apt-get purge not working

[in2survive]

My /boot is full and I can't free space. Current version 4.4.0-151-generic:

user@server:~$ sudo apt-get purge linux-headers-4.4.0-134
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linux-headers-4.4.0-134-generic : Depends: linux-headers-4.4.0-134 but it is not going to be installed
linux-image-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: thermald but it is not going to be installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-154-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not going to be installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-157-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
user@server:~$

Same type of error if I try auto-remove:

user@server:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linux-image-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not installed
Recommends: thermald but it is not installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-154-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-157-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.
user@server:~$

[ajgreeny]

Can you please show us the output of
df -hT
dpkg -l | grep linux which will show us the current situation of space available and the kernels installed.

Once we know the details we can offer you a dpkg command which will remove packages even when apt will not as dpkg does not need the headroom space that apt does.

[in2survive]

Thanks @ajgreeny here you go:

user@server64:~$ df -hT
Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
udev devtmpfs 3.9G 0 3.9G 0% /dev
tmpfs tmpfs 797M 9.1M 788M 2% /run
/dev/mapper/server64--vg-root ext4 238G 58G 169G 26% /
tmpfs tmpfs 3.9G 8.0K 3.9G 1% /dev/shm
tmpfs tmpfs 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock
tmpfs tmpfs 3.9G 0 3.9G 0% /sys/fs/cgroup
/dev/sda1 ext2 472M 471M 0 100% /boot
cgmfs tmpfs 100K 0 100K 0% /run/cgmanager/fs
tmpfs tmpfs 797M 0 797M 0% /run/user/1000
user@server64:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux
ii console-setup-linux 1.108ubuntu15.4 all Linux specific part of console-setup
ii libselinux1:amd64 2.4-3build2 amd64 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii linux-base 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 all Linux image base package
ii linux-firmware 1.157.21 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
iU linux-generic 4.4.0.157.165 amd64 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-134 4.4.0-134.160 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-134-generic 4.4.0-134.160 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-137 4.4.0-137.163 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-137-generic 4.4.0-137.163 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-141 4.4.0-141.167 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-141-generic 4.4.0-141.167 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-142 4.4.0-142.168 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-142-generic 4.4.0-142.168 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-143 4.4.0-143.169 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-145 4.4.0-145.171 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-145-generic 4.4.0-145.171 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-148 4.4.0-148.174 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-148-generic 4.4.0-148.174 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-150 4.4.0-150.176 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-150-generic 4.4.0-150.176 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-151 4.4.0-151.178 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-151-generic 4.4.0-151.178 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-headers-4.4.0-154 4.4.0-154.181 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
iU linux-headers-4.4.0-154-generic 4.4.0-154.181 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-headers-4.4.0-157 4.4.0-157.185 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
iU linux-headers-4.4.0-157-generic 4.4.0-157.185 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-headers-generic 4.4.0.157.165 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
rc linux-image-4.4.0-109-generic 4.4.0-109.132 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-112-generic 4.4.0-112.135 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-116-generic 4.4.0-116.140 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-119-generic 4.4.0-119.143 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-121-generic 4.4.0-121.145 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-124-generic 4.4.0-124.148 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-127-generic 4.4.0-127.153 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-128-generic 4.4.0-128.154 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-130-generic 4.4.0-130.156 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-4.4.0-133-generic 4.4.0-133.159 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic 4.4.0-134.160 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-137-generic 4.4.0-137.163 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-141-generic 4.4.0-141.167 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-142-generic 4.4.0-142.168 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.4.0-145-generic 4.4.0-145.171 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.4.0-148-generic 4.4.0-148.174 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.4.0-150-generic 4.4.0-150.176 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.4.0-151-generic 4.4.0-151.178 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
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-extra-4.4.0-109-generic 4.4.0-109.132 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic 4.4.0-112.135 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-116-generic 4.4.0-116.140 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-119-generic 4.4.0-119.143 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-121-generic 4.4.0-121.145 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-124-generic 4.4.0-124.148 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-127-generic 4.4.0-127.153 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-128-generic 4.4.0-128.154 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-130-generic 4.4.0-130.156 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-133-generic 4.4.0-133.159 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-134-generic 4.4.0-134.160 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-137-generic 4.4.0-137.163 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-4.4.0-138-generic 4.4.0-138.164 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-141-generic 4.4.0-141.167 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-142-generic 4.4.0-142.168 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
iU linux-image-generic 4.4.0.157.165 amd64 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-modules-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-4.4.0-145-generic 4.4.0-145.171 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-4.4.0-148-generic 4.4.0-148.174 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-4.4.0-150-generic 4.4.0-150.176 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-4.4.0-151-generic 4.4.0-151.178 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-modules-4.4.0-154-generic 4.4.0-154.181 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-143-generic 4.4.0-143.169 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-145-generic 4.4.0-145.171 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-148-generic 4.4.0-148.174 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-150-generic 4.4.0-150.176 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-151-generic 4.4.0-151.178 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-154-generic 4.4.0-154.181 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
iU linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-157-generic 4.4.0-157.185 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii python-selinux 2.4-3build2 amd64 Python bindings to SELinux shared libraries
ii selinux-policy-default 2:2.20140421-9 all Strict and Targeted variants of the SELinux policy
ii selinux-policy-dev 2:2.20140421-9 all Headers from the SELinux reference policy for building modules
ii selinux-utils 2.4-3build2 amd64 SELinux utility programs
ii util-linux 2.27.1-6ubuntu3.6 amd64 miscellaneous system utilities
user@server64:~$

If I try to remove with dpkg, I still have errors:


user@server:~$ sudo dpkg -r linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic:
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-134-generic depends on linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic.


dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic (--remove):
dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic
user@server:~$

[ubfan1]

Try the command with purge and force-depends switches: sduo dpkg -P -force-depends linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic
For kernels, I get a list of all the packages with the matching numbers (installed or not) with
apt-cache pkgnames |grep 4.4.0-134
Check it for just kernel packages, just in case, then feed the whole group to the purge:
sudo apt-get purge `!!`
Don't type anything between the two commands or the !! last command recall wont work.
If/when you get complaints about "cannot purge, some files are missing" (Ha Ha!), note carefully what file/dir is in the complaint and make it with sudo touch <missingfile>
That should hush those complaints, and let the rest of the package be purged.
There may be switches to force the removes/purges, but I haven't checked that carefully (maybe force-remove-reinstreq ).

[in2survive]

Awesome!! Thanks a lot, I was really stuck! This did the trick:

sudo dpkg -P --force-depends linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic

But when I ran the second command, I ran into troubles:

user@server:~$ apt-cache pkgnames |grep 4.4.0-134
linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-headers-4.4.0-134
linux-tools-4.4.0-134-lowlatency
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-image-4.4.0-134-lowlatency
linux-tools-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134
linux-headers-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-tools-4.4.0-134
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-134-lowlatency
linux-headers-4.4.0-134-lowlatency
linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic
linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134-lowlatency

user@server:~$ sudo apt-get purge `!!`
sudo apt-get purge `apt-cache pkgnames |grep 4.4.0-134`
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package 'linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134-generic' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-cloud-tools-4.4.0-134-lowlatency' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-headers-4.4.0-134-lowlatency' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-image-4.4.0-134-generic' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-image-4.4.0-134-lowlatency' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-signed-image-4.4.0-134-generic' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-signed-image-4.4.0-134-lowlatency' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-tools-4.4.0-134' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-tools-4.4.0-134-generic' is not installed, so not removed
Package 'linux-tools-4.4.0-134-lowlatency' is not installed, so not removed
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linux-image-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed
Recommends: thermald but it is not going to be installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-154-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-154-generic but it is not going to be installed
linux-modules-extra-4.4.0-157-generic : Depends: linux-image-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed or
linux-image-unsigned-4.4.0-157-generic but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

user@server:~$

So, I cleaned a few manually, then ran:

sudo apt-get -f install
sudo purge-old-kernels --keep 3

Voila:

/dev/sda1 482922 198107 259881 44% /boot