reinstall specific packages when auto-repair fails.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
No pending package errors and package index operations succeed.
Rollback Plan
Revert to snapshot or backup if dependency graph cannot be stabilized.
Prevention & Hardening
Avoid abrupt power cycles during updates and use reliable mirrors.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
E: Unmet dependencies and package is in a very bad inconsistent state.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.
View all Ubuntu 14.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub β
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
Ubuntu package recovery and apt troubleshooting guides.
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