Which firmware do you have PR1.2 (10.2010.19-1) or PR1.3 (20.2010.36-2)? I checked with "dkpg -l libpurple*" if I have installed this package and I don't have, nor I have folder "/etc/purple/". Probably some application is causing you conflicts. If you don't know how to resolve this issue, maybe you should consider to reflash firmware.