Please check the log files /var/log/distccd.log for indications of the precise error.
I suspect this may be this one from bugs.d.o: #663910 [n| | ] [distcc] distcc: won't install + activate Can the OP confirm whether they were using libpam-tmpdir at the time? ** Changed in: distcc (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/822887 Title: package distcc (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: il sottoprocesso vecchio script di post-installation ha restituito lo stato di errore 1 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/distcc/+bug/822887/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs