How do I delete old kernels?

[m654321]

Recently, I updated LMint cinnamon with the latest kernel using command line as follows:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-generic 

How do I delete the old kernel(s)?

Mike

[Pjotr]

Recently, I updated LMint cinnamon with the latest kernel using command line as follows:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-generic 

How do I delete the old kernel(s)?

Mike

That's the wrong approach in several fundamental ways. You should only install newer kernels by means of Update Manager, or by means of the kernel tool that's accessible in Update Manager. That very tool is also the thing you should use for removing older kernels.

Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

Remove that generic package that you've installed, and its dependencies, like this:

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sudo apt-get remove linux-generic linux-image-generic linux-headers-generic

[m654321]

Recently, I updated LMint cinnamon with the latest kernel using command line as follows:
That's the wrong approach in several fundamental ways. You should only install newer kernels by means of Update Manager, or by means of the kernel tool that's accessible in Update Manager. That very tool is also the thing you should use for removing older kernels.

Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

Remove that generic package that you've installed, and its dependencies, like this:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get remove linux-generic linux-image-generic linux-headers-generic

@Pjotr...
Many thanks for pointing out my error.
Using Update Manager, are the old kernels removed automatically when I install the new kernel?

Mike

[Moem]

Using Update Manager, are the old kernels removed automatically when I install the new kernel?

No, they are not, they remain in place. There is a button on the update manager that lists the kernels that are available for install and also shows which ones you have installed but not loaded, and you can remove them from there.
View => Linux Kernels should get you there.

[Pierre]

from time to time, I've removed those older kernels,
by using Package Manager AKA synaptic.

you can easily recover 4 - 5 Gb of disk space,
after removing those older kernels.

[Mintstant Karma]

"you can easily recover 4 - 5 Gb of disk space,
after removing those older kernels."


Ha! I've only recently begun looking into this topic, and found I had about thirty old kernels installed! Just today I started deleting, and with just the first two removals I've recovered 1.1 GB.

If that's typical I expect I could easily recover 28 GB! Wow.

[Moem]

Ha! I've only recently begun looking into this topic, and found I had about thirty old kernels installed! Just today I started deleting, and with just the first two removals I've recovered 1.1 GB.

Just so you know: this topic is years old, and the information is outdated (which is why I will lock it after posting this). The Update Manager in the current versions of Mint gives you some nice new options:
- queue kernels for deletion, and then remove them all in one go
- automate removal of old kernels (your currently loaded kernel + one previous one as a spare will always be kept).

Enjoy the new features, and your reclaimed space!