package linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 137

[Mark Koczwara]

Software update locked the computer - after 2 hours performed hard reset (feels like: http://goo.gl/r1u6n)
Now I get notifications that there are some sort of errors...

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-30.44-generic 3.8.13.6
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-30-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8.3
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: mk 2088 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Mon Sep 30 09:59:14 2013
Df:

Dmesg:

DuplicateSignature: package:linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic:(not installed):run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 137
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 137
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=36e0eda4-6d04-43fb-9113-509574ab90d7
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-02-06 (235 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release i386 (20121017.2)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Precision M90
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB: 0 nouveaufb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.8.0-30-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu-root 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.
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc 2.00-13ubuntu3
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 137
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-05-15 (138 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/19/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A04
dmi.board.name: 0YD632
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA04:bd10/19/2006:svnDellInc.:pnPrecisionM90:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0YD632:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Precision M90
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Andy Whitcroft (apw)]

It seems the system ran out of ram during the install:

update-initramfs: deferring update (hook will be called later)
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 3.8.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 3.8.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-31-generic
/usr/sbin/dkms: fork: Cannot allocate memory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.8.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-31-generic
Killed
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 137
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic.postinst line 1010.
dpkg: error processing linux-image-3.8.0-31-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2