📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Package installation fails with unmet dependency and held package messages.
Environment & Reproduction
Common after reboot or network interruption during full-upgrade operations.
Root Cause Analysis
Partially configured packages leave unresolved dependency chains in dpkg state.
Quick Triage
Run dpkg audit and list held packages to scope the broken set.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Trace first failing package from apt logs and verify candidate versions.
Solution – Primary Fix
Complete pending configuration and run apt fix-broken install until clean.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Temporarily remove conflicting packages and reinstall validated repository builds.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
full-upgrade completes and dpkg audit reports no remaining broken state.
Rollback Plan
Reinstall prior package versions from cache or snapshot if regressions appear.
Prevention & Hardening
Use stable mirrors and prevent hard interruptions during package transactions.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
Related to lock file contention and third-party repository mismatches.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for debian-11.
View all debian-11 tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
Debian package recovery guidance for apt and dpkg workflows.
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