Reset APT, get rid of obsolete packages, help I'm stuck!

[m666]

I'm running Lubuntu 12.10 liveCD, persistent install on FAT32-formatted 4GB pendrive (3.2GB casper file - Unetbootin method).
I can install packages, that's cool.
I tried to install alternative kernel but it failed.
Now I have linux-image-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae package as 'obsolete'.
It's not installed but whenever I try to install new package or upgrade the system, I get error:

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install aptitude
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
aptitude-common libboost-iostreams1.49.0 libcwidget3
Suggested packages:
aptitude-doc-en aptitude-doc tasksel debtags libcwidget-dev
Recommended packages:
apt-xapian-index libparse-debianchangelog-perl
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-image-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae
The following NEW packages will be installed:
aptitude aptitude-common libboost-iostreams1.49.0 libcwidget3
0 upgraded, 4 newly installed, 1 to remove and 116 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/2,513 kB of archives.
After this operation, 71.1 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
(Reading database ... 145934 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae ...
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae
lzma: (stdout): Write error: No space left on device
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
/usr/sbin/grub-probe: error: failed to get canonical path of /cow.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing linux-image-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
lubuntu@lubuntu:~$

How to get rid of it? it's not in /boot, it's not in repos.

[ibjsb4]

update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.4.9-rt17-avl2-pae
lzma: (stdout): Write error: No space left on device
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1

Sounds like you need to remove some of those old kernels. I use synaptic for that, but there are other ways to do it.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation/RemoveOldKernels
http://www.googlubuntu.com/results/?cx=006238239194895611142%3Au-ocqbntw_o&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=remove+old+kernels&as_qdr=all&sa=Google+Search&lang=en&siteurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.googlubuntu.com%2Fresults %2F%3Fcx%3D006238239194895611142%3Au-ocqbntw_o%26q%3Dlist%2Ball%2Bkernels%2Bin%2Btermin al%26sa%3DSearch%26cof%3DFORID%3A9

[m666]

Yes tried synaptic doesn't work

'no space left' because it's 'live cd'



lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/cow 3.0G 1.4G 1.6G 47% /
udev 742M 4.0K 742M 1% /dev
tmpfs 301M 852K 300M 1% /run
/dev/sdb1 3.8G 3.8G 0 100% /cdrom
/dev/loop0 639M 639M 0 100% /rofs
tmpfs 751M 4.0K 751M 1% /tmp
none 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock
none 751M 596K 750M 1% /run/shm
none 100M 8.0K 100M 1% /run/user

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ ls /cdrom/boot/
grub

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ ls /boot
abi-3.5.0-17-generic grub System.map-3.5.0-17-generic
abi-3.5.0-25-lowlatency initrd.img-3.5.0-25-lowlatency System.map-3.5.0-25-lowlatency
config-3.5.0-17-generic memtest86+.bin vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-lowlatency
config-3.5.0-25-lowlatency memtest86+_multiboot.bin

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ ls /rofs/boot/
abi-3.5.0-17-generic grub memtest86+_multiboot.bin
config-3.5.0-17-generic memtest86+.bin System.map-3.5.0-17-generic
lubuntu@lubuntu:~$

[m666]

Solution from the link provided doesn't work still the same error.
Well I have to reinstall the system I guess.

Thanks for reply!

[dino99]

you're really funny, really :P

if you boot on the livecd, all the commands are related to that livecd; which is (as you know) write protected (as its burned)

so apt is ok, but your brain not ;)

[m666]

you're really funny, really :P

if you boot on the livecd, all the commands are related to that livecd; which is (as you know) write protected (as its burned)

so apt is ok, but your brain not ;)

Nothing wrong with my brain, mate. Read again first post.
It's PERSISTENT install.
I CAN install packages, make changes in /etc, it still there after reboot. Just the kernel upgrade caused problem.

[m666]

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/cow 3.0G 1.4G 1.6G 47% /
udev 742M 4.0K 742M 1% /dev
tmpfs 301M 852K 300M 1% /run
/dev/sdb1 3.8G 3.8G 0 100% /cdrom
/dev/loop0 639M 639M 0 100% /rofs
tmpfs 751M 4.0K 751M 1% /tmp
none 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock
none 751M 568K 750M 1% /run/shm
none 100M 8.0K 100M 1% /run/user

/cow - that's where changes are written, physically it's 3.2GB disk image on pendrive.
In order to install kernel, system tries to write something on /rofs.

[dino99]

sorry misunderstood

but 4 Gb for a persistent install is way too narrow, as the cache grow with updates, and /tmp needs room while decompressing/installing. 10-12 Gb is required, or everytime you need to wipe the cache first to make room.

sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoclean
sudo apt-get autoremove

An easy way to deal with the packages (kernel removal for example) is to install synaptic, then using it.

[m666]

4 Gb for a persistent install is way too narrow, as the cache grow with updates, and /tmp needs room while decompressing/installing

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
tmpfs 751M 4.0K 751M 1% /tmp

/tmp is mounted in RAM so flushed after each reboot


sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoclean
sudo apt-get autoremove

I do it after each install/remove


An easy way to deal with the packages (kernel removal for example) is to install synaptic, then using it.

I said already - synaptic generates the same error.

[Cheesemill]

You cant update or change the kernel when using a persistant USB setup.

The kernel lives in the root squashfs filesystem which is read only.

[m666]

Well I know that!


I dont want to upgrade kernel anymore.
I want to remove it. But it's not installed. Funny.

REINSTALL

[m666]

No need to reinstall.

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo find / -name linux-image-3*

lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.4*
lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.5*
lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/crash/linux-image-3.4*
lubuntu@lubuntu:~$ sudo rm -rf /var/crash/linux-image-3.5*

Problem solved.
Thanks for replies!