Here are the contents of /boot:
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 3072 Apr 18 09:10 .
drwxr-xr-x 26 root root 4096 Mar 22 15:43 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 217495 Jan 17 05:59 config-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 217457 Feb 28 02:45 config-4.15.0-91-generic
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Dec 31 1969 efi
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 1024 Mar 22 15:50 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 60196828 Apr 18 09:05 initrd.img-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 60206115 Apr 18 09:05 initrd.img-4.15.0-91-generic
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Feb 13 2016 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 182704 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184380 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+.elf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184840 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+_multiboot.bin
-rw------- 1 root root 4068355 Jan 17 05:59 System.map-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 8367768 Jan 17 06:27 vmlinuz-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 8375960 Feb 28 02:51 vmlinuz-4.15.0-91-generic
My kernel version is 4.15.0-91-generic (based on uname -r).
The output of dpkg --list | grep linux-image is:
c linux-image-4.15.0-74-generic 4.15.0-74.84 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.15.0-76-generic 4.15.0-76.86 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-4.15.0-91-generic 4.15.0-91.92 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ic linux-image-4.4.0-171-generic 4.4.0-171.200 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
This is what happens when I run sudo apt-get upgrade:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
thermald
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove it.
The following packages have been kept back:
linux-headers-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 1 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Setting up linux-firmware (1.173.17) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-91-generic
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-76-generic
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-69-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-69-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-69-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_BapeFK/lib/modules/3.19.0-69-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_BapeFK/lib/modules/3.19.0-69-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-66-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-66-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-66-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_oFrhwW/lib/modules/3.19.0-66-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_oFrhwW/lib/modules/3.19.0-66-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-65-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-65-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-65-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_cmnh3Q/lib/modules/3.19.0-65-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_cmnh3Q/lib/modules/3.19.0-65-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-59-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-59-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-59-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_kimz35/lib/modules/3.19.0-59-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_kimz35/lib/modules/3.19.0-59-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-58-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-58-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-58-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_yH46Fl/lib/modules/3.19.0-58-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_yH46Fl/lib/modules/3.19.0-58-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-25-generic
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/3.19.0-25-generic
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/3.19.0-25-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_gmb7aZ/lib/modules/3.19.0-25-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_gmb7aZ/lib/modules/3.19.0-25-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirclientplatform.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_mirplatformgraphics.conf: No such file or directory
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-25-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-firmware
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Now, the contents of /boot are:
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 3072 Apr 18 09:14 .
drwxr-xr-x 26 root root 4096 Mar 22 15:43 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 217495 Jan 17 05:59 config-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 217457 Feb 28 02:45 config-4.15.0-91-generic
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Dec 31 1969 efi
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 1024 Mar 22 15:50 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16975438 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-3.19.0-58-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16975489 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-3.19.0-59-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16975434 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-3.19.0-65-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16975144 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-3.19.0-66-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16975428 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-3.19.0-69-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 60195966 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 60204841 Apr 18 09:14 initrd.img-4.15.0-91-generic
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Feb 13 2016 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 182704 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184380 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+.elf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184840 Jan 28 2016 memtest86+_multiboot.bin
-rw------- 1 root root 4068355 Jan 17 05:59 System.map-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 8367768 Jan 17 06:27 vmlinuz-4.15.0-76-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 8375960 Feb 28 02:51 vmlinuz-4.15.0-91-generic
It appears that the system is trying to build old initrd files in /boot, and then /boot fills up, and then dpkg fails. How can I fix this?
Remove the residue files that tell
update-initramfswhich kernel is installedConfirm (there will be no 3.19* images get processed)
Go and fix apt installation
Then you can remove those 3.19* images, permanently.
Note: Step 2 is optional as it is repeated within Step 3 when installing
linux-firmwarepackage. I included it to be clear.Carefully read this https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RemoveOldKernels
As per this post you can remove old unused kernel simply with
autoremovecommand in a terminal:Note:
apt-get autoremovewill not remove all automatically installed old kernel providing packages as fallback versions are kept; the list of kept kernels is maintained and automatically updated in the file/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/01autoremove-kernelsas a list of matching regular expressions. HENCE I wrote Read above post carefully.List all the kernels, including the booted one:
If you want to purge one specific kernel providing package you can do so via the following command in a terminal:
Above page also provide on how to "Safely Removing Old Kernels" including
initrd.img. Better follow this step by step.Your purges are only getting one of the six packages associated with a kernel, and the leftover pieces are causing problems. For the 3.19 initrd file in /boot, take the numbwer, e.g. 3.19.0-58 and run that through your dpkg --list | fgrep 3.19.0-58. Run your apt-get purge on that list of 3.19 packages. Then take the next one, until all have been fixed.
Do this the next time you want to purge a full kernel -- get the associated packages with dpkg --list | fgrep x.y.z-w then if only packages you want to delete are listed, feed that list to a purge (recall the command in the previous line to produce the list):
One reasonably safe solution for most future readers:
For each no-such-file-or-directory, create a dummy file for apt to remove. Apt doesn't care about the file contents, it just needs to remove the file. So give it a file to remove.
This method can be tedious (you have a LOT) of missing files, but is much safer than the alternative below.
EXAMPLE
Here's one error:
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directoryFiles in /etc are owned by root, so create a dummy file using
sudo touch /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu_EGL.confNow there's a file for apt/dpkg to remove, which cures the no-such-file-or-directory error.
A less safe solution is to use dpkg's --force-remove-reinstreq flag. We call that the Nuclear Option - it removes the package entry in the dpkg database without trying to remove any files.
This seems likely to be an effective solution for you (and only you). All future readers should forget they saw it
WARNING Use --force-remove-reinstreq as A LAST RESORT before reinstalling. If you misuse it, you may break your package manager and require a reinstall. This option is for experienced users ONLY. This is strong medicine -- misused, it might kill the patient.