package linux-image-2.6.24-21-generic 2.6.24-21.43 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 17

[Larfalitl]

 Hi,
I have three machines, each giving this same error when upgrading the kernel.

update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-21-generic
                                            W: kernel 2.6.24-21-generic too old for initramfs on i386
                     W: not generating requested initramfs for kernel 2.6.24-21-generic

I entered 'ubuntu-bug linux' in a terminal as requested, it asked for a package name, I tried various arrangements of 'linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-21-generic' but to no avail.

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Wed Dec 3 09:09:30 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
ErrorMessage: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 17
Package: linux-image-2.6.24-21-generic 2.6.24-21.43 [modified: lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.pcimap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.dep lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.ieee1394map lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.usbmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.isapnpmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.inputmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.seriomap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.alias lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.symbols]
PackageArchitecture: i386
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-2.6.24-21-generic 2.6.24-21.43 [modified: lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.pcimap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.dep lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.ieee1394map lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.usbmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.isapnpmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.inputmap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.seriomap lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.alias lib/modules/2.6.24-21-generic/modules.symbols] failed to install/upgrade: subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 17
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic i686

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

I found this in your DpkgTerminalLog.txt attachment:

Preparing to replace module-init-tools 3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5 (using .../module-init-tools_3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5.8.04.1_i386.deb) ...
Upgrading from packages older than 3.1-pre2-1 is not supported.
Please purge module-init-tools before installing this package.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/module-init-tools_3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5.8.04.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

What version of module-init-tools do you have installed? You can check via the command 'apt-cache policy module-init-tools' in a terminal. Thanks in advance.

[Larfalitl (larfalitl)]

Sorry, I replied to your email but launchpad doesn't work that way apparently ( I've never needed to create a bug before :)

apt-cache said:

Installed: 3.3-prell-4ubuntu5
Candidate: 3.3-prell-4ubuntu5.8.04.1

There is some other stuff about "Version table" but it's basically the same with the pool URL included.

Thanks for your help with this!
Graeme

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Hi larfalitl,

This bug was reported a while ago and hasn't had any recent activity. Can you comment if this is still an issue for you? Thanks.

[Larfalitl (larfalitl)]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, It's a long story, anyway, Yup, this is still a problem :)

Did an upgrade today, These two packages won't upgrade.

graeme@hal:~$ sudo apt-get upgrade
[sudo] password for graeme:
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
The following packages will be upgraded:
  initramfs-tools module-init-tools
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
253 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/140kB of archives.
After this operation, 20.5kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
(Reading database ... 117736 files and directories currently installed.)
                                                                        Preparing to replace module-init-tools 3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5 (using .../module-init-tools_3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5.8.04.1_i386.deb) ...
                                      Upgrading from packages older than 3.1-pre2-1 is not supported.
                     Please purge module-init-tools before installing this package.
   dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/module-init-tools_3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5.8.04.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
                                   subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
                  Preparing to replace initramfs-tools 0.85eubuntu39.1 (using .../initramfs-tools_0.85eubuntu39.3_all.deb) ...

                                              Warning: /etc/initramfs-tools already exists.
                    Please remove it for upgrade.

                                                 dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/initramfs-tools_0.85eubuntu39.3_all.deb (--unpack):
                                                                    subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
                                                   update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
                         Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
                                                                    update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
                                                   W: kernel 2.6.24-19-generic too old for initramfs on i386
                            W: not generating requested initramfs for kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
              Errors were encountered while processing:
                                                        /var/cache/apt/archives/module-init-tools_3.3-pre11-4ubuntu5.8.04.1_i386.deb
                                                     /var/cache/apt/archives/initramfs-tools_0.85eubuntu39.3_all.deb
                                    E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
graeme@hal:~$

Jusf for completeness, I did an apt-get update earlier today....

On the plus side, cheers to the guys who made the change that doesn't update /boot/grub/menu.lst until after the new kernel is completely installed. Saved me hacking around to roll the kernel back.

Hmm, probably should find out what "253 not installed or removed" means....

Graeme

[Larfalitl (larfalitl)]

Hi,

I remembered what the workaround was (I haven't upgraded for donkey as this is a bit of a pain)

I installed Ubuntu 8.04 on my laptop, upgraded the kernel & grabbed /boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-26-generic & /boot/System.map-2.6.24-26-generic off the laptop install.

Stuck the two files in /boot on the desktop & away it went. (All 253 upgrades :) )

Cheers
Graeme

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Larfalitl,
      I take it from your last update that this is resolved for you now? If so, I will update the status of this ticket to a closed state. Please feel free to update the bug if this is not the case.

-JFo

[Larfalitl (larfalitl)]

Hi,

There's been another kernel upgrade & the upgrade process has broken again.

I'll post all the messages, but in a nutshell the upgrade advised that /usr/sbin/update-initramfs could not be found.

Apt-file advised that the file belongs to the initramfs-tools package.

apt-get install initramfs-tools advised the package was already the latest version.

I then did :-
sudo dpkg --purge --force-all initramfs-tools to remove the broken package
sudo apt-get install initramfs-tools to re-install the package

to which I received the messages :-
W: kernel 2.6.24-27-generic too old for initramfs on i386
W: not generating requested initramfs for kernel 2.6.24-27-generic

Which as always been the problem.....

Below is the complete message list... I hope someone can help, this is driving me nuts. Not to mention delaying me upgrading until I absolutely have too.

Thanks :)

graeme@hal:~$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

<snip>

downloading update files

</snip>

Reading state information...
The following packages have been kept back:
  linux-generic linux-headers-generic linux-image-generic
  linux-restricted-modules-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.

===========================================================================

graeme@hal:/usr/local/share/Varkon_1.19D/cnf/ini/english$ sudo apt-get install linux-generic linux-headers-generic linux-image-generic linux-restricted-modules-generic
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
The following extra packages will be installed:
  linux-headers-2.6.24-27 linux-headers-2.6.24-27-generic
  linux-image-2.6.24-27-generic linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-27-generic
  linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-27-generic
Suggested packages:
  linux-doc-2.6.24 linux-source-2.6.24 avm-fritz-firmware-2.6.24-27
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  linux-headers-2.6.24-27 linux-headers-2.6.24-27-generic
  linux-image-2.6.24-27-generic linux-restricted-modules-2.6.24-27-generic
  linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-27-generic
The following packages will be upgraded:
  linux-generic linux-headers-generic linux-image-generic
  linux-restricted-modules-generic
4 upgraded, 5 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 51.9MB of archives.
After this operation, 198MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?

<snip>

downloading updated packages

</snip>

Selecting previously deselected package linux-image-2.6.24-27-generic.
                                                                      (Reading database ... 103088 files and directories currently installed.)
                                                              Unpacking linux-image-2.6.24-27-generic (from .../linux-image-2.6.24-27-generic_2.6.24-27.65_i386.deb) ...
        Done.
             Selecting previously deselected package linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-27-generic.
            Unpacking linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-27-generic (from .../linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-27-generic_2.6.24-27.45_i386.deb) ...
                                                        Preparing to replace lin...