Ubuntu 9.10 package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.37-1ubuntu5.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

When trying to do an apt-get upgrade the MySQL package failed with the error message:

package mysql-server-5.1 5.1.37-1ubuntu5.1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

The problem is that the start / stop script for MySQL fails to stop the running MySQL server before upgrade.

Solution:

apt-get update
ps ax | grep mysql

Now kill each process that has to do with MySQL.

apt-get upgrade

Voila – now it works and MySQL gets upgraded.