The installation is blocked because /var/lib/dpkg/available doesn't exist any longer... try "sudo touch /var/lib/dpkg/available" and you should be able to install/upgrades packages again.
I think this is a direct consequence of your hardware problems and not really a bug in dpkg, thus marking this report as invalid. ** Changed in: dpkg (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/887073 Title: package debianutils 3.4.3ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: package debianutils is already installed and configured To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dpkg/+bug/887073/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs