package linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[ramces Gonzalez]

I am using an IBM Thinkpad R50 from 2002 and I have not been able to install any updates since I installed Linux on this laptop, it works fine, but I also can't install anything. I'm trying to install vpn and not even that works so the installer is broken. Since I am not able to install any updates I have not been able to get any updates for the meltdown flaw in Intel CPUs.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic i686
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version k4.13.0-16-generic.
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.5
AptOrdering:
 linux-image-4.13.0-21-generic:i386: Install
 linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic:i386: Install
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: newton 910 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: newton 910 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'I82801DBICH4'/'Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with AD1981B at irq 11'
   Mixer name : 'Analog Devices AD1981B'
   Components : 'AC97a:41445374'
   Controls : 27
   Simple ctrls : 18
Card29.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw 1RHT71WW-3.04'
   Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC 1RHT71WW-3.04'
   Components : ''
   Controls : 2
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card29.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'Console',0
   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
   Playback channels: Mono
   Limits: Playback 0 - 14
   Mono: Playback 10 [71%] [on]
Date: Thu Jan 11 15:24:42 2018
DpkgHistoryLog:
 Start-Date: 2018-01-11 15:24:34
 Commandline: apt --fix-broken install
 Requested-By: newton (1000)
 Install: linux-image-4.13.0-21-generic:i386 (4.13.0-21.24, automatic), linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic:i386 (4.13.0-17.20, automatic)
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=5c65b509-112c-4f21-a68b-76ba7fb8ba32
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-11-21 (51 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release i386 (20171017.1)
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
MachineType: IBM 0123456
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-16-generic root=UUID=034bd9a6-74ee-45c6-bbb3-f3a5ebd3f36b 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/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /usr/bin/python2.7, Python 2.7.14, python-minimal, 2.7.14-2ubuntu1
RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc 2.02~beta3-4ubuntu7
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/02/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: IBM
dmi.bios.version: 1RETDPWW (3.21 )
dmi.board.name: 0123456
dmi.board.vendor: IBM
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: IBM
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnIBM:bvr1RETDPWW(3.21):bd06/02/2006:svnIBM:pn0123456:pvrThinkPadR50:rvnIBM:rn0123456:rvrNotAvailable:cvnIBM:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 0123456
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad R50
dmi.sys.vendor: IBM

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

The error message is:

This kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU.

This page https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PAE suggests that you might have luck using the 'forcepae' kernel command line flag in your /etc/default/grub and rebuilding the grub menu. (I believe sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc is the easiest way to do this but there may be better ways.) Your CPU doesn't advertise PAE but *might* support it.

If your processor truly does not support PAE you may not be able to use Ubuntu's kernel packages.

I have not heard of any mitigations for Meltdown or Spectre for i686 processors.

Thanks

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[ramces Gonzalez (rgonzalez3894)]

Thanks Seth,

So I went to the grub file in the /etc/default folder, should I just add
'forcepae' (does it need to be in caps?) to any empty line in the grub
file? and then I will run the command:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure grub-pc

Is this all I have to do to fix the issue?

Ramces

On Thu, Jan 11, 2018 at 4:03 PM, Seth Arnold <email address hidden>
wrote:

> The error message is:
>
> This kernel does not support a non-PAE CPU.
>
> This page https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PAE suggests that you might
> have luck using the 'forcepae' kernel command line flag in your
> /etc/default/grub and rebuilding the grub menu. (I believe sudo dpkg-
> reconfigure grub-pc is the easiest way to do this but there may be
> better ways.) Your CPU doesn't advertise PAE but *might* support it.
>
> If your processor truly does not support PAE you may not be able to use
> Ubuntu's kernel packages.
>
> I have not heard of any mitigations for Meltdown or Spectre for i686
> processors.
>
> Thanks
>
> ** Information type changed from Private Security to Public
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1742818
>
> Title:
> package linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic (not installed) failed to
> install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error
> exit status 1
>
> Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I am using an IBM Thinkpad R50 from 2002 and I have not been able to
> install any updates since I installed Linux on this laptop, it works
> fine, but I also can't install anything. I'm trying to install vpn and
> not even that works so the installer is broken. Since I am not able to
> install any updates I have not been able to get any updates for the
> meltdown flaw in Intel CPUs.
>
> ProblemType: Package
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic i686
> AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version
> k4.13.0-16-generic.
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.5
> AptOrdering:
> linux-image-4.13.0-21-generic:i386: Install
> linux-image-4.13.0-17-generic:i386: Install
> NULL: ConfigurePending
> Architecture: i386
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: newton 910 F...m pulseaudio
> /dev/snd/controlC0: newton 910 F.... pulseaudio
> Card0.Amixer.info:
> Card hw:0 'I82801DBICH4'/'Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with AD1981B at irq 11'
> Mixer name : 'Analog Devices AD1981B'
> Components : 'AC97a:41445374'
> Controls : 27
> Simple ctrls : 18
> Card29.Amixer.info:
> Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30,
> fw 1RHT71WW-3.04'
> Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC 1RHT71WW-3.04'
> Components : ''
> Controls : 2
> Simple ctrls : 1
> Card29.Amixer.values:
> Simple mixer control 'Console',0
> Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
> Playback channels: Mono
> Limits: Playback 0 - 14
> Mono: Play...

[Seth Arnold (seth-arnold)]

Yes, I think that would get you to the point of finding out if this workaround lets you continue or not.

Thanks