[Bug 798414] Re: update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't enough free space

[Enrique Latorres]

Most likely is that you have a separate boot partition because you are using lvm or an encrypted filesystem. Most kernel updates add a new kernel but do not erase old versions. This way boot partition gets full. The solution is simply to uninstall unused kernel images...
if possible install aptitude, run "sudo aptitude search ~ilinux-image". This will show you the installed kernels
Just remove the older versions, keep two of the newest.
Run "sudo apt-get autoremove linux-image-3.8.0-23-generic" for each of the older kernels. Put your version here.
This should free space on boot partition...

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/798414

Title:
  update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't
  enough  free space

Status in “initramfs-tools” package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

  When generating a new initramfs there is no check for available free
  space, subsequently its possible for update-initramfs to fail due to a
  lack of free space.  This is resulting in package installation
  failures for initramfs-tools.  For example:

  Setting up initramfs-tools (0.98.8ubuntu3) ...
  update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
  Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
  update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic

  gzip: stdout: No space left on device
  E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
  update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
  dpkg: error processing initramfs-tools (--configure):
   subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

  WORKAROUND:

  Remove unused kernels using computer janitor or manually free space on
  your partition containing the /boot file system.

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