package linux-image-4.4.0-79-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 128

[Steve Stiffler]

I was trying to perform an update to my UBUNTU. It was taking a longer time than usual to update so I restarted my computer and I got this error message.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-79-generic (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-78.99-generic 4.4.62
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-78-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 7 20:53:48 2017
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 128
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-07 (396 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-78-generic root=UUID=13d8dff7-fe67-4ca4-8de0-e334d6dee23d ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.2
 apt 1.2.20
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-4.4.0-79-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 128
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/20/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.0.15
dmi.board.name: 0RY007
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: OEM
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.0.15:bd06/20/2008:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron530:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0RY007:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct3:cvrOEM:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 530
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Apport retracing service (apport)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this crash and helping to make this software better. This particular crash has already been reported and is a duplicate of bug #1696440, so is being marked as such. Please look at the other bug report to see if there is any missing information that you can provide, or to see if there is a workaround for the bug. Additionally, any further discussion regarding the bug should occur in the other report. Please continue to report any other bugs you may find.