Well. Yep. Wanted a fresh start because I was having dependency confusions, so I ran "whereis python" and literally erased all of the files and directories that came up. Then when I go to run apt-get install python I of course get lots of errors. Is there a way to reinstall python on ubuntu without just doing a clean wipe?

Here is the output of trying to install python binary:

root@ubuntu14-server:/home/kpoole# apt-get install python

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree       

Reading state information... Done

python is already the newest version.

The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:

libexpat1-dev libpython-dev libpython2.7-dev

Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.

0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 3 not upgraded.

15 not fully installed or removed.

After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.

Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y

Setting up python-chardet (2.0.1-2build2) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-chardet.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-chardet.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-chardet (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

Setting up python-colorama (0.2.5-0.1ubuntu1) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-colorama.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-colorama.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-colorama (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

Setting up python-distlib (0.1.8-1) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-distlib.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-distlib.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-distlib (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

Setting up python-django (1.6.1-2ubuntu0.5) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-django.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-django.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-django (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-django-tables2:

python-django-tables2 depends on python-django (>= 1.4.5); however:

Package python-django is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-django-tables2 (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

Setting up python-six (1.5.2-1) ...

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-six.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-six.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-six (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-html5lib:

python-html5lib depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-html5lib (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              Setting up python-lxml (3.3.3-1ubuntu0.1) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lxml.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-lxml.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-lxml (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              Setting up python-minimal (2.7.5-5ubuntu3) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-minimal.postinst: 4: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-minimal.postinst: python2.7: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-minimal (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

Setting up python-pkg-resources (3.3-1ubuntu1) ...

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-pkg-resources.postinst: 6: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-pkg-resources.postinst: pycompile: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-pkg-resources (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-setuptools:

python-setuptools depends on python-pkg-resources (= 3.3-1ubuntu1); however:

Package python-pkg-resources is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-setuptools (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-urllib3:

python-urllib3 depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-urllib3 (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-requests:

python-requests depends on python-chardet; however:

Package python-chardet is not configured yet.

python-requests depends on python-urllib3 (>= 1.7.1); however:

Package python-urllib3 is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-requests (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-pip:

python-pip depends on python-colorama; however:

Package python-colorama is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-distlib; however:

Package python-distlib is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-html5lib; however:

Package python-html5lib is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-pkg-resources; however:

Package python-pkg-resources is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-setuptools (>= 0.6c1); however:

Package python-setuptools is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-requests; however:

Package python-requests is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-pip (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-virtualenv:

python-virtualenv depends on python-pkg-resources; however:

Package python-pkg-resources is not configured yet.

python-virtualenv depends on python-setuptools; however:

Package python-setuptools is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-virtualenv (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                                              Errors were encountered while processing:

python-chardet

python-colorama

python-distlib

python-django

python-django-tables2

python-six

python-html5lib

python-lxml

python-minimal

python-pkg-resources

python-setuptools

python-urllib3

python-requests

python-pip

python-virtualenv

E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

After going the route suggested by ike:

root@ubuntu14-server:/home/kpoole# apt-get install --reinstall python

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree       

Reading state information... Done

You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:

python : Depends: python2.7 (>= 2.7.5-1~) but it is not going to be installed

E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

root@ubuntu14-server:/home/kpoole# apt-get install -f

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree       

Reading state information... Done

Correcting dependencies... Done

The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:

libexpat1-dev libpython-dev libpython2.7-dev

Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.

The following extra packages will be installed:

python python2.7

Suggested packages:

python-doc python-tk python2.7-doc

The following NEW packages will be installed:

python python2.7

0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 3 not upgraded.

14 not fully installed or removed.

Need to get 0 B/330 kB of archives.

After this operation, 1,042 kB of additional disk space will be used.

Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y

Selecting previously unselected package python2.7.

(Reading database ... 73738 files and directories currently installed.)

Preparing to unpack .../python2.7_2.7.6-8_amd64.deb ...

Unpacking python2.7 (2.7.6-8) ...

Selecting previously unselected package python.

Preparing to unpack .../python_2.7.5-5ubuntu3_amd64.deb ...

Unpacking python (2.7.5-5ubuntu3) ...

Processing triggers for man-db (2.6.7.1-1ubuntu1) ...

Processing triggers for mime-support (3.54ubuntu1) ...

Setting up python-minimal (2.7.5-5ubuntu3) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python-minimal.postinst: 4: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python-minimal.postinst: python2.7: not found

dpkg: error processing package python-minimal (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

Setting up python2.7 (2.7.6-8) ...

/var/lib/dpkg/info/python2.7.postinst: 9: /var/lib/dpkg/info/python2.7.postinst: python2.7: not found

dpkg: error processing package python2.7 (--configure):

subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 127

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python:

python depends on python2.7 (>= 2.7.5-1~); however:

Package python2.7 is not configured yet.

python depends on python-minimal (= 2.7.5-5ubuntu3); however:

Package python-minimal is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-chardet:

python-chardet depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-chardet depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-chardet depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-chardet (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-colorama:

python-colorama depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-coNo apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

        No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

                    lorama depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-colorama depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-colorama (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-distlib:

python-distlib depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-distlib depends on python:any (>= 2.7.5-5~); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-distlib (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-django:

python-django depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-django depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-django depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package pythNo apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

on is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-django (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-django-tables2:

python-django-tables2 depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-django-tables2 depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-django-tables2 depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-django-tables2 depends on python-django (>= 1.4.5); however:

Package python-django is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-django-tables2 (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-six:

python-six depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-six depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-six depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-six (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-html5lib:

python-html5lib depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-html5lib depends on python:any (>= 2.7.5-5~); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-html5lib depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-html5lib (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-lxml:

python-lxml depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-lxml depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-lxml depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-lxml (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-pkg-resources:

python-pkg-resources depends on python:any (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-pkg-resources depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-pkg-resources (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-setuptools:

python-setuptools depends on python:any (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-setuptools depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-setuptools depends on python-pkg-resources (= 3.3-1ubuntu1); however:

Package python-pkg-resources is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-setuptools (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-urllib3:

python-urllib3 depends on python:any (>= 2.7.5-5~); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-urllib3 depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-urllib3 depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-urllib3 (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-requests:

python-requests depends on python:any (>= 2.7.5-5~); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-requests depends on python:any (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-requests depends on python-chardet; however:

Package python-chardet is not configured yet.

python-requests depends on python-urllib3 (>= 1.7.1); however:

Package python-urllib3 is not configured yet.



dpkg: error processing package python-requests (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-pip:

python-pip depends on python (>= 2.7); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python (<< 2.8); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python:any (>= 2.7.1-0ubuntu2); however:

Package python is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-colorama; however:

Package python-colorama is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-distlib; however:

Package python-distlib is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-html5lib; however:

Package python-html5lib is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-pkg-resources; however:

Package python-pkg-resources is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-setuptools (>= 0.6c1); however:

Package python-setuptools is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-six; however:

Package python-six is not configured yet.

python-pip depends on python-requests; however:

Package python-requests is not c

dpkg: error processing package python-pip (--configure):

dependency problems - leaving unconfigured

Errors were encountered while processing:

python-minimal

python2.7

python

python-chardet

python-colorama

python-distlib

python-django

python-django-tables2

python-six

python-html5lib

python-lxml

python-pkg-resources

python-setuptools

python-urllib3

python-requests

python-pip

E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)