Problem in upgrading. Dependencies not met and kernel images

[Federico_Carta]

Hi everyone. I am running Ubuntu 16.04 and I have a problem when updating.
When I run


sudo apt-get upgrade


the output is the following (sorry for the fact it is in italian)



Lettura elenco dei pacchetti... Fatto
Generazione albero delle dipendenze
Lettura informazioni sullo stato... Fatto
È utile eseguire "apt-get -f install" per correggere ciò.
I seguenti pacchetti hanno dipendenze non soddisfatte:
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-92-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic ma non è installato
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-94-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic ma non è installato
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-96-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic ma non è installato
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-97-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic ma non è installato
linux-image-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic ma non è installato
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-92-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic (= 4.4.0-92.115) ma non è installato
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-94-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic (= 4.4.0-94.117) ma non è installato
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-96-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic (= 4.4.0-96.119) ma non è installato
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-97-generic : Dipende: linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic (= 4.4.0-97.120) ma non è installato
E: Dipendenze non trovate. Riprovare usando -f.


As far as I understand, there are some dependencies not met.
In particular, there look to be many packages not installed. It suggests retrying with -f. When I do


sudo apt-get upgrade -f


I get the following output


Lettura elenco dei pacchetti... Fatto
Generazione albero delle dipendenze
Lettura informazioni sullo stato... Fatto
Correzione delle dipendenze... Fatto
Calcolo dell'aggiornamento... Fatto
I seguenti pacchetti sono stati installati automaticamente e non sono più richiesti:
libllvm3.8 libllvm3.8:i386 libmircommon5 linux-headers-4.4.0-70 linux-headers-4.4.0-70-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-71
linux-headers-4.4.0-71-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-72 linux-headers-4.4.0-72-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-75
linux-headers-4.4.0-75-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-78 linux-headers-4.4.0-78-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-83
linux-headers-4.4.0-83-generic linux-image-4.4.0-70-generic linux-image-4.4.0-71-generic linux-image-4.4.0-72-generic
linux-image-4.4.0-75-generic linux-image-4.4.0-78-generic linux-image-4.4.0-83-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-71-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-72-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-75-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-78-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-83-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-92-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-94-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-96-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-71-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-72-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-75-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-78-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-83-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-92-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-94-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-96-generic snap-confine
Usare "sudo apt autoremove" per rimuoverli.
I seguenti pacchetti NUOVI saranno installati:
linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic
0 aggiornati, 4 installati, 0 da rimuovere e 0 non aggiornati.
18 non completamente installati o rimossi.
È necessario scaricare 0 B/87,7 MB di archivi.
Dopo quest'operazione, verranno occupati 268 MB di spazio su disco.
Continuare? [S/n] S
(Lettura del database... 743736 file e directory attualmente installati.)
Preparativi per estrarre .../linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic_4.4.0-97.120_amd64.deb...
Examining /etc/kernel/preinst.d/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/preinst.d/intel-microcode 4.4.0-97-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic
Done.
Estrazione di linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic (4.4.0-97.120)...
dpkg: errore nell'elaborare l'archivio /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic_4.4.0-97.120_amd64.deb (--unpack):
impossibile copiare i dati estratti per "./boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic" in "/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic.dpkg-new": scrittura non riuscita (Spazio esaurito sul device)
Segnalazione apport non scritta poiché il messaggio di errore indica un errore per disco pieno.
dpkg-deb: errore: il sottoprocesso paste è stato terminato dal segnale (Pipe interrotta)
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-97-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-97-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic
Preparativi per estrarre .../linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic_4.4.0-92.115_amd64.deb...
Examining /etc/kernel/preinst.d/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/preinst.d/intel-microcode 4.4.0-92-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-92-generic
Done.
Estrazione di linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic (4.4.0-92.115)...
dpkg: errore nell'elaborare l'archivio /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic_4.4.0-92.115_amd64.deb (--unpack):
impossibile copiare i dati estratti per "./boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-92-generic" in "/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-92-generic.dpkg-new": scrittura non riuscita (Spazio esaurito sul device)
Segnalazione apport non scritta poiché il messaggio di errore indica un errore per disco pieno.
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-92-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-92-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-92-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-92-generic
dpkg-deb: errore: il sottoprocesso paste è stato terminato dal segnale (Pipe interrotta)
Preparativi per estrarre .../linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic_4.4.0-94.117_amd64.deb...
Examining /etc/kernel/preinst.d/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/preinst.d/intel-microcode 4.4.0-94-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-94-generic
Done.
Estrazione di linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic (4.4.0-94.117)...
dpkg: errore nell'elaborare l'archivio /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic_4.4.0-94.117_amd64.deb (--unpack):
impossibile copiare i dati estratti per "./boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-94-generic" in "/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-94-generic.dpkg-new": scrittura non riuscita (Spazio esaurito sul device)
Segnalazione apport non scritta poiché il messaggio di errore indica un errore per disco pieno.
dpkg-deb: errore: il sottoprocesso paste è stato terminato dal segnale (Pipe interrotta)
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-94-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-94-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-94-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-94-generic
Preparativi per estrarre .../linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic_4.4.0-96.119_amd64.deb...
Examining /etc/kernel/preinst.d/
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/preinst.d/intel-microcode 4.4.0-96-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic
Done.
Estrazione di linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic (4.4.0-96.119)...
dpkg: errore nell'elaborare l'archivio /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic_4.4.0-96.119_amd64.deb (--unpack):
impossibile copiare i dati estratti per "./boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic" in "/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic.dpkg-new": scrittura non riuscita (Spazio esaurito sul device)
Segnalazione apport non scritta poiché è stato raggiunto il valore massimo di MaxReports
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-96-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-96-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic
dpkg-deb: errore: il sottoprocesso paste è stato terminato dal segnale (Pipe interrotta)
Si sono verificati degli errori nell'elaborazione:
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic_4.4.0-97.120_amd64.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-92-generic_4.4.0-92.115_amd64.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-94-generic_4.4.0-94.117_amd64.deb
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic_4.4.0-96.119_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)


In particular the last 5 lines of this output signal some errors in the elaboration of the command.

Does anybody know how to solve this?
It is quite important since it is preventing me to upgrade anything.
Thank you very much.

[Impavidus]

You have accumulated too many old kernels and now I think you have a full /boot partition. Run
df -h to check. I don't think you have enough headroom for apt to work, but it should be possible to fix this using the lower-level tool dpkg directly. First find out which old kernel packages are installed. Run this (copy-paste into a terminal) and post the output:
dpkg -l | grep linux

[Federico_Carta]

Thank you very much for answering. The output of



df -h


is the following:


File system Dim. Usati Dispon. Uso% Montato su
udev 7,8G 0 7,8G 0% /dev
tmpfs 1,6G 9,3M 1,6G 1% /run
/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root 218G 97G 110G 47% /
tmpfs 7,8G 30M 7,8G 1% /dev/shm
tmpfs 5,0M 4,0K 5,0M 1% /run/lock
tmpfs 7,8G 0 7,8G 0% /sys/fs/cgroup
/dev/sda2 473M 468M 0 100% /boot
/dev/sda1 511M 3,4M 508M 1% /boot/efi
tmpfs 1,6G 60K 1,6G 1% /run/user/1000
/home/federico/.Private 218G 97G 110G 47% /home/federico


So I think you are right, and I have no more space in the boot partition, which should be /dev/sda2 if I understand correctly.

Also, the output of


dpkg -l | grep linux

is the following:



ii console-setup-linux 1.108ubuntu15.3 all Linux specific part of console-setup
ii fonts-linuxlibertine 5.3.0-2 all Linux Libertine family of fonts
ii libselinux1:amd64 2.4-3build2 amd64 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii libselinux1:i386 2.4-3build2 i386 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii libv4l-0:amd64 1.10.0-1 amd64 Collection of video4linux support libraries
ii libv4l-0:i386 1.10.0-1 i386 Collection of video4linux support libraries
ii libv4lconvert0:amd64 1.10.0-1 amd64 Video4linux frame format conversion library
ii libv4lconvert0:i386 1.10.0-1 i386 Video4linux frame format conversion library
ii linux-base 4.0ubuntu1 all Linux image base package
iF linux-firmware 1.157.12 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
iU linux-generic 4.4.0.97.102 amd64 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-70 4.4.0-70.91 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-70-generic 4.4.0-70.91 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-71 4.4.0-71.92 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-71-generic 4.4.0-71.92 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-72 4.4.0-72.93 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-72-generic 4.4.0-72.93 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-75 4.4.0-75.96 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-75-generic 4.4.0-75.96 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-78 4.4.0-78.99 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-78-generic 4.4.0-78.99 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-83 4.4.0-83.106 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-83-generic 4.4.0-83.106 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-87 4.4.0-87.110 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-87-generic 4.4.0-87.110 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-89 4.4.0-89.112 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-89-generic 4.4.0-89.112 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-92 4.4.0-92.115 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-92-generic 4.4.0-92.115 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-94 4.4.0-94.117 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-94-generic 4.4.0-94.117 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-96 4.4.0-96.119 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-96-generic 4.4.0-96.119 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-97 4.4.0-97.120 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-97-generic 4.4.0-97.120 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.8.0-040800 4.8.0-040800.201610022031 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.8.0
ii linux-headers-4.8.0-040800-generic 4.8.0-040800.201610022031 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.8.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 4.4.0.97.102 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
rc linux-image-4.4.0-31-generic 4.4.0-31.50 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-53-generic 4.4.0-53.74 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-62-generic 4.4.0-62.83 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-63-generic 4.4.0-63.84 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-64-generic 4.4.0-64.85 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-66-generic 4.4.0-66.87 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-70-generic 4.4.0-70.91 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-71-generic 4.4.0-71.92 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-72-generic 4.4.0-72.93 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-75-generic 4.4.0-75.96 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-78-generic 4.4.0-78.99 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-83-generic 4.4.0-83.106 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-87-generic 4.4.0-87.110 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iF linux-image-4.4.0-89-generic 4.4.0-89.112 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.8.0-040800-generic 4.8.0-040800.201610022031 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.8.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-31-generic 4.4.0-31.50 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-53-generic 4.4.0-53.74 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-62-generic 4.4.0-62.83 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-63-generic 4.4.0-63.84 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-64-generic 4.4.0-64.85 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-66-generic 4.4.0-66.87 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic 4.4.0-70.91 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-71-generic 4.4.0-71.92 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-72-generic 4.4.0-72.93 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-75-generic 4.4.0-75.96 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-78-generic 4.4.0-78.99 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-83-generic 4.4.0-83.106 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iF linux-image-extra-4.4.0-87-generic 4.4.0-87.110 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-extra-4.4.0-89-generic 4.4.0-89.112 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-extra-4.4.0-92-generic 4.4.0-92.115 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-extra-4.4.0-94-generic 4.4.0-94.117 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-extra-4.4.0-96-generic 4.4.0-96.119 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-extra-4.4.0-97-generic 4.4.0-97.120 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-image-generic 4.4.0.97.102 amd64 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-libc-dev:amd64 4.4.0-97.120 amd64 Linux Kernel Headers for development
iU linux-signed-generic 4.4.0.97.102 amd64 Complete Signed Generic Linux kernel and headers
rc linux-signed-image-4.4.0-53-generic 4.4.0-53.74 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
rc linux-signed-image-4.4.0-62-generic 4.4.0-62.83 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
rc linux-signed-image-4.4.0-63-generic 4.4.0-63.84 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
rc linux-signed-image-4.4.0-64-generic 4.4.0-64.85 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
rc linux-signed-image-4.4.0-66-generic 4.4.0-66.87 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic 4.4.0-70.91 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-71-generic 4.4.0-71.92 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-72-generic 4.4.0-72.93 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-75-generic 4.4.0-75.96 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-78-generic 4.4.0-78.99 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-83-generic 4.4.0-83.106 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-signed-image-4.4.0-87-generic 4.4.0-87.110 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-4.4.0-89-generic 4.4.0-89.112 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-4.4.0-92-generic 4.4.0-92.115 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-4.4.0-94-generic 4.4.0-94.117 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-4.4.0-96-generic 4.4.0-96.119 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-4.4.0-97-generic 4.4.0-97.120 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
iU linux-signed-image-generic 4.4.0.97.102 amd64 Signed Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-sound-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5 all base package for ALSA and OSS sound systems
ii playonlinux 4.2.11 all This program is a front-end for wine.
ii pptp-linux 1.8.0-1 amd64 Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) Client
ii syslinux 3:6.03+dfsg-11ubuntu1 amd64 collection of bootloaders (DOS FAT and NTFS bootloader)
ii syslinux-common 3:6.03+dfsg-11ubuntu1 all collection of bootloaders (common)
ii syslinux-legacy 2:3.63+dfsg-2ubuntu8 amd64 Bootloader for Linux/i386 using MS-DOS floppies
ii util-linux 2.27.1-6ubuntu3.3 amd64 miscellaneous system utilities


I honestly don't understand well what this means, but I can see that there are many different kernel headers, some of newer versions than others. Is it possible to remove safely some of them?

Thank you very much again.

[ian-weisser]

Yes, it's possible to safely remove all older kernels.
Use dpkg for the first couple isn't working yet.

1) Use the following to determine your current kernel. DON'T UNINSTALL YOUR CURRENT KERNEL!

uname -r

2) Then use dpkg to remove the older kernels. Here's an example of removing one:

sudo dpkg --remove linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic
Note that TWO packages need to be removed: -image and -image-extra.

3) You also have a bunch of newer kernels that are not installed yet: -89, -92, -94, -96, -97
You can uninstall all but the newest. Then install the newest, and reboot into it.

4) Everything on the list marked 'rc' is already removed. Those are merely listings in the database. Ignore them.

5) At this point, apt should work again, but still with a few errors. You have firmly broken your kernel metapackages (linux-signed-generic, linux-signed-image-generic), which will prevent future upgrades and creates error messages.
Uninstall both, use apt-clean on both to purge them from your local cache, then use apt to reinstall them.

[Federico_Carta]

Thanks for answering.

The output of


uname -r

is the following:


4.8.0-040800-generic

so I guess this is the kernel I am using.

I then moved to point 2) in the list, trying to remove one old kernel. I runned


sudo dpkg --remove linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic

as you suggested, and the output is the following:



dpkg: attenzione: viene ignorata la richiesta di rimuovere linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic, solo i file
di configurazione sono presenti nel sistema: usare --purge per rimuoverli
(Lettura del database... 739308 file e directory attualmente installati.)
Rimozione di linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic (4.4.0-70.91)...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-70-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-70-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-70-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-70-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-70-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-70-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-70-generic

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-70-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: errore nell'elaborare il pacchetto linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic (--remove):
il sottoprocesso installato script di post-removal ha restituito lo stato di errore 1
Si sono verificati degli errori nell'elaborazione:
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-70-generic


So some error happened. The first line says something like "the request of removing linux-signed-image-4.4.0-70-generic has been ignored, only configuration files are present in the system: use --purge to remove them.
Sorry if the question is very naive, but how do I use purge? Also, I have never installed, removed a kernel. How do install the new ones, as you suggest in part 3) ?

Thanks again

[ian-weisser]

Normally old kernels autoremove without any action by users.
I do not know how you defeated the kernel autoremoval...and not knowing will make it hard to restore.





4.8.0-040800-generic

so I guess this is the kernel I am using.

This is not a normal Ubuntu kernel. How and why did you install it? This may provide us clues as to how you broke your kernel autoremove.




Sorry if the question is very naive, but how do I use purge?
Move on to the next kernel and try again. 'purge' is a distraction. 'purge' won't help your problem, as 1) kernel images don't have configuration files in /etc anyway and 2) /etc is not full - removing config files won't free any space in /boot.

[Federico_Carta]

This is not a normal Ubuntu kernel. How and why did you install it? This may provide us clues as to how you broke your kernel autoremove.

I don't know how to install kernels or remove them, as I think I never did it before. I don't know why this one is the one in use, especially if it is a non-standard one...

[Impavidus]

Actually, you should remove 3 packages per kernel version
sudo dpkg --remove linux-image-4.4.0-71-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-71-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-71-genericand similar for the other versions.

I don't know why you have a non-standard kernel. Sometimes you may need a more recent version for your hardware, but there's a simpler way to install kernel 4.10 on Ubuntu 16.04. Safest thing may be to get back to kernel 4.4.

When you boot the computer, you should be able to use the grub menu to start kernel 4.4.0-83, which is the last standard kernel that was succesfully installed.
Confirm using uname -r you're on 4.4.0-83 and that it works correctly. Running that kernel, you should be able to clean up. Try to remove kernels 4.4.0-{70,71,72,75,78,87,89,92,94,96}. Also remove your 4.8 kernel:
sudo dpkg --remove linux-image-4.8.0-040800-genericThat should give enough headroom for apt to work:
sudo apt install -fThen let's see if things look better now:
df -h
dpkg -l | grep linux