This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of linux installation and package management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A Debian system has a broken package that was partially installed. Which command will attempt to fix dependencies and configure all unpacked but not configured packages?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
dpkg -i --force-depends
Why wrong: This forces installation ignoring dependencies, which can cause more problems.
apt-get autoremove
Why wrong: This removes packages that were automatically installed and are no longer needed.
apt-get clean
Why wrong: This clears the package cache, not fix broken packages.
dpkg --configure -a
This configures all unpacked packages, fixing incomplete installations.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
dpkg --configure -a
The command `dpkg --configure -a` is the correct choice because it configures all unpacked but not yet configured packages, and also attempts to fix dependency issues by re-running the configuration scripts. This is the standard way to recover from a partially installed package on Debian systems, as it ensures all packages in the 'unpacked' or 'half-configured' state are fully processed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
dpkg -i --force-depends
Why it's wrong here
This forces installation ignoring dependencies, which can cause more problems.
apt-get autoremove
Why it's wrong here
This removes packages that were automatically installed and are no longer needed.
apt-get clean
Why it's wrong here
This clears the package cache, not fix broken packages.
dpkg --configure -a
Why this is correct
This configures all unpacked packages, fixing incomplete installations.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `dpkg --configure -a` with `apt-get install -f` (which fixes broken dependencies by installing missing packages), but the question specifically asks for configuring unpacked packages, not just fixing dependencies.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `dpkg --configure -a` iterates through the dpkg database and runs the post-installation scripts (maintainer scripts like `postinst`) for any package in the 'unpacked' or 'half-configured' state. This command is particularly useful after an interrupted `dpkg` operation (e.g., a power failure or network drop during installation) because it re-processes the package database without needing to re-download or re-unpack the .deb files. In real-world scenarios, this is often the first recovery step before running `apt-get install -f` to fix broken dependencies.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-1 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Linux Installation and Package Management — This question tests Linux Installation and Package Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: dpkg --configure -a — The command `dpkg --configure -a` is the correct choice because it configures all unpacked but not yet configured packages, and also attempts to fix dependency issues by re-running the configuration scripts. This is the standard way to recover from a partially installed package on Debian systems, as it ensures all packages in the 'unpacked' or 'half-configured' state are fully processed.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LPIC-1 exam.
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