my boot grub is full again. how can i get rid of the junk

Hi Gabi. I think it could be problem related with the Linux kernel packages. Please check/show us a results of the 'dpkg -l |grep linux-image' [1] command (run without quotes!).
Best regards.
_____________
[1] it could be also 'dpkg -l |grep linux-image |wc -l' command.

Have you tried going through this procedure again?

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/232872

Uninstall old kernels. Why are you using a separate /boot partition? It is not needed now.

Dear Gabrielle,
The problem is not "to stop all the new stuff from downloading". These are regular error corrections priovided for download, and you should not prevent them from installing. The solution to your problem must be that whenever you get a new kernel update installed, you have to remove the older version that is now obsolete.

Please open a terminal ad issue the following commands:

df -h
df -i
ls -l /boot
dpkg -l | grep linux-image
dpkg -l | grep linux-head

Then copy/paste all output, using the same process as half a year ago for https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/232872

i-Q500A:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/ubuntu-root 682G 5.0G 643G 1% /
udev 2.9G 4.0K 2.9G 1% /dev
tmpfs 1.2G 856K 1.2G 1% /run
none 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock
none 2.9G 148K 2.9G 1% /run/shm
none 100M 16K 100M 1% /run/user
/dev/sda1 228M 197M 20M 92% /boot
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$ df -i
Filesystem Inodes IUsed IFree IUse% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/ubuntu-root 45383680 216587 45167093 1% /
udev 747771 523 747248 1% /dev
tmpfs 750168 450 749718 1% /run
none 750168 4 750164 1% /run/lock
none 750168 5 750163 1% /run/shm
none 750168 14 750154 1% /run/user
/dev/sda1 124496 297 124199 1% /boot
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$ ls -l /boot
total 196913
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 852420 Jun 19 2013 abi-3.5.0-36-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 852910 Jul 8 2013 abi-3.5.0-37-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853021 Aug 13 14:56 abi-3.5.0-39-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853195 Aug 21 21:21 abi-3.5.0-40-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853336 Sep 11 12:02 abi-3.5.0-41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853336 Oct 1 20:00 abi-3.5.0-42-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853401 Oct 23 08:25 abi-3.5.0-43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 853401 Nov 12 14:59 abi-3.5.0-44-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148133 Jun 19 2013 config-3.5.0-36-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Jul 8 2013 config-3.5.0-37-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Aug 13 14:56 config-3.5.0-39-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Aug 21 21:21 config-3.5.0-40-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Sep 11 12:02 config-3.5.0-41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Oct 1 20:00 config-3.5.0-42-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Oct 23 08:25 config-3.5.0-43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 148148 Nov 12 14:59 config-3.5.0-44-generic
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 1024 Dec 3 14:16 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 15957370 Aug 5 11:18 initrd.img-3.5.0-36-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16019255 Aug 5 11:18 initrd.img-3.5.0-37-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16020346 Aug 24 11:39 initrd.img-3.5.0-39-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16020154 Sep 8 12:03 initrd.img-3.5.0-40-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16020609 Sep 29 10:47 initrd.img-3.5.0-41-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16021671 Oct 28 11:05 initrd.img-3.5.0-42-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16019924 Nov 11 16:59 initrd.img-3.5.0-43-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 16022102 Dec 3 14:16 initrd.img-3.5.0-44-generic
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 12288 Feb 22 2013 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 176764 Jan 3 2013 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 178944 Jan 3 2013 memtest86+_multiboot.bin
-rw------- 1 root root 2902541 Jun 19 2013 System.map-3.5.0-36-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2902836 Jul 8 2013 System.map-3.5.0-37-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2903704 Aug 13 14:56 System.map-3.5.0-39-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2904355 Aug 21 21:21 System.map-3.5.0-40-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2904635 Sep 11 12:02 System.map-3.5.0-41-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2904635 Oct 1 20:00 System.map-3.5.0-42-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2904657 Oct 23 08:25 System.map-3.5.0-43-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 2904678 Nov 12 14:59 System.map-3.5.0-44-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5129680 Jun 19 2013 vmlinuz-3.5.0-36-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5130320 Jul 8 2013 vmlinuz-3.5.0-37-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5131856 Aug 13 14:56 vmlinuz-3.5.0-39-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5133136 Aug 21 21:21 vmlinuz-3.5.0-40-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5133360 Sep 11 12:02 vmlinuz-3.5.0-41-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5133360 Oct 1 20:00 vmlinuz-3.5.0-42-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5133328 Oct 23 08:25 vmlinuz-3.5.0-43-generic
-rw------- 1 root root 5135056 Nov 12 14:59 vmlinuz-3.5.0-44-generic
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux-image
ii linux-image-3.5.0-36-generic 3.5.0-36.57 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-37-generic 3.5.0-37.58 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-39-generic 3.5.0-39.60 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-40-generic 3.5.0-40.62 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-41-generic 3.5.0-41.64 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-42-generic 3.5.0-42.65 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-43-generic 3.5.0-43.66 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-3.5.0-44-generic 3.5.0-44.67 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-36-generic 3.5.0-36.57 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-37-generic 3.5.0-37.58 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-39-generic 3.5.0-39.60 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-40-generic 3.5.0-40.62 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-41-generic 3.5.0-41.64 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-42-generic 3.5.0-42.65 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-43-generic 3.5.0-43.66 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-3.5.0-44-generic 3.5.0-44.67 amd64 Linux kernel image for version 3.5.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-generic 3.5.0.44.60 amd64 Generic Linux kernel image
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$ dpkg -l | grep linux-head
ii linux-headers-3.5.0-17 3.5.0-17.28 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 3.5.0
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$
gabi@gabi-Q500A:~$

sudo apt-get --purge remove  linux-image-3.5.0-3*

sudo apt-get --purge autoremove

Will clear lots of space.

Thank you again so much!! Problem solved!!!! I've saved the commands for next time.

Thank you,

Gabrielle Grower

Dear Gabrielle, I am sorry that I have to disillusion you a bit.

The command that actionparsnip has given, helped well in the current situation, but it will not solve similar problems in future (because the numbers of the packages to remove will be different).

I recommand that you install ubuntu-tweak and use it regularly (say once a month) to check if there are old kernels shown in the janitor, and then remove them.

open a terminal and issue the following commands for installation (only needed once):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Then start ubuntu-tweak, switch to the 'Janitor' tab, click on 'Old kernel' in the left column and finally select all old kernels and header files on the right hand side (maybe except the ones with the highest number for backup purposes) and finally start the real cleanup.

see also http://www.liberiangeek.net/2012/10/remove-old-kernels-from-ubuntu-12-10-with-ubuntu-tweak/

Manfred,

Everything went well until I closed the computer. When it came on today all I get is the Asus black page, and then the MEMTEST86, V4.20. And it never goes off! I can't boot up at all. Help!!!!!

Gabrielle Grower

<email address hidden>

-----Original Message-----
From: Manfred Hampl <email address hidden>
To: ggrower123 <email address hidden>
Sent: Fri, Jan 10, 2014 2:36 am
Subject: Re: [Question #241917]: my boot grub is full again. how can i get rid of the junk

Your question #241917 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/241917

Manfred Hampl posted a new comment:
Dear Gabrielle, I am sorry that I have to disillusion you a bit.

The command that actionparsnip has given, helped well in the current
situation, but it will not solve similar problems in future (because the
numbers of the packages to remove will be different).

I recommand that you install ubuntu-tweak and use it regularly (say once
a month) to check if there are old kernels shown in the janitor, and
then remove them.

open a terminal and issue the following commands for installation (only needed
once):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Then start ubuntu-tweak, switch to the 'Janitor' tab, click on 'Old
kernel' in the left column and finally select all old kernels and header
files on the right hand side (maybe except the ones with the highest
number for backup purposes) and finally start the real cleanup.

see also http://www.liberiangeek.net/2012/10/remove-old-kernels-from-
ubuntu-12-10-with-ubuntu-tweak/

--
You received this question notification because you asked the question.

It might be that you have erroneously deinstalled _all_ kernel packages instead of all but the current one or two.

Just to re-check:
When you boot your computer, for a short period you see an ASUS welcome screen, and the next thing you see is a screen with "Grub ..." in the title, and a selection possibility that shows only memtest and nothing about Ubuntu?
Is that the case?

Yes Manfred,

What have I done?

Gabrielle

It seems that you by error have deinstalled all versions of the kernel package, instead of keeping the newest one or two. You are not the first person who did that.
For repairing that, you have to do parts of a re-installation of Ubuntu. For that task you need an Ubuntu installation kit.
Do you have an Ubuntu installation DVD available, or an USB stick with the installation kit?
Do you have much personal data on the Ubuntu system that you want not to lose?
In one of your other question documents you wrote about "a guy named eric put Ubuntu 12.10 ony my computer at a computer shop". Do you see the possibility to ask for professional (and probably to be paid) support?

Thank you Manfred. I ordered a 12.04 installation disc on ebay, and when it arrives, I will have have it put on professionally>

Thanks for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gabrielle Grower