All right, so, I got a really persistent error. I tried to install mfc6490cwlpr:i386 (downloaded as mfc6490cwlpr-1.1.2-2.i386.deb) and installed it using either gdebi or the Ubuntu Software Centre, probably both even. Following instructions, I restarted my computer and the following error appeared on my upper bar in Unity:
An error occured, please run Package Manager from the right-click menu or apt-get in a terminal to see what is wrong. The error message was: 'Unknown Error:'<type 'exceptions.SystemError'>'(E:The package mfc6490cwlpr:i386 needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.)'. This usually means that your installed packages have unmet dependencies
I tried several ways to remove it. Among the following commands:
sudo dpkg --remove --force-remove-reinstreq mfc6490cwlpr:i386
sudo dpkg --force-all -r mfc6490cwlpr:i386
Digging further into history, I find this command:
sudo dpkg -i --force-all --force-architecture mfc6490cwlpr-1.1.2-2.i386.deb
I'm running on a 64-bit AMD processor.
Whenever I do anything that involves apt-get, updating, synaptic or what what what, I get this error:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: The package mfc6490cwlpr:i386 needs to be reinstalled, but I can't find an archive for it.
The updater recommended a dist-upgrade, which didn't work.
Does anyone have any ideas to remove the corrupt .deb? I can reinstall it later when I have more time to look into hooking up the printer. But for now, I'm more concerned about getting it off off my computer.
Worth mentioning: I am NOT adept at the command line, though I try hard. I'm fairly dangerous with it, actually.