/boot is 100% full, unable to remove any kernel images

**hokie79** · December 26th, 2013

bartholic@home-cam:~$ uname -r
3.5.0-43-generic

I don't understand how to do instruction #2....

**ian-weisser** · December 26th, 2013

Originally Posted by hokie79

I don't understand how to do instruction #2....

Open Software Center
Open the Edit Menu
Select Software Sources
Uncheck any PPAs or unofficial reposiotries you may have added.

**hokie79** · December 26th, 2013

ok. I unchecked to PPAs. Software catalog cannot repair.
installArchives() failed: (Reading database ... (Reading database ... 5% (Reading database ... 10% (Reading database ... 15% (Reading database ... 20% (Reading database ... 25% (Reading database ... 30% (Reading database ... 35% (Reading database ... 40% (Reading database ... 45% (Reading database ... 50% (Reading database ... 55% (Reading database ... 60% (Reading database ... 65% (Reading database ... 70% (Reading database ... 75% (Reading database ... 80% (Reading database ... 85% (Reading database ... 90% (Reading database ... 95% (Reading database ... 100% (Reading database ... 284713 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic (from .../linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb) ...
Done.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
failed in write on buffer copy for backend dpkg-deb during `./boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic': No space left on device
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb
Error in function:
SystemError: E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.99ubuntu13.4) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic-lts-quantal:
linux-image-generic-lts-quantal depends on linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic; however:
Package linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic is not installed.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-generic-lts-quantal (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing initramfs-tools (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

**ian-weisser** · December 26th, 2013

That's expected in step 2. It's telling you the partition is full.
Proceed to step 3. You don't need an updated package index to remove old kernels.

After you have removed the kernels, the system will have room to store the updated package index.

**hokie79** · December 27th, 2013

ian-weisser

I retried step 3 and here are the results, same as before:
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get remove linux-image-generic-lts-quantal
[sudo] password for bartholic:
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-generic-lts-quantal : Depends: linux-image-generic-lts-quantal but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

**sisco311** · December 27th, 2013

What happens when you try to run the command suggested by apt-get?

Code:

sudo apt-get -f install

**ian-weisser** · December 27th, 2013

Originally Posted by hokie79

linux-generic-lts-quantal : Depends: linux-image-generic-lts-quantal but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

Let's approach it from a different direction. Try this command (yes, it's one big command). If you get an error, stop and post it here.

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic linux-image-3.5.0-37-generic linux-image-3.5.0-39-generic linux-image-3.5.0-40-generic linux-image-3.5.0-41-generic

**Impavidus** · December 27th, 2013

Not using the package manager to remove packages can leave the package manager in an inconsistent state, which is why we prefer using the package manager. However, your package manager is already in an inconsistent state because it failed to install the latest kernel update, and therefore you cannot use the package manager to create room for the kernel update. It's really a deadlock: you can't fix the package manager without installing the latest kernel update, you can't install the latest kernel update without first removing some old kernel versions and you can't remove some old kernel version without first fixing the package manager.

There is a way out. You can manually delete some big files from /boot, then fix the package manager and finally bring everything into a consistent state by properly uninstalling some old kernels. Run

Code:

sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-23-generic
sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-34-generic
sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-36-generic
sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-37-generic

to get some space. Then fix the package manager with

Code:

sudo apt-get -f install

. This should install the kernel update. Finally, properly uninstall the packages with

Code:

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic
sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic
sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic
sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-37-generic

(If you wish, you can put it into a small one-liner, but I think this is clearer.)

**hokie79** · December 27th, 2013

sisco 311 Here is your result:

Code:

bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
[sudo] password for bartholic:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
linux-headers-3.5.0-39-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-39
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following extra packages will be installed:
linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic
Suggested packages:
fdutils linux-lts-quantal-doc-3.5.0 linux-lts-quantal-source-3.5.0
linux-lts-quantal-tools
The following NEW packages will be installed:
linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 46 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/40.6 MB of archives.
After this operation, 157 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 284713 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic (from .../linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb) ...
Done.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
failed in write on buffer copy for backend dpkg-deb during `./boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic': No space left on device
No apport report written because the error message indicates a disk full error
dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

**hokie79** · December 27th, 2013

It worked!!! THANK YOU!!!

Code:

bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-23-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-34-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-36-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo rm /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-37-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... 0%
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-3.5.0-39-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-39
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following extra packages will be installed:
  linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic
Suggested packages:
  fdutils linux-lts-quantal-doc-3.5.0 linux-lts-quantal-source-3.5.0
  linux-lts-quantal-tools
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 46 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/40.6 MB of archives.
After this operation, 157 MB of additional disk space will be used.
(Reading database ... 284713 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic (from .../linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic_3.5.0-44.67~precise1_amd64.deb) ...
Done.
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.99ubuntu13.4) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic (3.5.0-44.67~precise1) ...
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: deferring update (hook will be called later)
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/pm-utils 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-42-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-42-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-41-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-41-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-40-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-40-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-39-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-39-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-37-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-23-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin
done
Setting up linux-image-generic-lts-quantal (3.5.0.44.50) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ 
bartholic@home-cam:~$ 
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-3.5.0-39-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-39
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 46 not upgraded.
After this operation, 156 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
(Reading database ... 288954 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-23-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-23-generic
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-42-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-42-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-41-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-41-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-40-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-40-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-39-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-39-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-37-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-23-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-23-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-23-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-3.5.0-39-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-39
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 46 not upgraded.
After this operation, 157 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
(Reading database ... 284723 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-42-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-42-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-41-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-41-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-40-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-40-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-39-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-39-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-37-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic
bartholic@home-cam:~$ sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-3.5.0-39-generic linux-headers-3.5.0-39
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 46 not upgraded.
After this operation, 157 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? Y
(Reading database ... 280481 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-36-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-43-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-42-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-42-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-41-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-41-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-40-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-40-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-39-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-3.5.0-39-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-37-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.5.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.5.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic