Questions[upgrade](ubuntu)

I usually use apt-get update && apt-get upgrade to run my updates and upgrades instead of the GUI because it seems to run more quickly.

However, I've noticed lately that I often get a message that one of my upgrades was held back. I then usually run dist-upgrade to run it through and it works fine. As far as I can tell after reading this question and its answers, dist-upgrade does all the same things and then some.

So, my question is: Why use apt-get upgrade at all? Why not use apt-get dist-upgrade all the time? Why does apt-get upgrade even exist?

My first issue was when I tried to apt-get update or apt-get upgrade. On upgrade I get the following error:

You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linux-image-server : Depends: linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic but it is not installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.

I tried running apt-get install -f and this was the output(after saying yes on prompt)

(Reading database ... 186183 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic (from .../linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic_3.2.0-27.43_amd64.deb) ...
Done.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic_3.2.0-27.43_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 failed in write on buffer copy for backend dpkg-deb during `./boot/System.map-3.2.0-27-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 3.2.0-27-generic   /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-27-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.2.0-27-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-27-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic_3.2.0-27.43_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I tried running apt-get autoremove and it gives me the same error as apt-get upgrade.

When I run df, I get this for /boot:

/dev/sda1                    233191     230297         0 100% /boot

So, I read elsewhere that I should try to purge old kernels. I checked for what kernels I had with:

$ dpkg -l linux-image-\* | grep ^ii
ii  linux-image-2.6.38-13-server  2.6.38-13.52  Linux kernel image for version 2.6.38 on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.0.0-13-server   3.0.0-13.22   Linux kernel image for version 3.0.0  on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.0.0-14-server   3.0.0-14.23   Linux kernel image for version 3.0.0  on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.0.0-15-server   3.0.0-15.26   Linux kernel image for version 3.0.0  on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.0.0-16-server   3.0.0-16.29   Linux kernel image for version 3.0.0  on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.0.0-17-server   3.0.0-17.30   Linux kernel image for version 3.0.0  on x86_64
ii  linux-image-3.2.0-24-generic  3.2.0-24.39   Linux kernel image for version 3.2.0  on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.2.0-25-generic  3.2.0-25.40   Linux kernel image for version 3.2.0  on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.2.0-26-generic  3.2.0-26.41   Linux kernel image for version 3.2.0  on 64 bit x86 SMP

When I try to remove the oldest with this:

$ sudo apt-get purge linux-image-2.6.38-13-server
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-server : Depends: linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic but it is not going to be     installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

How can I free up or extend boot without messing up my installation?

Currently I'm running Linux-3.0 and I want to update it to Linux-3.3.1 the latest stable kernel release as mentioned at http://www.kernel.org. Can I update to 3.3.1 in Ubuntu without any risk of crashes? I'm updating my kernel regularly as provided by the Update Manager..Currently I have Linux-3.0.0.17..Can I update?

NOTE:

The latest kernel version any user is supposed to use in Ubuntu is updated automatically via the Update Manager, so no action is normally required by user regarding kernel upgrades. What the question author is referring to is mainline kernel, see: Should I upgrade to the "mainline" kernels?

What are the different ways I can use to upgrade Ubuntu from one release to another?

Recently I have installed an older version of Ubuntu on my old machine. Whenever I try to install any software, I get an error saying it couldn't be found:

$ sudo apt-get install vlc
Reading package lists... Done               
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done    
E: Couldn't find package vlc