package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2

[Mattias]

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 17.10
Release: 17.10

After executing:
sudo apt-get autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-headers-4.13.0-21 linux-headers-4.13.0-21-generic
  linux-image-4.13.0-21-generic linux-image-extra-4.10.0-42-generic
  linux-image-extra-4.13.0-21-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 5 to remove and 10 not upgraded.
7 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 474 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 297436 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-4.13.0-21-generic (4.13.0-21.24) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.13.0-21 (4.13.0-21.24) ...
Removing linux-image-extra-4.13.0-21-generic (4.13.0-21.24) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.13.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-21-generic

dkms process is stuck and does not end

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-31.34-generic 4.13.13
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-31-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
AptOrdering: NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: gdm 2144 F.... pulseaudio
                      mvh 2739 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: gdm 2144 F.... pulseaudio
                      mvh 2739 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Wed Jan 31 14:41:24 2018
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-04-15 (291 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Latitude E6540
ProcFB:
 0 radeondrmfb
 1 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic root=UUID=aa4075ec-5629-4eb4-9fa7-6e90dd0cd274 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14, python-minimal, 2.7.14-2ubuntu1
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc 2.02~beta3-4ubuntu7
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic 4.13.0-32.35 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2018-01-01 (29 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 02/02/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A13
dmi.board.name: 0725FP
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA13:bd02/02/2015:svnDellInc.:pnLatitudeE6540:pvr01:rvnDellInc.:rn0725FP:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Latitude E6540
dmi.product.version: 01
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

You may need to run the following from a terminal:

sudo apt-get install -f
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update

Then re-install the package or updates.

If that does not resolve your issue, please mark the bug as "Confirmed"

[Mattias (mt410)]

It does not work.

$ sudo apt-get install -f
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic (4.13.0-32.35) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-32-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-32-generic

(This command is stuck, when I press Ctrl+C after 4 hours it gives:)

^CFailed to process /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic.postinst line 110.
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
Setting up linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic (4.13.0-32.35) ...
Running depmod.
^CFailed to run depmod
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic:
 linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic depends on linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic; however:
  Package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
 linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic; however:
  Package linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic is not configured yet.
 linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic; however:
  Package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-image-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-headers-generic:
 linux-headers-generic depends on linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic; however:
  Package linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-virtual:
 linux-image-extra-virtual depends on linux-image-generic (= 4.13.0.32.34); however:
  Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-virtual (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
 linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic (= 4.13.0.32.34); however:
  Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.
 linux-generic depends on linux-headers-generic (= 4.13.0.32.34); however:
  Package linux-headers-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-headers-4.13.0-32-generic
 linux-image-4.13.0-32-generic
 linux-image-extra-4.13.0-32-generic
 linux-image-generic
 linux-headers-generic
 linux-image-extra-virtual
 linux-generic

[Eclipticon (eclipticon)]

Exactly the same problem here, updates/installations via the package management system are no longer possible.

Please let me know if I can contribute any information on my Ubuntu 17.10 64 bit system for the big picture.

[Gijs Vermariën (gijs-vermarien)]

Unfortunately I encountered the same problem. Tried to run it for two hours but after that it remained stuck, so I ctrl+C-ed and then the same error messages showed.

[Jos Krieckaart (titanium.shadow)]

I was facing the same issue. After running apt-get autoremove is was resolved/gone.

[Eclipticon (eclipticon)]

Unfortunately not here:

$sudo apt-get autoremove
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.

And once I do that, I am stuck again ...

[erik manor (erik-d-not)]

I was running into the same/similar error. Inside of /var/lib/dpkg/updates one of the files appeared to be stopping my update process. The contents of the file was,

#padding
#padding
#padding
#padding
#padding

repeating for 150 something lines.

I moved that file out of /var/lib/dpkg/updates and everything seems to be working fine afterwards. Whether this was the root cause or not I am not sure, but it might be worth while grep(ing) for this in all the files in /var/lib/dpkg/updates.

[Eclipticon (eclipticon)]

Can confirm Erik's solution works ... thanks a lot, you saved me HOURS or DAYS!

[Marcel Richter (mrclrchtr)]

Erik's solution works for me, but every time when i call "apt upgrade" the file with hundreds of #padding will be created again.