Kernel – Downgrade After Update Broke System

12.04kernel

I need to downgrade from 3.8.0-33 to version -29. After booting the latest kernel I'm greeted by a black screen. How do I keep this version permanently?

Output of dpkg -l linux-image*

Gewünscht=Unbekannt/Installieren/R=Entfernen/P=Vollständig Löschen/Halten
| Status=Nicht/Installiert/Config/U=Entpackt/halb konFiguriert/
         Halb installiert/Trigger erWartet/Trigger anhängig
|/ Fehler?=(kein)/R=Neuinstallation notwendig (Status, Fehler: GROSS=schlecht)
||/ Name           Version        Beschreibung
+++-==============-==============-============================================
un  linux-image    <keine>        (keine Beschreibung vorhanden)
un  linux-image-3. <keine>        (keine Beschreibung vorhanden)
ii  linux-image-3. 3.8.0-29.42~pr Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 b
ii  linux-image-3. 3.8.0-33.48~pr Linux kernel image for version 3.8.0 on 64 b
ii  linux-image-ge 3.8.0.33.33    Generic Linux kernel image

Sorry it's German.

Best Answer

You can remove the non-functional kernel with apt-get:

sudo apt-get purge linux-image-3.8.0-33-generic

As part of uninstallation process the system removes 3.8.0-33 entry from GRUB menu and leaves only 3.8.0-29.

Please note, that also package linux-image-generic-lts-raring will be removed. That means that your kernel version will not be upgraded in future with apt-get upgrade. Only when you reinstall linux-image-generic-lts-raring will the kernel version get upgraded. So this is a permanent solution.

Boot to an older kernel:

Holding down the shift key while booting, will display the Grub menu. You can now select an older kernel version.

If that allows your system to boot you can set the computer to boot to the old kernel you can remove the new kernel by running the following command:

sudo apt-get remove linux-image-3.2.0-58-generic linux-headers-3.2.0-58-generic

Switch to a non-graphical TTY

Ctrl+Alt+F1 Should switch you to TTY1 and you can run the following command:

 sudo apt-get -f install

then reconfigure:

 sudo dpkg --configure -a

then try the upgrade again

 sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

If those things do not work we may need more information.

Downgrade Kernel After Bad Update (16.04) – How to Guide

Remove the latest kernel by

sudo apt remove linux-image-4.4.0-91-generic linux-headers-4.4.0-91-generic

That will uninstall meta packages linux-generic, linux-image-generic and linux-headers-generic. Kernels will never be upgraded.

To revert it you can run

sudo apt install linux-generic

That will install the latest kernel and kernels will get upgrades.

linux-generic is a meta package. It is empty, but depends on two other meta packages: linux-image-generic and linux-headers-generic.

The last two point to the latest kernel image and headers.

If you remove meta packages, nothing will be removed from the Linux, but kernel image and headers won't get updates. You can always install them later. They will pull the latest "real" kernel packages.

So the solution is to manually remove the kernel packages you don't want and also the meta packages.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu 12.04 Kernel Update – Stopping System Runlevel V Compatibility

Boot to an older kernel:

Switch to a non-graphical TTY

Downgrade Kernel After Bad Update (16.04) – How to Guide

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