removing package php-common fails on “phpsessionclean.timer”

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I'm running the latest Debian (Stretch/9.3.x) and preparing my system to install the latest PHP. I removed all pre-installed PHP packages except php-common.

While invoking apt-get remove php-common I get the error as follows

Removing php-common (1:49) ...
Failed to stop phpsessionclean.timer: Unit phpsessionclean.timer not loaded.
dpkg: error processing package php-common (--remove):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
/usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: unable to read phpsessionclean.timer
Failed to get unit file state for phpsessionclean.timer: No such file or directory
phpsessionclean.timer is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it.
Errors were encountered while processing:
 php-common
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

After some digging I tried dpkg --purge php-common and get this one

Removing php-common (1:49) ...
Failed to stop phpsessionclean.timer: Unit phpsessionclean.timer not loaded.
dpkg: error processing package php-common (--purge):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 5
/usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: unable to read phpsessionclean.timer
Failed to get unit file state for phpsessionclean.timer: No such file or directory
phpsessionclean.timer is a disabled or a static unit, not starting it.
Errors were encountered while processing:
 php-common

In fact it's quiet the same.

dpkg --verify php-common

??5??????   /lib/systemd/system/phpsessionclean.service
??5??????   /lib/systemd/system/phpsessionclean.timer

These files are really missing. But currently I don't know how to solve this. There's no help with apt-get -f purge nor dpkg --remove --force-all.

manpreet 3 years ago

• 1
  backup the /var/lib/dpkg/status file then edit it by removing the php-common entry with its description , run dpkg --configure -a then update your system , it is not a proper way but it can be helpful. – GAD3RJan 8 '18 at 17:43 
•  
  lol ... I did, it worked, and after installing PHP 7.2 the package reappears while it's a dependency. – codekandis Jan 9 '18 at 9:47