Cannot upgrade or use synaptic package manager

[jbskaggs]

I have used sparky linux for more than a year.  This weekend I tried to upgrade and ever since I get a exex format error on most terminal operations for upgrades or terminal based installations.

Needless to say I need help understanding how to fix this. Sparky linux 5.7

Today I tried to install tumbler for thunar via synaptic package manager and it gave same errors:

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debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Gnome
debconf: (Can't locate Gtk3.pm in @INC (you may need to install the Gtk3 module) (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.28.1 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl5/5.28 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28 /usr/share/perl/5.28 /usr/local/lib/site_perl /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl-base) at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Gnome.pm line 151, <> line 3.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Dialog
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Dialog
debconf: (TERM is not set, so the dialog frontend is not usable.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Readline
(Reading database ... 348690 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-4.18.0-3-amd64 (4.18.20-2) ...
/etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.18.0-3-amd64
/etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub:
Generating grub configuration file ...
/etc/grub.d/00_header: 52: /etc/grub.d/00_header: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /opt/artwork/sparky-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-2-amd64
/etc/grub.d/10_linux: 52: /etc/grub.d/10_linux: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 2
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.18.0-3-amd64 (--remove):
installed linux-image-4.18.0-3-amd64 package post-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-4.18.0-3-amd64
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install.  Trying to recover:
Setting up linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64 (4.19.16-1) ...
depmod: ERROR: fstatat(8, mlx4): No such file or directory
depmod: ERROR: fstatat(8, igbvf): No such file or directory
depmod: ERROR: fstatat(8, ixgbe): No such file or directory
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh_alua.ko: Exec format error
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/atp870u.ko: Exec format error
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/ch.ko: Exec format error
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.19.0-2-amd64
modinfo: ERROR: could not get modinfo from 'atp870u': Exec format error
modinfo: ERROR: could not get modinfo from 'ch': Exec format error
modinfo: ERROR: could not get modinfo from 'scsi_dh_alua': Exec format error
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_asd.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_sos.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_rlc.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_mec2.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_mec.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_me.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_pfp.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_ce.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_sdma1.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_sdma.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_uvd.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_vce.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/vega20_smc.bin for module amdgpu
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/sdb3
I: (UUID=2014aae7-a8ac-4c06-888c-920f6f41920c)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_lObTvd/lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh_alua.ko: Exec format error
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_lObTvd/lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/atp870u.ko: Exec format error
depmod: ERROR: failed to load symbols from /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_lObTvd/lib/modules/4.19.0-2-amd64/kernel/drivers/scsi/ch.ko: Exec format error
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub:
Generating grub configuration file ...
/etc/grub.d/00_header: 52: /etc/grub.d/00_header: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /opt/artwork/sparky-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-2-amd64
/etc/grub.d/10_linux: 52: /etc/grub.d/10_linux: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 2
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64 (--configure):
installed linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Setting up python3-wxgtk4.0 (4.0.4+dfsg-1) ...
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
Sorry: ValueError: source code string cannot contain null bytes
dpkg: error processing package python3-wxgtk4.0 (--configure):
installed python3-wxgtk4.0 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-amd64:
linux-image-amd64 depends on linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64; however:
  Package linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-image-amd64 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up grub-efi-amd64 (2.02+dfsg1-13) ...
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Gnome
debconf: (Can't locate Gtk3.pm in @INC (you may need to install the Gtk3 module) (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.28.1 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl5/5.28 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28 /usr/share/perl/5.28 /usr/local/lib/site_perl /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl-base) at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Gnome.pm line 151.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Dialog
debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Dialog
debconf: (TERM is not set, so the dialog frontend is not usable.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Readline
Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
Installation finished. No error reported.
Generating grub configuration file ...
/etc/grub.d/00_header: 52: /etc/grub.d/00_header: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /opt/artwork/sparky-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-2-amd64
/etc/grub.d/10_linux: 52: /etc/grub.d/10_linux: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
dpkg: error processing package grub-efi-amd64 (--configure):
installed grub-efi-amd64 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 2
Setting up sparky-info (5~20190304) ...
Generating grub configuration file ...
/etc/grub.d/00_header: 52: /etc/grub.d/00_header: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found background image: /opt/artwork/sparky-grub.png
/etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: 52: /etc/grub.d/06_sparky_theme: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.0-2-amd64
/etc/grub.d/10_linux: 52: /etc/grub.d/10_linux: /usr/bin/grub-mkrelpath: Exec format error
dpkg: error processing package sparky-info (--configure):
installed sparky-info package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 2
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of grub-efi:
grub-efi depends on grub-efi-amd64 (= 2.02+dfsg1-13); however:
  Package grub-efi-amd64 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package grub-efi (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of sparky-core:
sparky-core depends on sparky-info; however:
  Package sparky-info is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package sparky-core (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-4.19.0-2-amd64
python3-wxgtk4.0
linux-image-amd64
grub-efi-amd64
sparky-info
grub-efi
sparky-core

Any help would be appreciated

[paxmark1]

I viewed tumbler via aptitude in terminal - A D-bus service to request thumbnails. .... A few depends. 

Next thing to do in the future when bugs occur is to look at the Debian BTS (tumbler is a Debian package)  before posting.  Nothing caught my eye at https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/pkgreport.cgi?package=tumbler    No bugs at tumbler-common

Please in the future mark up your machine output as code  - the # button above will format it with the correct xml markup for this forums.  Example below

Code Select Expand

debconf: unable to initialize frontend: Gnome
debconf: (Can't locate Gtk3.pm in @INC (you may need to install the Gtk3 module) (@INC contains: /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28.1 /usr/local/share/perl/5.28.1 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl5/5.28 /usr/share/perl5 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.28 /usr/share/perl/5.28 /usr/local/lib/site_perl /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl-base) at /usr/share/perl5/Debconf/FrontEnd/Gnome.pm line 151, <> line 3.)
debconf: falling back to frontend: Dialog

Quick question, do you have more than XFCE as a DE (Desktop Environment)?    The dot files can clash.  And specifically, do you have Gnome as a DE. 

Synaptic generated a lot of comment recently elsewhere  4 pages on featured thread.  It is not Wayland compliant and ....   
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=141382&hilit=synaptic

If you have Gnome, you might have to forget synaptic.  Gnome has gone wayland.  Possibly also KDE

So any time a GUI front end fails (Synaptic is a Debian  Graphical User Inerface) is a good time to either use a GUI with less depends and lower level language or use the command line. 

Try aptus - the Sparky upgrade GUI  if you like gui's. Info is at the Sparky Wiki.  Or use the command line , 3 choices  1. apt ...  2. apr-get ....   or 3 aptitiude     ....   man apt   etc will give you info on those.  To the best of my knowledge aptus will work with Gnome and KDE.