package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35~16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1

[chrbau]

new installation

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35~16.04.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-26-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jan 27 15:50:58 2018
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-01-12 (15 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 16.04.3 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170801)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.3
 apt 1.2.24
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35~16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[chrbau (christian-baumgartner-d)]

see also:
 #1742573 package linux-image-4.13.0-26-generic 4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1 (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1742573)
and
 #1745113 package linux-image-4.13.0-31-generic 4.13.0-31.34~16.04.1 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1 (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1745113)

[chrbau (christian-baumgartner-d)]

Because of that problem I could not only not upgrade the kernel but couldn't install any software at all.

In my case the problem was caused by a missing udev rule in /etc/udev/rules.d/. I created the rule when trying to run a windows installation on a second hd with Virtual Box. Because that didn't come to work, I deleted the rule again. I don't now why but the system was trying to copy this rule during the process of upgrading the kernel. Since I deleted the file, the process of upgrading failed. I tried to find out, where this rule was still linked so that I could remove the link and the system wouldn't want to copy this rule anymore, but I couldn't find out where that was. But restoring the rule did it for me and the system is upgrading fine again.

[Benjamin Drung (bdrung)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. This particular bug has already been reported and is a duplicate of bug 1605941, so it is being marked as such. Please look at the other bug report to see if there is any missing information that you can provide, or to see if there is a workaround for the bug. Additionally, any further discussion regarding the bug should occur in the other report. Please continue to report any other bugs you may find.