package linux-image-3.16.0-36-generic 3.16.0-36.48 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1

[Yuriy Kozlov]

Upgrading Ubuntu 14.04 to 14.10 kernel install failed.

Removing the "syslinux" package solved the problem and let the packages get configured, but it hangs with a black screen when I reboot into the new kernel.

This is a new Dell XPS 13 that came with Ubuntu 14.04

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: linux-image-3.16.0-36-generic 3.16.0-36.48
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-51.84-generic 3.13.11-ckt18
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-51-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu8.4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: yuriy 2550 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: yuriy 2550 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Fri May 1 21:56:13 2015
DistributionChannelDescriptor:
 # This is a distribution channel descriptor
 # For more information see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DistributionChannelDescriptor
 canonical-oem-somerville-trusty-amd64-20140620-0
DuplicateSignature: package:linux-image-3.16.0-36-generic:3.16.0-36.48:run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
ErrorMessage: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=38abb4d0-3d8e-4698-abc4-204191048f6c
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-04-24 (8 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 "Trusty" - Build amd64 LIVE Binary 20140620-04:25
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 13 9343
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-51-generic root=UUID=891dc704-43c6-427a-8885-0fa22b5817ab ro quiet splash pcie_aspm=force radeon.modeset=0 nouveau.modeset=0 video.use_native_backlight=1
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc N/A
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package linux-image-3.16.0-36-generic 3.16.0-36.48 failed to install/upgrade: run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to utopic on 2015-05-02 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 03/25/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A03
dmi.board.name: 0TM99H
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA03:bd03/25/2015:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139343:pvr01:rvnDellInc.:rn0TM99H:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9343
dmi.product.version: 01
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

From VarLogDistupgradeAptlog.txt:

Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.^M
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 3.16.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-36-generic^M
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 3.16.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-36-generic^M
Error! The dkms.conf for this module includes a BUILD_EXCLUSIVE directive which^M
does not match this kernel/arch. This indicates that it should not be built.^M
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.16.0-36-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-36-generic^M
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-36-generic^M
E: /usr/share/initramfs-tools/hooks/casper-memdisk failed with return 1.^M
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-36-generic with 1.^M

The problem is with casper-memdisk. I'd suggest uninstalling that package.