Linux Help Please

[Davetex]

Laptop has Ubuntu 14.04. I need help clearing out the boot folder so I can get updates. My nephew has always done this for me, but he's not around. I've tried some videos on YouTube but they haven't helped. Can anyone provide the command lines to delete old image files please. Thanks!!!!

 

[Brains]

Ah let me guess /boot is full. Happens all the time, here's my fix that pretty well ensures you don't booger it up. Open a terminal and follow these commands:

1. sudo cp -R /boot /boot.old
2. sudo umount /boot
3. sudo cp -R /boot.old/* /boot
4. sudo apt-get -f install
5. sudo umount /boot (just in case one of the scripts remounted it, ignore any error about boot not being mounted)
6. sudo apt autoremove
7. sudo apt upgrade
8. sudo umount /boot (again, just in case one of the scripts remounted it, ignore any errors again)
9. sudo cp -R /boot/* /boot.new/
10. sudo mount /boot
11. cd /boot
12. sudo rm -rf * (MAKE SURE you're in /boot before running this one!)
13. cp -R /boot.new/* .

 

[Davetex]

Awesome Brains, just awesome!!!!!! Worked like a charm!!!!!

Thank you soooooo much!!!!!

 

[Brains]

You're welcome. Honestly this is one of those annoyances with Ubuntu I wish they'd fix (well, prevent) in the update scripts. Something as simple as 'installing a new kernel? Check to see if there's enough free space in /boot and alert the user if needed.'

 

[Davetex]

Yeah, I wish the update was......
Ask first
Click yes
And done.

Thanks again Brains, I really appreciate that command line list. Now I can fire my nephew. LOLOL

 

[benenglish]

sudo rm -rf * (MAKE SURE you're in /boot before running this one!)

The definition of understatement.

 

[Davetex]

What happens if you're not?

 

[benenglish]

sudo - Execute a command as another user.
rm - Remove files or directories.
-rf - When removing files, do so recursively and force the action. Don't ask me if I really mean it. Don't trip over empty files. Just use "rm" to destroy everything from here on down.

When you do "rm -rf", you're using a switch that tells an already powerful command to extend its actions to all the directories and files below the current location. (ETA: Yes, I know that I need not list directories separately because directories aren't really directories; they're files because "everything's a file". However, this post is for folks who are not steeped the "The Unix Way." For a Windows user trying to understand their 'nix box, I have no problems in referring to directories without explaining that a directory is simply a particular type of file. If "man rm" talks about directories, which it does, I won't apologize for doing the same even though I had instructors, back in the day, who would have given me no end of crap over this issue.)

If I executed that command in "/ben" on my computer, for example, I'd destroy everything of consequence that I've ever put on the computer.

When you use "rm -rf", you must know where you are and you must know that you don't mind destroying everything there. You won't get a pause for confirmation and you won't get a second chance.

 

[Davetex]

Thanks Ben, very good explanation.

 

[benenglish]

Thanks Ben, ...

Happy to help but that was written for someone who isn't steeped in "the way". (Don't ask me about "the way"; it's a Unix thing.) In case there are any greybeards here, I'm going to go back and make a slight edit so they don't go apoplectic.

 

[Brains]

lol I've never had a beard, but .... yep

 

[benenglish]

Is that edit OK, Brains? I could use some perspective from someone who has more recent experience than me.

 

[Brains]

I thought it was just fine, but then again I'm not the type of guy who gets too wrangled over, well, much of anything.

ETA: Not sure anyone wants to get into the nitty gritty of filesystems, or how the various utilities interact with them. Of course if anyone does, I guarantee we both would have their heads spinning long before we finished geeking out. Before long, we'd realize it though, and just nod our heads saying "inode, inode, that was too much info."

 

[benenglish]

"inode, inode, that was too much info."

OK, that's funny. Thanks; I needed that.