The problem turn out to be: files in /var/lib/dpkg/info/ reference a part of the scilab package which doesn't exist: "scilab.star"
Solution: in /var/lib/dpkg/info/postinst /var/lib/dpkg/info/prerm and /var/lib/dpkg/info/postrm, rename any mentions of scilab.star to scilab. Results: With "sudo dpkg --purge --force-depends sivp" it should remove with the complaint "[: 53: /usr/share/scilab: unexpected operator" This should remove it -- Problem uninstalling sivp https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/329399 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs