Comment 165 for bug 798414

While it is helpful for new users to have to google shell commands and identify solutions to problems, this simply occurs too often. The solution is the same every time. It is repetitive and annoying,

the script could store the new and old information in different locations to avoid the lack of space, the boot could be made larger by default, options could be presented to the user rather than simply failing, backup information for old kernals could be stored elsewhere (and only the most recent moved to boot for compatibility) ... etc.

a sample dialog would be
"there is not enough space for the boot information, there are too many items being retained in /boot, but it is strongly suggested that you maintain some backup kernals as updates can cause issues with new or old hardware. Please choose the number of old backups to maintain and the frequency with which they should be replaced"
then have a dialog that lists options like (daily weekly monthly yearly and no backups) and an option to store them tarred in another location that does not fill up ... also it should list the size of the individual groups of files (by date) ... and it should explain that this is a kernal backup not a file backup

also boot should be bigger

and there should be a semipermanent configuration change listed on the forum rather than the delete old kernals solution - which is just a bandaid in that you will just have to repeatedly do it, because sometimes i just want to turn the thing on and play minecraft (and my timesink of choice is not system administration)

Anyway,the point of "automatic updates" is they happen automatically, and you dont have to mess with them, this bug forces you to mess with them