---
layout: post
title: "Completely Remove Linux Kernels"
date: 2014-09-13 23:24:51 +0800
comments: true
categories: Linux
---
Background
---
I issued the following command and then rebooted the machine.
$ sudo aptitude remove linux-headers-3.2.0-67-generic-pae \
> linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pae linux-headers-3.13.0-33-generic \
> linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic linux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic
Problem
---
I checked the list of installed packages, and the above removed package was still there, though in the status of `rc`.[^1]
**How can that package disappear from the list?**
Solution
---
Use `purge` instead of `remove` in the above command.
owner@owner-Inspiron-560s:~$ sudo aptitude purge linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pa
e
[sudo] password for owner:
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pae{p}
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 0 B will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] Y
(Reading database ... 349931 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pae (3.2.0-67.101) ...
Purging configuration files for linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pae (3.2.0-67.101)
...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.2.0-67-generic-pae /
boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-67-generic-pae
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.2.0-67-generic-pae /
boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-67-generic-pae
owner@owner-Inspiron-560s:~$ sudo aptitude purge linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic l
inux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic
The following packages will be REMOVED:
linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic{p} linux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic{p}
0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B of archives. After unpacking 0 B will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] Y
(Reading database ... 349931 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic (3.13.0-33.58) ...
Purging configuration files for linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic (3.13.0-33.58) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.13.0-33-generic /boo
t/vmlinuz-3.13.0-33-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.13.0-33-generic /boot
/vmlinuz-3.13.0-33-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic (3.13.0-33.58) ...
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic (3.13.0-33.5
8) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 3.13.0-33-generic /boo
t/vmlinuz-3.13.0-33-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 3.13.0-33-generic /boot
/vmlinuz-3.13.0-33-generic
After running the above two commands, the above three removed Linux
kernel images with status `rc` *shouldn't* be seen in the list of
packages anymore.[^2]
---
[^1]: Click [here](#list1){:.cliwide} to view the terminal commands and output.
The **bold** lines represent the packages that are going to be
completely removed.
owner@owner-Inspiron-560s:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux
ii fonts-linuxlibertine 5.3.0-2 all Linux Libertine family of fonts
ii libselinux1:i386 2.2.2-1ubuntu0.1 i386 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii libv4l-0:i386 1.0.1-1 i386 Collection of video4linux support lib
raries
ii libv4lconvert0:i386 1.0.1-1 i386 Video4linux frame format conversion l
ibrary
ii linux-firmware 1.127.5 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Complete Generic Linux kernel and hea
ders
ii linux-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package.
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-34 3.13.0-34.60 all Header files related to Linux kernel
version 3.13.0
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel headers for version 3.13
.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-35 3.13.0-35.62 all Header files related to Linux kernel
version 3.13.0
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel headers for version 3.13
.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-headers-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package
rc linux-image-3.13.0-33-generic 3.13.0-33.58 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-3.2.0-67-generic-pae 3.2.0-67.101 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.2.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
rc linux-image-extra-3.13.0-33-generic 3.13.0-33.58 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for versio
n 3.13.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for versio
n 3.13.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for versio
n 3.13.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-image-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package
ii linux-libc-dev:i386 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux Kernel Headers for development
ii linux-sound-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4 all base package for ALSA and OSS sound s
ystems
ii pptp-linux 1.7.2-7 i386 Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PP
TP) Client
ii syslinux 3:4.05+dfsg-6+deb8u1 i386 collection of boot loaders
ii syslinux-common 3:4.05+dfsg-6+deb8u1 all collection of boot loaders (common fi
les)
ii syslinux-legacy 2:3.63+dfsg-2ubuntu5 i386 Bootloader for Linux/i386 using MS-DO
S floppies
ii util-linux 2.20.1-5.1ubuntu20.1 i386 Miscellaneous system utilities
There's *no* lines beginning with `rc`.
owner@owner-Inspiron-560s:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux
ii fonts-linuxlibertine 5.3.0-2 all Linux Libertine family of fonts
ii libselinux1:i386 2.2.2-1ubuntu0.1 i386 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii libv4l-0:i386 1.0.1-1 i386 Collection of video4linux support lib
raries
ii libv4lconvert0:i386 1.0.1-1 i386 Video4linux frame format conversion l
ibrary
ii linux-firmware 1.127.5 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Complete Generic Linux kernel and hea
ders
ii linux-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package.
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-34 3.13.0-34.60 all Header files related to Linux kernel
version 3.13.0
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel headers for version 3.13
.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-35 3.13.0-35.62 all Header files related to Linux kernel
version 3.13.0
ii linux-headers-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel headers for version 3.13
.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-headers-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package
ii linux-image-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel image for version 3.13.0
on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.13.0-34-generic 3.13.0-34.60 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for versio
n 3.13.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.13.0-35-generic 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for versio
n 3.13.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-generic 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-image-generic-pae 3.13.0.35.42 i386 Transitional package
ii linux-libc-dev:i386 3.13.0-35.62 i386 Linux Kernel Headers for development
ii linux-sound-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4 all base package for ALSA and OSS sound s
ystems
ii pptp-linux 1.7.2-7 i386 Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PP
TP) Client
ii syslinux 3:4.05+dfsg-6+deb8u1 i386 collection of boot loaders
ii syslinux-common 3:4.05+dfsg-6+deb8u1 all collection of boot loaders (common fi
les)
ii syslinux-legacy 2:3.63+dfsg-2ubuntu5 i386 Bootloader for Linux/i386 using MS-DO
S floppies
ii util-linux 2.20.1-5.1ubuntu20.1 i386 Miscellaneous system utilities