How To Fix initramfs Error When Installing or Updating on Ubuntu

In this article, we will delve into how to fix the initramfs error that you might encounter when installing or updating on Ubuntu. This error is typically related to the fsck hook failing with a return code of 1. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you navigate through this issue.

What is initramfs?

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand what initramfs is. The initramfs (initial RAM filesystem) is an initial root file system that gets loaded into memory during the Linux startup process. It’s responsible for detecting the block device of the root file system, potentially running some scripts, and then initiating the real root file system and transferring control to it.

Common Solutions to the initramfs Error

Solution 1: Running a Series of Commands

The first solution involves running a series of commands that can help resolve the issue. These commands include removing unnecessary packages, cleaning up the package cache, and updating and upgrading the system. Here’s the command:

sudo apt-get auto-remove && sudo apt-get clean && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

In this command, sudo gives you superuser privileges, apt-get auto-remove removes packages that were automatically installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and are now no longer needed. apt-get clean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files, apt-get update updates the package lists, and apt-get upgrade upgrades all upgradable packages.

Solution 2: Removing and Reinstalling initramfs-tools

If you have the initramfs-tools package installed, you can try removing it and then reinstalling it. Here are the commands:

sudo apt remove initramfs-tools
sudo apt clean
sudo apt install initramfs-tools

In these commands, apt remove uninstalls a software package, apt clean clears the local repository of retrieved package files, and apt install installs a new package.

Solution 3: Freeing Up Space in /boot

In some cases, the error may be caused by insufficient space in the /boot partition. You can check the available space using the df -h command. If the partition is full, you can free up space by removing old kernels or other unnecessary files.

Solution 4: Manually Removing and Reinstalling the Kernel Package

Another possible solution is to manually remove the problematic kernel package and then reinstall it. Here are the commands:

sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-4.15.0-47-generic.postinst
sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install linux-image-4.15.0-47-generic

In these commands, rm removes the post-installation script for the kernel package, dpkg --configure -a reconfigures the package, apt-get update updates the package lists, and apt install reinstalls the package.

Solution 5: Changing the Compression Algorithm

If none of the above solutions work, you can try switching the compression algorithm used by initramfs to create the initrd images. This can significantly reduce the size of the initrd images and potentially resolve the error. Here’s the command:

sudo nano /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf

In this file, change the value of COMPRESS to xz.

Conclusion

While these solutions may vary in effectiveness depending on your specific system configuration, they provide a starting point for troubleshooting the initramfs error. Always remember to backup important data and proceed with caution when making changes to your system. If you’re still experiencing issues, consider seeking help from the Ubuntu community or a professional Linux administrator.