[Bug 798414] Re: update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't enough free space

[markling]

Enrique:

I am sorry to report that your workaround does not appear to work. Looks
like I may to to getlostinforumhell.

Here's what my computer said about your workaround:

user at comp:~$ sudo aptitude search ~ilinux-image
i   linux-image-3.5.0-28-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64
i   linux-image-3.8.0-23-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-3.8.0-25-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-3.8.0-26-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-3.8.0-27-generic    - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-extra-3.5.0-28-gene - Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-25-gene - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-26-gene - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-27-gene - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64
i   linux-image-generic             - Generic Linux kernel image                
user at comp:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic
E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'linux-image-3.5.0-23-generic'
user at comp:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic
E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'linux-image-3.5.0-25-generic'
user at comp:~$ sudo apt-get autoremove linux-image-3.5.0-26-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package linux-image-3.5.0-26-generic
E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'linux-image-3.5.0-26-generic'
user at comp:~$ sudo aptitude search ~ilinux-image
i   linux-image-3.5.0-28-generic        - Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-3.8.0-23-generic        - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-3.8.0-25-generic        - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-3.8.0-26-generic        - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-3.8.0-27-generic        - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-extra-3.5.0-28-generic  - Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-25-generic  - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-26-generic  - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-extra-3.8.0-27-generic  - Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 bi
i   linux-image-generic                 - Generic Linux kernel image  

It's a precarious operation to force on a user anyway (I say that of the
situtation, not your good help). The most recent kernel comes at the top
of the list. The list then progresses from oldest to second most recent.
I nearly deleted the most recent kernel.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to initramfs-tools in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/798414

Title:
  update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't
  enough  free space

Status in “initramfs-tools” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

  When generating a new initramfs there is no check for available free
  space, subsequently its possible for update-initramfs to fail due to a
  lack of free space.  This is resulting in package installation
  failures for initramfs-tools.  For example:

  Setting up initramfs-tools (0.98.8ubuntu3) ...
  update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
  Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
  update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic

  gzip: stdout: No space left on device
  E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
  update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
  dpkg: error processing initramfs-tools (--configure):
   subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

  WORKAROUND:

  Remove unused kernels using computer janitor or manually free space on
  your partition containing the /boot file system.

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