[SOLVED] Update error caused by "No space left on device"

[moho70]

Good morning

I'm having problems updating my Linux Mint 18.3, Cinnamon 64-bit edition, I'm an average user. The system is protected with the mint built in encryption software on startup.

The updates are loaded and when I want install them, it says in the first error window:

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E: linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic: subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1

and in the next error window:

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Razširjanje predlog iz paketov: 100%
Prednastavljanje paketov ...
(Reading database ... 519396 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic (4.13.0-31.34~16.04.1) ...
depmod: FATAL: could not load /boot/System.map-4.13.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-31-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_Fa5MRq/lib/modules/4.13.0-31-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_Fa5MRq/lib/modules/4.13.0-31-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-31-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Neuspešna namestitev paketa. Poteka poskus obnove namestitve:
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.13.0-26-generic (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-26-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-firmware (1.157.15) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[catweazel]

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gzip: stdout: No space left on device
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
gzip: stdout: No space left on device

That's the problem. You've probably got a separate boot partition and it's full. You're going to have to remove some old kernels.

[moho70]

Thank you for the quick reply...
I thought about that, so I went into the update manager and try to remove/unistall some old installed kernels, but the problem is, they are not unistalled, they just keep there installed ???

The error is similar as the update:

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(Reading database ... 519396 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic (4.13.0-31.34~16.04.1) ...
depmod: FATAL: could not load /boot/System.map-4.13.0-31-generic: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.13.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-31-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-31-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_y8T0lx/lib/modules/4.13.0-31-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_y8T0lx/lib/modules/4.13.0-31-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-31-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-image-extra-4.13.0-31-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Neuspešna namestitev paketa. Poteka poskus obnove namestitve:
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.13.0-26-generic (4.13.0-26.29~16.04.2) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.13.0-26-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.13.0-26-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-firmware (1.157.15) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
Warning: No support for locale: sl_SI.utf8

gzip: stdout: No space left on device
cpio: write error: Broken pipe
find: ‘standard output’: Broken pipe
find: write error
E: mkinitramfs failure find 1 cpio 1 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[catweazel]

Please post the output of this terminal command:

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ls /boot

Enclose the results in code markers "</>", which you can select from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply.

Do the same with this command:

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df -h

[moho70]

I hope I understood, what you meant with the quotes:

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 ls /boot
abi-4.10.0-33-generic         initrd.img-4.10.0-42-generic
abi-4.10.0-35-generic         initrd.img-4.13.0-26-generic
abi-4.10.0-37-generic         initrd.img-4.8.0-53-generic
abi-4.10.0-38-generic         lost+found
abi-4.10.0-40-generic         memtest86+.bin
abi-4.10.0-42-generic         memtest86+.elf
abi-4.13.0-26-generic         memtest86+_multiboot.bin
abi-4.8.0-53-generic          System.map-4.10.0-33-generic
config-4.10.0-33-generic      System.map-4.10.0-35-generic
config-4.10.0-35-generic      System.map-4.10.0-37-generic
config-4.10.0-37-generic      System.map-4.10.0-38-generic
config-4.10.0-38-generic      System.map-4.10.0-40-generic
config-4.10.0-40-generic      System.map-4.10.0-42-generic
config-4.10.0-42-generic      System.map-4.13.0-26-generic
config-4.13.0-26-generic      System.map-4.8.0-53-generic
config-4.8.0-53-generic       vmlinuz-4.10.0-33-generic
efi                           vmlinuz-4.10.0-35-generic
grub                          vmlinuz-4.10.0-37-generic
initrd.img-4.10.0-33-generic  vmlinuz-4.10.0-38-generic
initrd.img-4.10.0-35-generic  vmlinuz-4.10.0-40-generic
initrd.img-4.10.0-37-generic  vmlinuz-4.10.0-42-generic
initrd.img-4.10.0-38-generic  vmlinuz-4.13.0-26-generic
initrd.img-4.10.0-40-generic  vmlinuz-4.8.0-53-generic 

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df -h
Filesystem                 Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
udev                       3,9G     0  3,9G   0% /dev
tmpfs                      786M  9,6M  776M   2% /run
/dev/mapper/mint--vg-root  221G   76G  134G  36% /
tmpfs                      3,9G  202M  3,7G   6% /dev/shm
tmpfs                      5,0M  4,0K  5,0M   1% /run/lock
tmpfs                      3,9G     0  3,9G   0% /sys/fs/cgroup
/dev/sda2                  473M  462M     0 100% /boot
/dev/sda1                  511M  3,4M  508M   1% /boot/efi
cgmfs                      100K     0  100K   0% /run/cgmanager/fs
tmpfs                      786M   40K  786M   1% /run/user/1000
/home/robert/.Private      221G   76G  134G  36% /home/robert
/dev/sdb1                   60G   28G   32G  47% /media/robert/3431-65651

[Pjotr]

Try this:

1. Remove the 4.10 and the 4.8 kernel that are still installed. Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels.

2. Then do this:

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sudo rm -v /boot/vmlinuz-4.10*

3. Finally, ask yourself: given the fact that this is probably caused by full disk encryption (which creates a separate /boot): why did I encrypt my entire system in the first place?

Many people select full disk encryption without considering whether they really need it. If it's not needed, it's purely a disadvantage.

[moho70]

Try this:

1. Remove the 4.10 and the 4.8 kernel that are still installed. Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels.

2. Then do this:

Code: Select all

sudo rm -v /boot/vmlinuz-4.10*

3. Finally, ask yourself: given the fact that this is probably caused by full disk encryption (which creates a separate /boot): why did I encrypt my entire system in the first place?

Many people select full disk encryption without considering whether they really need it. If it's not needed, it's purely a disadvantage.

Thank you for the help, but, as I wrote before, I can't remove any kernel, it doesn't work, then I tried with the code...same result: the kernels are still installed
Regarding the encryption...why do we have two locks on the front door, why do we have a watchdog, alarm, etc...it is for being safe. Laptops are lucrative for burglars, for the hardware, but more because of the content...and we do have burglars around.
Anyway...the kernels are still installed and I still can't update Mint

[Termy]

Have you yet tried: sudo apt-get autoremove

Alternatively, a tool like roks could be useful. To get it, I recommend that you get the manager (to browse, install, uninstall, and optionally update) for various programs and files in my repositories, by running this one-liner:

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sudo wget -q https://github.com/terminalforlife/installit/raw/master/insit -O /usr/bin/insit && sudo chmod 755 /usr/bin/insit; sudo insit -S

Once that's done, you can use insit --help for usage information, or skip straight to installing roks with: sudo insit roks

Information and demonstration of insit can be found here and in various videos on YT.

[moho70]

The command

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sudo apt-get autoremove

worked, so I could clean afterwards all old kernels and the updates are installed now.

[Termy]

Awesome. I recommend that you run that command every now and then, as it will clear out a lot of unnecessary packages which were marked as dependencies yet detected by APT as being no longer needed, kernels included. You may also want to run: sudo apt-get autoclean to save even more space. If you're not on a limited bandwith, you'll find the more aggressive sudo apt-get clean even more effective.

[Moem]

I could clean afterwards all old kernels and the updates are installed now.

That's great, now that your topic is solved, please mark it as such. Thanks!

[moho70]

To be honest, I was looking for the "solved" button, but I could't find it, so I wrote, that it is solved ... and I still don't know, how to mark it as solved

[austin.texas]

Go to your first post, click the EDIT (pencil) icon, and add [SOLVED] to the title.