[plug] debian dpkg error: invalid mode in statusoverride file

[Craig Ringer]

Hi all

I'm getting an error from dpkg whenever I try to install new packages,
it just started today - everything was fine 'till just now. I've tried
several things, tried --purge'ing the package before an install, etc -
no go.

The error in question is:
dpkg: syntax error: invalid mode in statusoverride file 
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

I tried to apt-get install dpkg and got the same error updating dpkg.
This is _not_ _good_. Suggestions anybody? Does anyone even know what
the statusoverride file is?

Help on this would be much appreciated, I'm possibly faced with a
re-install to fix this if I can't find another way. This machine has
been fine for more than a year since I first upgraded
to woody almost immediately after a potato install.  I used to try out
distros a lot, I remember what its like and I _really_ _really_ don't
want to have to re-build this (now quite customised) install.

-- 
|  Craig Ringer
|  -- If it ain't broke, add features 'till it is
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