How to fix subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 127 in APT

Run the following command to install any missing dependencies for the problematic package:

sudo apt install --fix-broken

This attempts to resolve dependency issues that may be causing the missing commands.

Run the reconfigure command to fix the dpkg database state:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

This tells dpkg to complete any interrupted package configurations.

Look at the full error message to see which command is 'not found'. For example:
- If the error mentions update-desktop-database: not found, the command is update-desktop-database
- If it shows gtk-update-icon-cache: not found, the command is gtk-update-icon-cache

Note the exact command name for the next step.

Once you've identified the missing command, install the package that provides it. Common examples:

# For update-desktop-database
sudo apt install desktop-file-utils

# For gtk-update-icon-cache
sudo apt install libgtk2.0-bin

# For update-info-dir
sudo apt install install-info

# For systemctl
sudo apt install systemd

Replace the command name with what you found in step 3.

Now that the missing dependency is installed, try to install or configure the package again:

sudo apt install <package-name>

Or if it was already partially installed:

sudo apt install --fix-broken

If the above steps don't work, completely remove the package and reinstall it:

# Completely remove the package
sudo apt remove --purge <package-name>

# Clean and update package lists
sudo apt clean
sudo apt update

# Reinstall the package
sudo apt install <package-name>