/dev/sda1 /boot is full

Question

I know there are a lot of questions like this but I've tried pretty much to understand what to do and failed.

By df -h I know that my /dev/sda1 /boot is with 100% use.

I'm not understanding what I should remove, at all. I'm running nginx and wanted to install nodejs but I was alerted of unmet dependencies when trying sudo apt-get install nodejs and sudo apt-get -f install failed for lack of space. Can I get some specific guidance on this one please? I'm feeling totally lost.

dpkg --list | grep linux-image:

ii  linux-image-3.8.0-29-generic      3.8.0-29.42~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-34-generic      3.8.0-34.49~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-35-generic      3.8.0-35.52~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-36-generic      3.8.0-36.52~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-37-generic      3.8.0-37.53~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-38-generic      3.8.0-38.56~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-39-generic      3.8.0-39.58~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii  linux-image-3.8.0-42-generic      3.8.0-42.62~precise1                 Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
iU  linux-image-generic-lts-raring    3.8.0.44.44                          Generic Linux kernel image

uname -r:
3.8.0-42-generic

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-x.x.x.x-generic

You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
 linux-image-generic-lts-raring : Depends: linux-image-3.8.0-44-generic but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

sudo apt-get -f install

dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.8.0-44-generic_3.8.0-44.66~precise1_i386.deb (--unpack):
 failed in write on buffer copy for backend dpkg-deb during ./boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-44-generic': No space left on device
No apport report written because the error message indicates a disk full error
                                                                              dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.8.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-44-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.8.0-44-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-44-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-3.8.0-44-generic_3.8.0-44.66~precise1_i386.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Solution

/boot contains (among other things) the linux kernels you have installed. These come with updates every now and then.

Open a Terminal and type dpkg --list | grep linux-image and then hit ENTER

then compare the output from that with uname -r
... where the output tells which of the above you have in use.

All the others can be removed, freeing up space - unless you have a reason to keep them. That is accomplished by replacing "linux-image-x.x.x.x-generic" here:

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-x.x.x.x-generic

for each one that you wish to remove.

Then AFTER THE LAST - you MUST do this to clean up/recreate the boot menu accordingly

sudo update-initramfs -u                          # remakes boot ramdisk
sudo update-grub2                                 # re-creates boot menu

---

edit

find /boot -type f -printf "%-16s %p\n" | sort -nr | head -n 20

... will show you the 20 largest files in /boot

Comments

[geethujoseph]

Probably you have many kernel versions installed. What is the output of dpkg --get-selections | grep -E 'linux-image|linux-headers' and df -h /boot?

[Hannu]

Well, that was in about the same instant as my answer below ;-)

[bain]

Run the dpkg -l ... command from this answer

[DigitalEvolution]

thanks hannu, please check the edit to my answer, still in problems :s

[Hannu]

As I said above uname -r tells what to keep. And then replacing "linux-image-x.x.x.x-generic" - means that you should take each of the others - linux-image-3.8.0-29-generic to linux-image-3.8.0-39-generic - and use them ONE AT A TIME instead of linux-image-x.x.x.x-generic in the sequence above. I've edited the above slightly to help you out a bit more.