Ubuntu software updates

Frustrations with Acrobat reader -(medibuntu). synaptic giving useless error "...ttp://archive.canonical.com intrepid/partner Packages ... failed to install

/upgrade: trying to overwrite `/usr/share/man/man1/acroread.1.gz', ..." Luckily a google search rooted out a suggestion. Use the "remove --purge" option for apt-get then re-install the beast.
That could be a solution for other misbehaving applications.