Unable to install linux-firmware (20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.6) "SOLVED"

[vimo]

O.S.: Ubuntu 23.04
Package: linux-firmware 20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.6

Trying to install the package above, I receive these errors:

Configuring linux-firmware (20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.6)...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-32-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-31-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-24-generic
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-24-generic: No such file or directory
W: zstd compression (CONFIG_RD_ZSTD) not supported by the kernel, using gzip
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-24-generic: No such file or directory
E: gzip compression (CONFIG_RD_GZIP) not supported by the kernel
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-24-generic with exit code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
subprocess installed linux-firmware package post-installation script returned error status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-firmware
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I tried to uninstall the package with
sudo apt remove --purge linux-firmware
and then reinstall it, but without success.

Same result when trying installing older packages 20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.2 and 20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

You have a somewhat broken system:
 grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-24-generic: No such file or directory

What does 'dpkg -l | grep linux-' show?

[vimo (vimot2)]

dpkg -l | grep linux-
ii binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu 2.40-2ubuntu4.1 amd64 GNU binary utilities, for x86-64-linux-gnu target
ii ladspa-sdk 1.17-1 amd64 sample tools for linux-audio-dev plugin architecture
ii linux-base 4.5ubuntu9 all Linux image base package
iF linux-firmware 20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.6 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-firmware-nonfree 1.16 all Non-free firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-31 6.2.0-31.31 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 6.2.0
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-31-generic 6.2.0-31.31 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 6.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-32 6.2.0-32.32 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 6.2.0
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-32-generic 6.2.0-32.32 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 6.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 6.2.0.32.32 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
ic linux-image-6.2.0-25-generic 6.2.0-25.25 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ic linux-image-6.2.0-26-generic 6.2.0-26.26 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
rc linux-image-6.2.0-27-generic 6.2.0-27.28 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-6.2.0-31-generic 6.2.0-31.31 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-6.2.0-32-generic 6.2.0-32.32 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-libc-dev:amd64 6.2.0-32.32 amd64 Linux Kernel Headers for development
ii linux-libc-dev:i386 6.2.0-32.32 i386 Linux Kernel Headers for development
rc linux-modules-5.11.0-17-generic 5.11.0-17.18 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 5.11.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-modules-5.11.0-18-generic 5.11.0-18.19 ...

[vimo (vimot2)]

Thank you https://launchpad.net/~juergh

Since you pointed out the error relating to linux-firmware-6.2.0-24-generic, I tried reinstalling it (receiving new errors) and then doing a purge.

The linux-firmware package now installs successfully

I wonder if I can also purge all the packages reported in the output of the dpkg -l | command grep linux- which I posted above, with the acronym "rc" (they should be packages in broken state). Since they are referring to older firmware modules, there shouldn't be any problems, I think. Can anyone confirm this?

After that I mark the bug as SOLVED.

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

You can purge all these:

ic linux-image-6.2.0-25-generic
ic linux-image-6.2.0-26-generic
rc linux-image-6.2.0-27-generic
rc linux-modules-5.11.0-17-generic
rc linux-modules-5.11.0-18-generic

I still don't understand why update-initramfs tries kernel 6.2.0-24 when you don't have that installed.

[vimo (vimot2)]

"I still don't understand why update-initramfs tries kernel 6.2.0-24 when you don't have that installed."

So do I.
However I run the command:
dpkg --list |grep "^rc" | cut -d " " -f 3 | xargs sudo dpkg --purge

purging the residual configurations of all removed packages.

I will mark the bug as SOLVED
Thank you very much for the support.

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

One more thing, what's the output of 'linux-version list'?

[vimo (vimot2)]

linux-version list
6.2.0-31-generic
6.2.0-32-generic

[laurenz baba (laurenzbaba)]

I am having a similar problem here.
I am trying to uninstall the AMD ROCM kernel module, which fails with the following message:

sudo apt autoremove amdgpu-dkms
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  amdgpu-dkms
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 2 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 441 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
(Reading database ... 214096 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing amdgpu-dkms (1:6.1.5.50601-1649308.22.04) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-31-generic
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
W: zstd compression (CONFIG_RD_ZSTD) not supported by kernel, using gzip
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
E: gzip compression (CONFIG_RD_GZIP) not supported by kernel
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-31-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package amdgpu-dkms (--remove):
 installed amdgpu-dkms package post-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 1
dpkg: too many errors, stopping
Errors were encountered while processing:
 amdgpu-dkms
Processing was halted because there were too many errors.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Again update-initramfs seems to try to do something with an non-existent kernel:
laurenz@katuunko:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux-
ii binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu 2.40-2ubuntu4.1 amd64 GNU binary utilities, for x86-64-linux-gnu target
ii linux-base 4.5ubuntu9 all Linux image base package
ii linux-firmware 20230323.gitbcdcfbcf-0ubuntu1.6 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-generic 6.2.0.33.33 amd64 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-generic-hwe-22.04 6.2.0.33.33 amd64 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-32 6.2.0-32.32 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 6.2.0
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-32-generic 6.2.0-32.32 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 6.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-33 6.2.0-33.33 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 6.2.0
ii linux-headers-6.2.0-33-generic 6.2.0-33.33 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 6.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 6.2.0.33.33 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-headers-generic-hwe-22.04 6.2.0.33.33 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-image-6.2.0-32-generic 6.2.0-32.32 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-imag...

[vimo (vimot2)]

Sorry https://launchpad.net/~laurenzbaba, unfortunately I'm not a Linux expert.
I hope someone more knowledgeable can help you.

I assume you have already run the commands:
sudo apt install -f
sudo apt clean
sudo apt autoclean

I see that dpkg is considering linux-image-6.2.0-31-generic
You could try to purge:
linux-image-6.2.0-31-generic
linux-modules-6.2.0-31-generic

Maybe https://launchpad.net/~juergh can help you as he made with me.

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

Oh I wonder if it's the DKMS that makes the system believe there's kernel 6.2.0-31-generic. What do you get for:

$ dkms status

[laurenz baba (laurenzbaba)]

Hi @joergh,
Unfortunately dkms status returns nothing:
laurenz@katuunko:~$ dkms status

@vimo
I tried to purge the Linux image but it was not possible, because it isn't installed anymore:
sudo apt purge linux-image-6.2.0-31-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Package 'linux-image-6.2.0-31-generic' is not installed, so not removed
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  amdgpu-dkms
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 8 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 441 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.

I also tried to execute the other commands but it returned the same error:
sudo apt install -f
sudo apt clean
sudo apt autoclean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  amdgpu-dkms
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 8 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 441 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
(Reading database ... 214096 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing amdgpu-dkms (1:6.1.5.50601-1649308.22.04) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-31-generic
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
W: zstd compression (CONFIG_RD_ZSTD) not supported by kernel, using gzip
grep: /boot/config-6.2.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
E: gzip compression (CONFIG_RD_GZIP) not supported by kernel
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.2.0-31-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package amdgpu-dkms (--remove):
 installed amdgpu-dkms package post-removal script subprocess returned error exi
t status 1
dpkg: too many errors, stopping
Errors were encountered while processing:
 amdgpu-dkms
Processing was halted because there were too many errors.
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

Hm. Maybe that unsupported DKMS package is broken. I need to check what it does.

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

Yeah this seems horribly broken packaging. What do you get for:

$ cat /var/tmp/amdgpu-dkms-kernels

Remove all lines that reference uninstalled kernels and then try to remove the package again.

[vimo (vimot2)]

@lorenz baba,
I'm sorry, but I don't think I can give you any further advice. 😢
I hope you can resolve it soon.

[laurenz baba (laurenzbaba)]

@vimo
No problem at all, I appreciate your support :)

@juergh
Thank you so much for your help.
Indeed, this file shows references to the non-existent 6.2.0.31 kernel:
cat /var/tmp/amdgpu-dkms-kernels
6.2.0-31-generic
6.2.0-32-generic

After I removed the -31 line, it was possible to uninstall the amdgpu-dkms package.
Great job!

[Juerg Haefliger (juergh)]

Cool. Glad this is resolved.