package linux-firmware 1.187.8 failed to install/upgrade: installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1

[Ian Murphy]

This happened a little while back and it other than not being able to boot into the new kernel, it hasn't been a problem (at least for the old 5.4.0-58) It exits on the plymouth hook

Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS
initramfs-tools 0.136ubuntu6.3

I expected the update-initramfs to rebuild the installed kernel and finish the update but instead it failed during the plymouth hook.

Other package updates that failed because of this:
 linux-firmware
 linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04
 linux-generic-hwe-20.04
 linux-image-5.8.0-38-generic
 linux-image-5.8.0-40-generic
 linux-image-5.4.0-59-generic
 linux-image-5.8.0-36-generic

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: linux-firmware 1.187.8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-58.64-generic 5.4.73
Uname: Linux 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: lkp_Ubuntu_5_4_0_58_64_generic_74 zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.14
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: egon 9806 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: egon 9806 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC1D0p: egon 9806 F...m pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
Date: Wed Jan 27 20:08:29 2021
Dependencies:

ErrorMessage: installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-10-08 (111 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP EliteBook Folio 9480m
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-58-generic root=UUID=0741ccf4-941c-43b4-9413-fa78aee3b5f1 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.
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.8, Python 3.8.5, python3-minimal, 3.8.2-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.18, python-is-python2, 2.7.17-4
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc 2.04-1ubuntu26.8
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package linux-firmware 1.187.8 failed to install/upgrade: installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/08/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: M85 Ver. 01.46
dmi.board.name: 22DA
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 92.17
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 5CG52944SB
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvrM85Ver.01.46:bd08/08/2018:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPEliteBookFolio9480m:pvrA3009DD10303:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn22DA:rvrKBCVersion92.17:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: 103C_5336AN G=N L=BUS B=HP S=ELI
dmi.product.name: HP EliteBook Folio 9480m
dmi.product.sku: K2Y11US#ABA
dmi.product.version: A3009DD10303
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard