Comment 56 for bug 541595

I have many linux-images now that are saved which is hoggig my /usr space. I can no longer update my Ubuntu software because of the latest linux-image update download:

Unpacking linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic (from .../linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic_3.0.0-23.39_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic_3.0.0-23.39_i386.deb (--unpack):
 unable to create `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic/include/config/backlight/carillo/ranch.h.dpkg-new' (while processing `./usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic/include/config/backlight/carillo/ranch.h'): No space left on device
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
                                                              dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic_3.0.0-23.39_i386.deb

df
/dev/sda5 3783736 3064056 527448 86% /usr

so, I only have 527448 left in /usr for a lot more that is needed but, this breaks my package system since linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic is downloaded but, not installed. apt-get -f install doesn't work because the No space left error is still there. Neither does --purge remove!

apt-get -f --purge remove linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic is not installed, so not removed
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 linux-headers-generic : Depends: linux-headers-3.0.0-23-generic but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

 Not installed, so not removed!

 I need to remove the older kernel linux-images but, Synaptic won't remove them without fixing the package system first. So, its a catch-22 situation. I need more space in /usr by removing some older kernal linux-images but I can't remove them because of the no space left in /usr that causes this broken package system!