[SOLVED] Unable to install Kernel 4.15.0.38-Generic

[Jodel-D18]

Apologies for the length of this post, but I didn't want to omit what may be important information to help identify the issue.

My main desktop PC (running Mint 19) has not been able to accept any updates to the Linux kernel since Kernel: 4.15.0-36-generic.
I have another laptop also running Mint 19 which has not encountered any such update issues and is now running Kernel: 4.15.0-38-generic.

My PC build is nothing particularly exotic and is as follows:

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uname -r
4.15.0-36-generic

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inxi -F
System:    Host: midi-tower Kernel: 4.15.0-36-generic x86_64 bits: 64
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9  Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P6T DELUXE V2 v: Rev 1.xx serial: N/A
           BIOS: American Megatrends v: 0504 date: 05/19/2009
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7 920 (-MT-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           clock speeds: max: 2668 MHz 1: 2799 MHz 2: 2018 MHz 3: 1796 MHz
           4: 1803 MHz 5: 2913 MHz 6: 1982 MHz 7: 2752 MHz 8: 1885 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GT200b [GeForce GTX 285]
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: NVA0 version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.5
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 82801JI (ICH10 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Card-2 Logitech Webcam B500 driver: USB Audio
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-36-generic
Network:   Card-1: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: sky2
           IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: 00:26:18:2d:dd:04
           Card-2: Marvell 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: sky2
           IF: enp6s0 state: down mac: 00:26:18:2d:dd:05
           Card-3: Ralink
           IF: N/A state: N/A speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 5501.1GB (1.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST31500341AS size: 1500.3GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST31500341AS size: 1500.3GB
           ID-3: /dev/sdc model: ST31500341AS size: 1500.3GB
           ID-4: /dev/sdd model: Samsung_SSD_850 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 275G used: 51G (20%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdd7
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 48.0C mobo: 41.0C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 1506 psu: 0 sys-1: 0 sys-2: 1259 sys-3: 1739
Info:      Processes: 245 Uptime: 0 min Memory: 1197.9/16030.4MB
           Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.56

Whenever I’m notified of an update, the process terminates with an error message – for example, see below for a report of an update which included Chrome and Firefox amongst others (in the interest of brevity, I’ve cut out parts of this):

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Setting up linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
/etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms:
Error! Could not locate dkms.conf file.
File:  does not exist.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 4
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1

Setting up packagekit (1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.3) ...
Setting up linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-headers-generic:
 linux-headers-generic depends on linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic; however:
  Package linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up grub-pc-bin (2.02-2ubuntu8.7) ...
No apport report written because the error message indicates it's a follow-up error from a previous failure.
                            Setting up gstreamer1.0-packagekit (1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.3) ...
Setting up grub2-common (2.02-2ubuntu8.7) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
 linux-generic depends on linux-headers-generic (= 4.15.0.38.40); however:
  Package linux-headers-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up packagekit-tools (1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.3) ...
No apport report written because the error message indicates it's a follow-up error from a previous failure.
                            Setting up grub-pc (2.02-2ubuntu8.7) ...
Installing for i386-pc platform.
Installation finished. No error reported.

Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-36-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
Found Windows 7 on /dev/sdd1
done
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.27-3ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
Error! Could not locate dkms.conf file.
File:  does not exist.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 4
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
                                                                    Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic
 linux-headers-generic
 linux-generic
 linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
A package failed to install.  Trying to recover:
Setting up linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
/etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms:
Error! Could not locate dkms.conf file.
File:  does not exist.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 4
dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-headers-generic:
 linux-headers-generic depends on linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic; however:
  Package linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-headers-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
 linux-generic depends on linux-headers-generic (= 4.15.0.38.40); however:
  Package linux-headers-generic is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (4.15.0-38.41) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
Error! Could not locate dkms.conf file.
File:  does not exist.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms exited with return code 4
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-headers-4.15.0-38-generic
 linux-headers-generic
 linux-generic
 linux-image-4.15.0-38-generic

I’m very much a Linux novice, and it looks as though the Kernel 4.15.0-38-generic has been downloaded, but for whatever reasons not installed. I have not (consciously) moved or deleted any files such as the dkms.conf file. Can anyone shed any light on this at all? I’d appreciate any guidance which may help me resolve the problem.

[JeremyB]

Check the source folders in /var/lib/dkms/* as one or more might be missing the dkms.conf file
Replace the * with package/version#

[Jodel-D18]

JeremyB, thanks for the prompt response. There are indeed a couple of sub-directories in my /var/lib/dkms created I think during my (failed!) attempts to get my TP-Link wireless USB stick working, but each of these do contain a short dkms.conf file.

There is not a dkms.conf file for the 4.15.0.38 kernel as far as I can see (nor for the 4.15.0.36 for that matter - which is working fine).

Do you happen to know if there is there a 'standard' dkms.conf file for the kernel which I can download, or can I create one via nano or similar editor?

BTW: Thank you if you tidied up my initial post - I wasn't sure how to present the information.

If it helps:

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dkms status

/var/lib/dkms/mt7610u_sta/1.0/source
/var/lib/dkms/rtl8812AU/5/source
/var/lib/dkms/rtl8814au/4.3.21/source

[JeremyB]

You could remove them if none of them worked for your wifi, use sudo dkms remove package/version --all
You can get the package from the directory name in /var/lib/dkms and the version number will be a folder name within the package folder, normally you get get the dkms package name and version from results for dkms status but that command will likely fail also

[Jodel-D18]

Now solved! Thank you.

As suggested I removed the wireless network packages, then ran

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sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

I rebooted and now

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uname -a

results in:

Linux midi-tower 4.15.0-38-generic #41-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 10 10:59:38 UTC 2018 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Looks like all is working again, so thanks for your help