[SOLVED] Kubuntu 20.04 does not start up in latest kernel

[Gromm]

Good Morning and a Happy Newyear to whoever read this.

On my machine I run Kubuntu 20.04. Problem: I can only start up and run it by selecting Ubuntu Linux 5.11.0-38 generic (that is the kernel right?) in the advanced options of the GRUB. The more recent versions like 40 and later do not start up Kubuntu.

Question 1: Is this in itself a problem? Is it safe to keep on using version 38. Do I get the same updates etc?

Question 2: If so, how can I solve it. How can I make Kubuntu starting up in a later kernel version ? Or how can I edit the grub so that it picks the 38 version automatically ?

Which solution do I need and how do I get that? Or any other suggestions?

Kind regards.

[jglen490]

inxi -Sxxxx
System: Host: john-HP-ENVY-x360 Kernel: 5.11.0-43-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A
Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.18.5 tk: Qt 5.12.8 wm: kwin_x11 dm: SDDM
Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS (Focal Fossa)

20.04 LTS works great with the later kernel, and has worked here all the way through all the updates I've ever accepted.

Let's start with how do you see the updates offered for Kubuntu, and what process do you use to perform the update?

As an example, with my out of the box standard setup Discover puts a notice in the Taskbar. I then go to a konsole and enter the sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade commands.

[Gromm]

20.04 LTS works great with the later kernel, and has worked here all the way through all the updates I've ever accepted.

Let's start with how do you see the updates offered for Kubuntu, and what process do you use to perform the update?

As an example, with my out of the box standard setup Discover puts a notice in the Taskbar. I then go to a konsole and enter the sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade commands.

Same here, but I usually just go to the "discover" window and click on "update". Did the sudo thing as well sometimes. Had this problem once and updates solved it, but not anymore.

[jglen490]

O.K. That "should" work alright, and Discover does get better with time. However, in my opinion going the command line route is a more complete solution. With the move away from apt-get to apt in recent releases, the command line process has become more consistent. Using

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

not only installs updates, but also removes no longer needed prior update packages, leaving the system in a more stable end state.

[Gromm]

Unfortunately, no effect.....

[Snowhog]

The more recent versions like 40 and later do not start up Kubuntu.

To be clear, does that mean that you've tried; selected; the later kernels in Grub, but that Kubuntu fails to boot? If 'yes', what error messages are you seeing, if any?

[Gromm]

To be clear, does that mean that you've tried; selected; the later kernels in Grub, but that Kubuntu fails to boot? If 'yes', what error messages are you seeing, if any?

Good morning. Yes, I have tried to commands as suggested by jglen490. Still Kubuntu won't boot in the latest kernels. No error messages, just the logo of the pc and it stays that way. Have to use ctrl-alt-del to restart and go back to the grub. Still can only start up using kernel: Ubuntu Linux 5.11.0-38 generic.

[jglen490]

Open a konsole, and enter

ls -al /boot

.

Then copy/[paste the results in a reply here.

[Gromm]

Open a konsole, and enter .

Then copy/[paste the results in a reply here.

While running Kubuntu in kernel 5.11.0-38 or in the recovery mode for kernel 43?

(Thank you people for your cooperation so far by the way )

[claydoh]

While running Kubuntu in kernel 5.11.0-38 or in the recovery mode for kernel 43?

(Thank you people for your cooperation so far by the way )

It doesn't matter. The command is just listing the content and some ownership/permissions info of /boot

[Gromm]

Here goes....

totaal 824964
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 dec 20 10:31 .
drwxr-xr-x 20 root root 4096 nov 7 2013 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 253599 jul 13 18:25 config-5.11.0-
25-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 253986 sep 28 17:37 config-5.11.0-
38-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 254083 okt 26 17:50 config-5.11.0-
40-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 254083 nov 10 10:56 config-5.11.0-
41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 254083 dec 13 11:45 config-5.11.0-
43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 248245 mrt 25 2021 config-5.8.0-4
9-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 248270 mei 6 2021 config-5.8.0-5
3-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 248322 jul 15 15:51 config-5.8.0-6
3-generic
drwx------ 4 root root 4096 jan 1 1970 efi
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 dec 16 11:47 grub
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 28 dec 16 11:46 initrd.img ->
initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 88740859 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.1
1.0-25-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 88762870 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.1
1.0-38-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 123440228 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.1
1.0-40-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 123443796 dec 20 10:30 initrd.img-5.1
1.0-41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 123443523 dec 20 10:30 initrd.img-5.1
1.0-43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 38579968 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.8
.0-49-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 86341284 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.8
.0-53-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 38586337 dec 20 10:31 initrd.img-5.8
.0-63-generic
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 28 dec 16 11:46 initrd.img.old
-> initrd.img-5.11.0-41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 182704 aug 18 2020 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184380 aug 18 2020 memtest86+.elf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184884 aug 18 2020 memtest86+_mul
tiboot.bin
-rw------- 1 root root 5833109 jul 13 18:25 System.map-5.1
1.0-25-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5837807 sep 28 17:37 System.map-5.1
1.0-38-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5860664 okt 26 17:50 System.map-5.1
1.0-40-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5864035 nov 10 10:56 System.map-5.1
1.0-41-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5864035 dec 13 11:45 System.map-5.1
1.0-43-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5531453 mrt 25 2021 System.map-5.8
.0-49-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5531695 mei 6 2021 System.map-5.8
.0-53-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5534491 jul 15 15:51 System.map-5.8
.0-63-generic
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 25 dec 16 11:46 vmlinuz -> vml
inuz-5.11.0-43-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 10125664 jul 13 18:43 vmlinuz-5.11.0
-25-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 10138464 sep 28 17:39 vmlinuz-5.11.0
-38-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 11741600 okt 26 17:56 vmlinuz-5.11.0
-40-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 11744992 nov 10 10:58 vmlinuz-5.11.0
-41-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 11744992 dec 13 11:49 vmlinuz-5.11.0
-43-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 9786496 mrt 26 2021 vmlinuz-5.8.0-
49-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 9789856 mei 6 2021 vmlinuz-5.8.0-
53-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 9800288 jul 15 16:06 vmlinuz-5.8.0-
63-generic
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 25 dec 16 11:46 vmlinuz.old ->
vmlinuz-5.11.0-41-generic

[jglen490]

You have some old kernels in that list! Also, it appears that the current kernels 5.11.0-41 and 5.11.0-43 are both linked correctly.

I suggest going into a konsole and run

sudo apt autoremove

then run

sudo apt autoclean

and then run

sudo apt clean

Then check if any kernels are removed from /boot.

[Gromm]

Ok did that. Outcome in console:

0 upgraded, 0 newly reinstalled, 0 to be removed and 1 not upgraded. (rough translation from Dutch)
Will restart now and check if it had any effect in the Grub.

Update (few minutes later). No changes, and no effect. Still only able to start up in kernel 38. (if that in itself is no problem, can't I simply remove kernel 41/43 and switch off the kernel updates somewhere? Where ever in "discover" I have to uncheck it)

[jglen490]

The problem is not with -38, or -41/-43. The problem is that there is something, probably in grub, that does not recognize -43. I would recommend removing all kernels before 5.11.0-38. I don't know that those kernels are interfering with a successful boot, but they are not useful for successful operation of your machine. After you remove the old kernels, run

sudo update-grub

in konsole. It's entirely possible that what is in the ESP and what grub is trying to boot are somehow mismatched.

I don't think that locking your system to kernel -38 will solve anything. It's very important that the kernel update when needed, for security at the very least.

[Gromm]

Ok, I am I right when I think I can do that by using: "sudo apt-get purge linux-*-*-5.*" Fill in the right number of course.
After that the update command. UPDATE: I used "sudo apt remove" followed by linux number generic. Removed everything below 38 although for some reason the terminal said it could not find some kernels ?? Anyway: still no effect.

I am thinking about a radical "purge" just reinstall the whole bunch and be done with it.