package fglrx (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

bug occurred only after an update. I've tried a range of ati installer versions as well as synaptic and have removed all fragments (repeatedly). It worked seamlessly in the original 10.04 distribution.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: fglrx (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-36.79-generic 2.6.32.46+drm33.20
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-36-generic x86_64
AptOrdering:
 fglrx: Install
 fglrx-amdcccle: Install
 fglrx: Configure
 fglrx-amdcccle: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Dec 14 15:45:00 2011
DkmsStatus: fglrx, 8.911, 2.6.32-36-generic, x86_64: installed
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20110720.1)
MachineType: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. Z68X-UD3P-B3
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-36-generic root=UUID=077824cf-17c5-4111-b2b2-fefee6375974 ro quiet splash
SourcePackage: fglrx-installer
Title: package fglrx (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
dmi.bios.date: 07/19/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Award Software International, Inc.
dmi.bios.version: F6
dmi.board.name: Z68X-UD3P-B3
dmi.board.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
dmi.board.version: x.x
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAwardSoftwareInternational,Inc.:bvrF6:bd07/19/2011:svnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:pnZ68X-UD3P-B3:pvr:rvnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:rnZ68X-UD3P-B3:rvrx.x:cvnGigabyteTechnologyCo.,Ltd.:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Z68X-UD3P-B3
dmi.sys.vendor: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 codename: lucid
 architecture: x86_64
 kernel: 2.6.32-36-generic