unable to make backup link of `./boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic' before installing new version

[Dolt131943]

package linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic 2.6.24-19.33
failed to install/upgrade:
 unable to make backup link of `./boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic' before installing new version

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Jul 27 01:25:47 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
ErrorMessage: unable to make backup link of `./boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic' before installing new version
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia ath_hal
Package: linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic 2.6.24-19.33 [modified: lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.pcimap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.dep lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.ieee1394map lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.usbmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.isapnpmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.inputmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.seriomap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.alias lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.symbols]
PackageArchitecture: i386
SourcePackage: linux
Title: package linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic 2.6.24-19.33 [modified: lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.pcimap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.dep lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.ieee1394map lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.usbmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.isapnpmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.inputmap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.seriomap lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.alias lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/modules.symbols] failed to install/upgrade: unable to make backup link of `./boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic' before installing new version
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic i686

[edi (e-kanizay)]

Update immer fehl geschlagen

[Szabó András (szabo-a-a-g)]

The error message appeared first when the update process has been realised:

Linux-image-2.6.24-19.34-generic:
  [Amit Kucheria]
  * Revert "Update lpia configs to move modules into the kernel"
  * LPIA: More conservative culling of LPIA config
    - LP: #240938
The update process could not install due to some error.

The same error message appeared something later when other new upgrade processes
happened. At the end the following erroe message could be seen every time after upgrading:

E: /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.36_i386.deb: Ican not prepare backup chain`./boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic' before the installation of the new version

/var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image2.6.24-19-generic-2.6.2419.36_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

From that time the backup chain can not be prepared and the upgrade message offers
the upgrade of the same "linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic_2.6.24-19.36_i386.deb" package.

The Ubuntu 8.04.1 distr. is installed to the D: partition on a Windows XP op. system
with wubi-8.04.1-rev506.exe.

Thanks in advance any help and/or solution.

András Szabó
<email address hidden>

[Spike Robinson (spike-robinson)]

I have also experienced the same error today, in the same circumstances. I am using Update Manager to update the package for "linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic" (kernel update, presumably?). I am using the same version of Wubi (rev506), also booting from a Windows XP operating system.

Could the simple answer be: with Wubi, the Ubuntu boot & kernel is located on the NTFS filesystem (Windows filesystem) and symlinks don't work on an NTFS filesystem?

Spike Robinson
spike.robinson at gmail.com

[Spike Robinson (spike-robinson)]

Correction: the Windows filesystem that hosts my Wubi boot disk is not NTFS. It is FAT32. Symlinks are definitely not possible on FAT32.