Installation fails when using a vFAT /boot partition

[Jags Desai]

Ubuntu MATE 24.04 installer crashes at the end with 'something went wrong'.

I could not find any log files but here's the Subiquity terminal output:

May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-modules-6.8.0-31-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-modules-extra-6.8.0-31-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Failed to create symlink to vmlinuz-6.8.0-31-generic: Operation not permitted at /usr/bin/linux-update-symlinks line 64.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dpkg: error processing package linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic (--configure):
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: installed linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up ieee-data (20220827.1) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-headers-6.8.0-31 (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-tools-common (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up libllvm18:amd64 (1:18.1.3-1) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up libclang1-18 (1:18.1.3-1) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic; however:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Package linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic is not configured yet.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dpkg: error processing package linux-image-generic (--configure):
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic (= 6.8.0-31.31); however:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-tools-6.8.0-31 (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: No apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a previous failure.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-headers-6.8.0-31-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up python3-netaddr (0.8.0-2ubuntu1) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up libclang-cpp18 (1:18.1.3-1) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up libbpfcc:amd64 (0.29.1+ds-1ubuntu7) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up python3-bpfcc (0.29.1+ds-1ubuntu7) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-tools-6.8.0-31-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up bpftrace (0.20.2-1ubuntu4) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up linux-headers-generic (6.8.0-31.31) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Setting up bpfcc-tools (0.29.1+ds-1ubuntu7) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Processing triggers for man-db (2.12.0-4build2) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.39-0ubuntu8) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.142ubuntu25) ...
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Errors were encountered while processing:
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: linux-image-6.8.0-31-generic
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: linux-image-generic
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: linux-generic
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['udevadm', 'settle'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: TIMED subp(['udevadm', 'settle']): 0.004
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['mount', '--make-private', '/target/usr/bin/ischroot'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['umount', '/target/usr/bin/ischroot'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['mount', '--make-private', '/target/sys'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['umount', '/target/sys'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['mount', '--make-private', '/target/run'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['umount', '/target/run'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['mount', '--make-private', '/target/proc'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['umount', '/target/proc'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['mount', '--make-private', '/target/dev'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Running command ['umount', '/target/dev'] with allowed return codes [0] (capture=False)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: finish: cmd-install/stage-curthooks/builtin/cmd-curthooks/installing-kernel: FAIL: installing kernel
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: finish: cmd-install/stage-curthooks/builtin/cmd-curthooks: FAIL: curtin command curthooks
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Traceback (most recent call last):
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/commands/main.py", line 202, in main
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: ret = args.func(args)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/commands/curthooks.py", line 2224, in curthooks
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: builtin_curthooks(cfg, target, state)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/commands/curthooks.py", line 2048, in builtin_curthooks
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: install_kernel(cfg, target)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/commands/curthooks.py", line 393, in install_kernel
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: install(kernel_package)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/commands/curthooks.py", line 369, in install
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: distro.install_packages([pkg], target=target, env=env)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/distro.py", line 473, in install_packages
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: return install_cmd('install', args=pkglist, opts=opts, target=target,
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/distro.py", line 255, in run_apt_command
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: cmd_rv = apt_install(mode, args, opts=opts, env=env, target=target,
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/distro.py", line 306, in apt_install
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: cmd_rv = inchroot.subp(cmd + inst_opts + packages, env=env)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/util.py", line 843, in subp
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: return subp(*args, **kwargs)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/util.py", line 323, in subp
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: return _subp(*args, **kwargs)
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: File "/snap/ubuntu-desktop-bootstrap/171/lib/python3.10/site-packages/curtin/util.py", line 172, in _subp
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: raise ProcessExecutionError(stdout=out, stderr=err,
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: curtin.util.ProcessExecutionError: Unexpected error while running command.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Command: ['unshare', '--fork', '--pid', '--mount-proc=/target/proc', '--', 'chroot', '/target', 'apt-get', '--quiet', '--assume-yes', '--option=Dpkg::options::=--force-unsafe-io', '--option=Dpkg::Options::=--force-confold', 'install', 'linux-generic']
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Exit code: 100
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Reason: -
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Stdout: ''
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Stderr: ''
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Unexpected error while running command.
May 02 15:58:12 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Command: ['unshare', '--fork', '--pid', '--mount-proc=/target/proc', '--', 'chroot', '/target', 'apt-get', '--quiet', '--assume-yes', '--option=Dpkg::options::=--force-unsafe-io', '--option=Dpkg::Options::=--force-confold', 'install', 'linux-generic']
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Exit code: 100
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Reason: -
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Stdout: ''
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Stderr: ''
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]:
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_log.5636[15509]: Stderr: ''
May 02 15:58:13 ubuntu-mate subiquity_event.5636[5636]: curtin command install

[Jags Desai (jagsdesai)]

I was installing from an usb drive prepared with 'mkusb dus'. Thank you.

Edit: First it was "full desktop" installation and I just tried again with "minimal" installation with the same errors at the end.

[Bright Idea (brightidea)]

I ran into the same issue, found that it is caused by /boot being formatted as VFAT (which does not support symlinks).

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report.

@brightidea, How did you end up with /boot being vfat? Did you create it yourself with that config in manual partitioning?

@Jags, is that your case as well?

[Jags Desai (jagsdesai)]

hi @seb128

I have a desktop that doesn't have UEFI of any kind at all.

I had to manually create FAT32 partition and assigned it as 'EFI partition' in order to install Ubuntu MATE 23.10 Mantic.

While installing Ubuntu MATE 24.04 Noble, there was no option to assigned FAT32 partition as 'EFI'.

So I assigned it as /boot.

Now after reading your and @brightidea's replies, the question I have is:

Does Ubuntu MATE (and Ubuntu; got the same result with just Ubuntu too, no MATE) 24.04 Noble requires EFI partition or any other workaround to boot non-UEFI, bios-only machine or not?

Thank you.