Ubuntu on a flash drive - upgrading the kernel

solution 1

http://ubuntuguide.net/ubuntu-11-04-upgrade-linux-kernel-to-2-6-39-0

This is a frequent screen frozen issue, and it’s said has something to do with the kernel. Default kernel come with Ubuntu 11.04 is 2.6.38-8, and here’s how to upgrade to Linux kernel 2.6.39-0.
Update: Kernel-ppa currently is down, there’s no kernel packages. Before adding the ppa check ppa:kernel-ppa/ppa.
As an alternative, you can download latest kernel packages from

http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

Press Ctrl+Alt+T to start a terminal window, and do following steps:
1.) Add the kernel ppa and update your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kernel-ppa/ppa

sudo apt-get update

2.) Check available kernels with the command:

apt-cache showpkg linux-headers

kernel 2.6.39.0 should be in list.

3.) Run the command to install kernel 2.6.39.0:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.39-0 linux-headers-2.6.39-0-generic linux-image-2.6.39-0-generic --fix-missing

solution 2

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/debian-26/solved-upgrade-error-sub-process-usr-bin-dpkg-returned-an-error-code-1-a-706420/ 

 If you have more than 1 kernel installed try removing (using synaptic or
 apt-get) all kernels but the newest. After that do the dist-upgrade 
once more.


If it doesn't work boot from a livecd and resize your /boot partition into at least 100 mb.

(But how cant I resize a usb stick /boot partition?) 

or:

 This worked! I was back in business after doing:

 apt-cache showpkg linux-headers 

and identify the olders kernels and remove them:

$ sudo apt-get remove linux-image-2.6.18*

upgrade ubuntu

$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
   
   see also: http://kernel.org/

solution 3 

see more about ubuntu tweak on: 

http://blog.ubuntu-tweak.com/2011/12/23/ubuntu-tweak-0-6-0-released.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ubuntu-tweak+%28Ubuntu+Tweak%29 

and: 

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu-tweak/+download

Removing Kernels via Synaptic 

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1587462 

 First, determine which kernel you are using:

Code:

uname -r

Open Synaptic via System > Administration > Synaptic; or

Code:

gksu synaptic

Search for the kernels by typing linux-image in the upper right search box.

• The kernels are those that being with "linux-image".
  • Example: linux-image-2.6.32-24, linux-image-2.6.32-24-generic.
  • The older kernels will have lower ending numbers. linux-image-2.6.32-23 is older than linux-image-2.6.32-24
• Those with green selection boxes are currently installed.

Remove unused kernels as you would any other package by right clicking the package and selecting the desired option.

You can also remove the associated linux-headers and linux-restricted-modules-... for the earlier versions. Example: linux-headers-2.6.32-23

Hint: An easy way to find all the installed kernels, headers and modules for a given kernel is to type the main kernel version (2.6.XX) into the top search bar. Click on the top left column status entry in the package window to bring the installed packages (green boxed) to the top of the list.

When you delete a an older kernel via synaptic the kernel is removed from the computer and more disk space is freed up. The grub configuration file (grub.cfg) is updated and the deleted kernel will no longer be displayed on the menu. Make sure you are satisfied with the performance of newly-released kernels before deleting older ones.

 4. http://askubuntu.com/questions/183825/i-have-6-updates-that-wont-install-on-ubuntu-12-04

(if there is this message after execute part 3.: "linux-image-3.2.0-29-generic-pae: subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1 "

All the errors says it could not find a file, that is /usr/sbin/update-initramfs
Now I executed the following command to find out which package was expected to provide that file and here is the output

$ dpkg -S /usr/sbin/update-initramfs
initramfs-tools: /usr/sbin/update-initramfs

So would you please try installing package initramfs-tools and re-run the updates. To check if the package already present.

sudo dpkg -l |grep initramfs-tools

Then to install initramfs-tools (if not found)

sudo apt-get install initramfs-tools

Then repeat the install process using sudo apt-get update or other commands.
I am keen to know if this helped you to tide over the problem.

or try

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in such cases; that is, when regular upgrade via Update Manager or sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade leaves some packages out --- particularly "linux-something" packages (those are kernel updates).