Trouble with APT, DPKG, SYNAPTIC. Linux-Image-thing

Question

Having some errors after trying to upgrade with apt-get/synaptic. There are several error messages in the output, like:

P: Installing debian theme...cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/reboot.c32’: No such file or directory
cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/config.c32’: No such file or directory
cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/vesamenu.c32’: No such file or directory
cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/hdt.c32’: No such file or directory
cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/rosh.c32’: No such file or directory
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-extlinux exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic.postinst line 1025.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic:
 linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic depends on linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic; however:
  Package linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic is not configured yet.`

Then a cascade of similar messages just adding that one depends on the other one being configured.

Bottom lines are:

`Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic
 linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic
 linux-image-generic-lts-vivid
 linux-generic-lts-vivid
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I've researched around a bit, failing to solve my problem.

Suggestions tried:

• apt-get install -f

  Gives same∕similar error msg.

• dpkg --configure linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic

  Tells me:

  dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic:
  linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic depends on linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic; however:
  Package linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic is not configured yet.`
  
  `dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic (--configure):
  dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
  

• Also tried

  apt-get autoremove
  apt-get clean
  apt-get autoclean
  

• I've checked if there is a lack-of-space-problem - lots of free space.

• Also tried:

  dpkg --configure --pending
  

  Gives:

  ...
  dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic (--configure):
  dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
  Errors were encountered while processing:
  linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic
  linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic
  

Plus a few more attempts - no luck. (I tried to completely remove old kernels in synaptic also, but that gives me same errors.)

---

What have I done? Or is it you!? What can I do? Do you need more info?

This isn't causing serious problems that I know of, but I love getting clean outputs from apt-get ;)

And I hate being un-dated/-graded.

---

EDIT

It is an annoying problem because everytime I use apt-get it tries to work with the kernel-problem!!

---

EDIT 2

OK, I can't install anything ##AT ALL!

---

EDIT 3

The Software Updater, Sofware and Updates, Software Center apps are not launching.

---

EDIT 4

Latest output of apt-get dist-upgrade:

#apt-get dist-upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-image-3.19.0-46-generic linux-image-3.19.0-53-generic
  linux-image-extra-3.19.0-46-generic linux-image-extra-3.19.0-53-generic
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 4 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
16 not fully installed or removed.

Need to get 330 MB of archives.
After this operation, 415 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y

Get:1 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-39-generic amd64 3.19.0-39.44~14.04.1 [16,7 MB]
Get:2 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-41-generic amd64 3.19.0-41.46~14.04.2 [16,7 MB]
Get:3 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-42-generic amd64 3.19.0-42.48~14.04.1 [16,7 MB]
Get:4 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-43-generic amd64 3.19.0-43.49~14.04.1 [16,7 MB]
Get:5 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-47-generic amd64 3.19.0-47.53~14.04.1 [16,7 MB]
Get:6 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-3.19.0-56-generic amd64 3.19.0-56.62~14.04.1 [16,8 MB]
Get:7 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-39-generic amd64 3.19.0-39.44~14.04.1 [38,3 MB]
Get:8 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-41-generic amd64 3.19.0-41.46~14.04.2 [38,3 MB]
Get:9 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-42-generic amd64 3.19.0-42.48~14.04.1 [38,3 MB]
Get:10 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-43-generic amd64 3.19.0-43.49~14.04.1 [38,3 MB]
Get:11 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-47-generic amd64 3.19.0-47.53~14.04.1 [38,3 MB]
Get:12 http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-updates/main linux-image-extra-3.19.0-56-generic amd64 3.19.0-56.62~14.04.1 [38,3 MB]
Fetched 330 MB in 44min 32s (124 kB/s)                                         
(Reading database ... 366348 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-extra-3.19.0-46-generic (3.19.0-46.52~14.04.1) ...
depmod: FATAL: could not load /boot/System.map-3.19.0-46-generic: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-46-generic
grep: /boot/config-3.19.0-46-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_N1YerM/lib/modules/3.19.0-46-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_N1YerM/lib/modules/3.19.0-46-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-extlinux 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
P: Checking for EXTLINUX directory... found.
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-54-generic...
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-49-generic...
P: Installing debian theme...cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/vesamenu.c32’: No such file or directory
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-extlinux exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-3.19.0-46-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Removing linux-image-3.19.0-46-generic (3.19.0-46.52~14.04.1) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-46-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-extlinux 3.19.0-46-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-46-generic
P: Checking for EXTLINUX directory... found.
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-54-generic...
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-49-generic...
P: Installing debian theme...cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/vesamenu.c32’: No such file or directory
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-extlinux exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postrm.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.19.0-46-generic.postrm line 328.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-3.19.0-46-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Removing linux-image-extra-3.19.0-53-generic (3.19.0-53.59~14.04.1) ...
depmod: FATAL: could not load /boot/System.map-3.19.0-53-generic: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-53-generic
grep: /boot/config-3.19.0-53-generic: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_5xBd4F/lib/modules/3.19.0-53-generic/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /tmp/mkinitramfs_5xBd4F/lib/modules/3.19.0-53-generic/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-extlinux 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
P: Checking for EXTLINUX directory... found.
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-54-generic...
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-49-generic...
P: Installing debian theme...cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/vesamenu.c32’: No such file or directory
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-extlinux exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-3.19.0-53-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Removing linux-image-3.19.0-53-generic (3.19.0-53.59~14.04.1) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-3.19.0-53-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-extlinux 3.19.0-53-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-53-generic
P: Checking for EXTLINUX directory... found.
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-54-generic...
P: Writing config for /boot/vmlinuz-3.19.0-49-generic...
P: Installing debian theme...cp: cannot stat ‘/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/vesamenu.c32’: No such file or directory
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-extlinux exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postrm.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-3.19.0-53-generic.postrm line 328.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-3.19.0-53-generic (--remove):
 subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
                                                              Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-image-extra-3.19.0-46-generic
 linux-image-3.19.0-46-generic
 linux-image-extra-3.19.0-53-generic
 linux-image-3.19.0-53-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Answer 1

For me it seems that there are some files missing in /usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux

When I list the files on my system in that directory I get this:

linux:/usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux$ ls -al
total 56
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  4096 Okt 27 18:53 .
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root  4096 Okt 27 18:53 ..
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    38 Apr 15  2015 config.c32 -> ../../../../../lib/syslinux/config.c32
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    35 Apr 15  2015 hdt.c32 -> ../../../../../lib/syslinux/hdt.c32
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    20 Apr 15  2015 memtest.bin -> /boot/memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   349 Sep 20  2012 menu.cfg
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   349 Sep 20  2012 other.cfg
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    38 Apr 15  2015 reboot.c32 -> ../../../../../lib/syslinux/reboot.c32
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    36 Apr 15  2015 rosh.c32 -> ../../../../../lib/syslinux/rosh.c32
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 31377 Apr 15  2015 splash.png
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   529 Sep 20  2012 stdmenu.cfg
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   100 Sep 20  2012 theme.cfg
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    40 Apr 15  2015 vesamenu.c32 -> ../../../../../lib/syslinux/vesamenu.c32`

You should compare this to your content here. But it seems that all the symbolic links are broken or gone. With the command sudo dpkg -S /usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux/config.c32 I found out the package which provides this file and got the name "syslinux-themes-debian-wheezy".

So you should try to reconfigure this package:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure syslinux-themes-debian-wheezy

If this does not work you can try to create the links manually. Go to the directory and type the command (e.g. for config.c32):

cd /usr/share/syslinux/themes/debian-wheezy/extlinux
sudo ln -s ../../../../../lib/syslinux/config.c32 config.c32

For the other files look at the locations in the "ls -al" command above.

NOTE: This is not tested by me! So you should be careful! I would suggest to create a backup of the files stored in /usr/lib/syslinux (destination of the linked files)!

Answer 2

I think I found a solution

I just edited the /var/lib/dpkg/status file and removed all non-current linux-image-* without install OK install in status.

Now I suppose I could/should remove the kernels themselves from HardDrive?

And not least: WHY did this happen? I've seen it on another Ubuntu-distro, as well: GoBangOS. Bug in the dpkg?

Finally I get to install things again!

(At least from terminal - Software Updater & Software Center still ain't launching...)

Answer 3

The problem here is syslinux. apt-get purge syslinux and extlinux, then re-run apt-get install -f and see if that fixes it, then put syslinux/extlinux back if you really need them.

Caution: I'm figuring your system doesn't really REQUIRE those to be there, but maybe it does. I don't want to render your system unbootable. If you didn't put syslinux there on purpose maybe it came in as part of some other package dependency - boot disk creator or something like that. Be careful, pay attention to what apt-get is telling you when it goes to remove it, and YMMV.