Kernel Panic: VFS cannot open root device or unknown block error -6

Question

Note that this is Kubuntu (KDE Ubuntu)

I've been having a problem for a while where if I turn on the computer, it just takes me to a black screen. It sticks there with no output and no hint of what's going on except that the Caps Lock indicator light on my keyboard flashes on and off (weird, right?)

If I then turn off the computer (by holding down the power button for a few seconds), and turn it back on, I get a boot menu where I can choose 'Advanced options for Ubuntu', and that lists different versions, recovery modes, some of which work just fine.

That's what I've bee doing for the two weeks or so I've had this problem, and it worked until just now. The alternative options only booted me into the command line. I was able to fix this with this solution, so now I'm typing this from my desktop.

I'm reluctant to turn off the computer in case it happens again, and I'd like to just tear out the root of the problem.

Screenshot of error:

Solution

It seems someone has been able to solve this issue here

Kernel Panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0)

They suggest running

sudo update-initramfs -u -k $(uname -r)

Then

sudo update-grub

Comments

[darksky]

Caps lock blinking is a sign of kernel panic -- fatal crash of the Linux that runs Ubuntu. Try opening /etc/default/grub with a text editor as root and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash quiet" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="nosplash debug --verbose". That way you can see exactly what's causing the panic during boot. Then run in terminal sudo update-grub and shut it off. When you turn it back on you should see messages about everything the kernel is doing. See what errors you get just before the crash.

[Grund]

Something about mounting the filesystem: imgur.com/VvPLO88

[Grund]

$ sudo update-initramfs -u -k all update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-version WARNING: missing /lib/modules/version Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image! depmod: ERROR: Bad version passed version depmod: ERROR: Bad version passed version gzip: stdout: No space left on device E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1 update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-version with 1.

[darksky]

According to update-initramfs manual version is "the specific kernel version for whom the initramfs will be generated. For example the output of uname -r for your currently running kernel." I've updated my post. You should use the version of kernel that will be running your KUbuntu. It looks something like 3.5.0-47-generic. Also, it is telling you No space left on device. So the partition that holds your Linux images might be out of space.

[Skudd]

@Grund - That means your boot partition is full.