This is after doing apt-get update; apt-get dist-upgrade within 14.04.
The upgrade to 16.04 (do-release-upgrade) left the following errors:
# apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... failed.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
default-jre : Depends: default-jre-headless (= 2:1.8-56ubuntu2) but 2:1.7-51 is installed
Depends: openjdk-8-jre but it is not installed
default-jre-headless : Depends: openjdk-7-jre-headless (>= 7~u3-2.1.1) but it is not installable
icedtea-6-jre-jamvm : Depends: openjdk-6-jre-headless (= 6b39-1.13.11-0ubuntu0.14.04.1) but it is not installable
icedtea-netx : Depends: openjdk-8-jre but it is not installed
Depends: icedtea-netx-common (>= 1.6.2-3ubuntu1) but 1.5.3-0ubuntu0.14.04.1 is installed
libc-dev-bin : Depends: libc6 (> 2.23) but 2.19-0ubuntu6.9 is installed
libc6-dev : Depends: libc6 (= 2.23-0ubuntu3) but 2.19-0ubuntu6.9 is installed
libfontconfig1-dev : Depends: libfontconfig1 (= 2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) but 2.11.0-0ubuntu4.2 is installed
libglib2.0-0-refdbg : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libglib2.0-bin : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libglib2.0-dev : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libgmpxx4ldbl : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice : Depends: libreoffice-java-common (>= 1:5.1.4~) but 1:4.2.8-0ubuntu4 is installed
libreoffice-base : Depends: libreoffice-base-drivers (= 1:5.1.4-0ubuntu1) but 1:4.2.8-0ubuntu4 is installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
Recommends: libreoffice-java-common (>= 1:5.1.4~) but 1:4.2.8-0ubuntu4 is installed
libreoffice-base-core : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-calc : Depends: libc6 (>= 2.23) but 2.19-0ubuntu6.9 is installed
Depends: libetonyek-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libicu55 (>= 55.1-1~) but it is not installed
Depends: libmwaw-0.3-3 but it is not installed
Depends: libodfgen-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: liborcus-0.10-0v5 (>= 0.9.2-4ubuntu2) but it is not installed
Depends: librevenge-0.0-0 but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
Depends: libwps-0.4-4 but it is not installed
libreoffice-core : Depends: libclucene-contribs1v5 (>= 2.3.3.4) but it is not installed
Depends: libclucene-core1v5 (>= 2.3.3.4) but it is not installed
Depends: libcmis-0.5-5v5 but it is not installed
Depends: libeot0 but it is not installed
Depends: libfontconfig1 (>= 2.11.94) but 2.11.0-0ubuntu4.2 is installed
Depends: libglew1.13 (>= 1.12.0) but it is not installed
Depends: libhunspell-1.3-0 (>= 1.3.3) but 1.3.2-6ubuntu2.1 is installed
Depends: libicu55 (>= 55.1-1~) but it is not installed
Depends: librevenge-0.0-0 but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-draw : Depends: libcdr-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libdbus-1-3 (>= 1.9.14) but 1.6.18-0ubuntu4.3 is installed
Depends: libfreehand-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libmspub-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libmwaw-0.3-3 but it is not installed
Depends: libodfgen-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libpagemaker-0.0-0 (>= 0.0) but it is not installed
Depends: librevenge-0.0-0 but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
Depends: libvisio-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libwpg-0.3-3 but it is not installed
libreoffice-gnome : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-gtk : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-impress : Depends: libetonyek-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libmwaw-0.3-3 but it is not installed
Depends: libodfgen-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: librevenge-0.0-0 but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-math : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-pdfimport : Depends: libpoppler58 (>= 0.41.0) but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libreoffice-writer : Depends: libabw-0.1-1v5 but it is not installed
Depends: libe-book-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libetonyek-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: libicu55 (>= 55.1-1~) but it is not installed
Depends: libmwaw-0.3-3 but it is not installed
Depends: libodfgen-0.1-1 but it is not installed
Depends: librevenge-0.0-0 but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
Depends: libwpd-0.10-10 but it is not installed
Depends: libwpg-0.3-3 but it is not installed
Depends: libwps-0.4-4 but it is not installed
libtk8.6 : Depends: libfontconfig1 (>= 2.11.1) but 2.11.0-0ubuntu4.2 is installed
nautilus : Depends: libgnome-desktop-3-12 (>= 3.18.1) but it is not installed
Depends: libgtk-3-0 (>= 3.16.2) but 3.10.8-0ubuntu1.6 is installed
Depends: libtracker-sparql-1.0-0 (>= 0.10.0) but it is not installed
Depends: nautilus-data (>= 1:3.18) but 1:3.10.1-0ubuntu9.11 is installed
network-manager : Depends: libgnutls30 (>= 3.4.0) but it is not installed
Depends: libndp0 (>= 1.2) but it is not installed
Depends: libnm0 (>= 1.1.93) but it is not installed
Depends: init-system-helpers (>= 1.18~) but 1.14 is installed
Depends: lsb-base (>= 4.1+Debian11ubuntu7) but 4.1+Debian11ubuntu6.1 is installed
Depends: isc-dhcp-client (>= 4.3.1-5ubuntu1) but 4.2.4-7ubuntu12.5 is installed
Recommends: ppp (>= 2.4.6) but 2.4.5-5.1ubuntu2.2 is installed
Recommends: modemmanager
Breaks: ppp (= 1.1.90) but it is not installed
Depends: libnma0 (= 1.2.0-0ubuntu0.16.04.3) but it is not installed
Depends: adwaita-icon-theme but it is not installed
network-manager-pptp : Depends: libnm0 (>= 1.1.90) but it is not installed
Depends: ppp (>= 2.4.7-1+~) but 2.4.5-5.1ubuntu2.2 is installed
network-manager-pptp-gnome : Depends: libnm-gtk0 (>= 1.0.6) but 0.9.8.8-0ubuntu4.4 is installed
Depends: libnm0 (>= 1.1.90) but it is not installed
Depends: libnma0 (>= 1.1.90) but it is not installed
openjdk-6-jre : Depends: openjdk-6-jre-headless (= 6b39-1.13.11-0ubuntu0.14.04.1) but it is not installable
python3-uno : Depends: python3 (>= 3.5~) but 3.4.0-0ubuntu2 is installed
Depends: python3.5 but it is not installed
Depends: libpython3.5 (>= 3.5.0~b1) but it is not installed
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
uno-libs3 : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
ure : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
Note most are because of
Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
What steps can correct that?
The majority, around libreoffice, might be curable by removing and then reinstalling libreoffice -- except apt-get doesn't allow even removing a package, out of an abundance of caution (and not trusting the user). Is there a "force" option to apt-get or dpkg to accomplish there?
(I've seen advice on similar questions here to just forget it and do a fresh installation of everything. Please don't bother to answer if that's your suggestion.)
Update:
Cleared out libreoffice using dpkg --remove for each of it's parts. Also, several other things. So now I'm down to:
# apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... failed.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
default-jre : Depends: default-jre-headless (= 2:1.8-56ubuntu2) but 2:1.7-51 is installed
Depends: openjdk-8-jre but it is not installed
default-jre-headless : Depends: openjdk-7-jre-headless (>= 7~u3-2.1.1) but it is not installable
libc-dev-bin : Depends: libc6 (> 2.23) but 2.19-0ubuntu6.9 is installed
libc6-dev : Depends: libc6 (= 2.23-0ubuntu3) but 2.19-0ubuntu6.9 is installed
libfontconfig1-dev : Depends: libfontconfig1 (= 2.11.94-0ubuntu1.1) but 2.11.0-0ubuntu4.2 is installed
libglib2.0-0-refdbg : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libglib2.0-bin : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libglib2.0-dev : Depends: libglib2.0-0 (= 2.48.1-1~ubuntu16.04.1) but 2.40.2-0ubuntu1 is installed
libgmpxx4ldbl : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
libtk8.6 : Depends: libfontconfig1 (>= 2.11.1) but 2.11.0-0ubuntu4.2 is installed
network-manager : Depends: libgnutls30 (>= 3.4.0) but it is not installed
Depends: libndp0 (>= 1.2) but it is not installed
Depends: libnm0 (>= 1.1.93) but it is not installed
Depends: init-system-helpers (>= 1.18~) but 1.14 is installed
Depends: lsb-base (>= 4.1+Debian11ubuntu7) but 4.1+Debian11ubuntu6.1 is installed
Depends: isc-dhcp-client (>= 4.3.1-5ubuntu1) but 4.2.4-7ubuntu12.5 is installed
Recommends: ppp (>= 2.4.6) but 2.4.5-5.1ubuntu2.2 is installed
Recommends: modemmanager
Recommends: network-manager-pptp but it is not installed
Breaks: ppp (= 1.1.90) but it is not installed
Depends: libnma0 (= 1.2.0-0ubuntu0.16.04.3) but it is not installed
Depends: adwaita-icon-theme but it is not installed
openjdk-6-jre : Depends: openjdk-6-jre-headless (= 6b39-1.13.11-0ubuntu0.14.04.1) but it is not installable
Recommends: icedtea-netx but it is not installed
uno-libs3 : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
ure : Depends: libstdc++6 (>= 5.2) but 4.8.4-2ubuntu1~14.04.3 is installed
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
E: Unable to correct dependencies
I'm thinking it might be safe for me to also toss network-manager, as this is a desktop system with each NIC fully configured locally (not DHCP). Tried to toss the JRE stuff, but that's got a web of dependencies to it.
Update 2:
By going through dependencies shown in apt-get -f install and installing packages individually by downloading them from Canonical and then using dpkg -i to install them, I was able to get to where I could see that the base problem was an old kdepim file that had dependencies no longer met. Removing kdepim then enabled apt-get -f install to do real work. But the end result was still a system with problems -- cgroup functionality wasn't there, xfce4 desktops were confused, a symlink of joe as jstar would segfault (although joe invoked as itself ran fine). So had to do a full new install anyway. Maybe this is what happens when it's been too many generations of Ubuntu on the same box via upgrades.
Never did use kdepim. Just something left over from when I used to use KDE as the desktop. Been xfce4 for years.
libstdc++6manually by typingsudo apt-get updateandsudo apt-get install libstdc++6and see what you get – Bilal Sep 04 '16 at 23:01apt-get -f installbut can't complete that, there's no way toapt-get installanything. You can get the appropriate deb packages from Canonical and dodpkg -ifor them, which I ended up doing. Still wasn't a good fix in the end. It is something I've used to unjam systems with simpler apt-get failures successfully. – user291949 Sep 06 '16 at 03:08apt-get -f installit won't let you install anything until what it sees as broken is fixed -- not even an element that it reports as broken. This is an example of tools which have so many safety features added as to be of only limited use when the work to be done is inherently dangerous -- even when the failure to fix things is the greater danger than leaving them in their current state. – user291949 Sep 06 '16 at 19:09