Upgrade is different from upgrade distribution. If you upgrade it will
install newer packages that are the repositories for your current
distribution version. This is a common misconception.

Update means only update the package list. Upgrade means install newer
packages. Upgrade distribution means to upgrade to the next higher version
of your distribution. So, go ahead and upgrade and see if it will improve
your situation.

BTW, the "horror" stories are greatly exaggerated and many come not from
users but from people who just don't like Ubuntu to begin with and they
write this same stuff about every version. It is like the National Enquirer.
One person has a problem and then it is all blown way our of out of
proportion by people with an axe to grind. I am not saying to upgrade to
9.10. All upgrades in any OS can be problematic for people who were
basically satisfied before they upgraded as any little thing that goes wrong
is seen as cataclysmic. Most people who are happy should not upgrade.

If people want the latest application releases without risk they should use
the last stable version and enable the backports in the repositories.

Your clear and helpful explanation regarding the distinctions between "upgrade"
and "update" are quite informative. There is a "however":

The warning message from Update Manager is as follows;

NOT ALL UPDATES CAN BE INSTALLED

Run a partial upgrade to install as many updates as possible.

This can be caused by: etc.

I really don't want to "upgrade", desiring to do as you recommend, ie awaiting
the next LTS version which I understand is the regular release # 10-04. In the
meantime, I would be happy if "update manager" would stop bugging me.

It seems to feel that it has unfinished business which it can't complete. I am
unsure how much help I would derive from a "partial upgrade" and don't have any
idea how to do a "partial" anything not offered me as a choice.

I want to purge the debris left behind by a failed printer install and have
created a greater problem for myself. How do I clear this "stuff"?

I was also attempting to install in the same session 'gadmin-samba', 'grub-doc'
'gparted' and 'parted-doc' none of which were installed.

I have deleted the prior posts in the interest of brevity messages 16622 and
16660 comprise this thread.