Ubuntu
terminal package

How to detect hidden kernels

Asked by MadhuSoodanan

After the installation of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS I faced some problems. When I selected some Recovery option in the GRUB I happened to see an old kernel version Linux 2. .... something. But I couldn't detect it clearly. That version is nowhere in Synaptic. In my 14.04 LTS had some errors messages at the beginning of each log-in. GRUB doesn't show that very old version. Is there any safe technique to DETECT and REMOVE it?

madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ uname -a
Linux madhu-desktop 4.4.0-21-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 18 18:34:49 UTC 2016 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.4.0-21-generic (buildd@lgw01-06) (gcc version 5.3.1 20160413 (Ubuntu 5.3.1-14ubuntu2) ) #37-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 18 18:34:49 UTC 2016
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$

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Manfred Hampl
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Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#1

What is the output of the commands

dpkg -l | grep ' linux-'
sudo update-grub
ls -l /boot

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#2

madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ dpkg -l | grep ' linux-'
ii linux-base 4.0ubuntu1 all Linux image base package
ii linux-firmware 1.157 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-generic 4.4.0.21.22 i386 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-21 4.4.0-21.37 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 4.4.0
ii linux-headers-4.4.0-21-generic 4.4.0-21.37 i386 Linux kernel headers for version 4.4.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 4.4.0.21.22 i386 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-image-4.4.0-21-generic 4.4.0-21.37 i386 Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-extra-4.4.0-21-generic 4.4.0-21.37 i386 Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 32 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-image-generic 4.4.0.21.22 i386 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-libc-dev:i386 4.4.0-21.37 i386 Linux Kernel Headers for development
ii linux-sound-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5 all base package for ALSA and OSS sound systems
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ sudo update-grub
[sudo] password for madhu:
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ ls -l /boot
total 45904
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1235761 Apr 19 03:19 abi-4.4.0-21-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 192900 Apr 19 03:19 config-4.4.0-21-generic
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 4096 Apr 30 21:55 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 35166975 Apr 23 08:04 initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 182704 Jan 28 18:14 memtest86+.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184380 Jan 28 18:14 memtest86+.elf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 184840 Jan 28 18:14 memtest86+_multiboot.bin
-rw------- 1 root root 3076741 Apr 19 03:19 System.map-4.4.0-21-generic
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6755552 Apr 21 03:54 vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#3

I do not see any trace of an old version 2.* kernel.

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#4

I am sure it was an old kernel version 2.2 (point some digits). It was a network option in the recovery mode, I think.

You may view the screenshot given in #7 in the following link just to verify a problem I face in 2 versions. (May be a particular case.)

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/1396198

If the checking is over I shall close this question.

Revision history for this message
Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#5

1. If cou could give details of the version number, it would be possible to do some searching, but without it is almost impossible.

Just a shot in the dark, what is the output of

sudo updatedb
locate 2.6.3

(one of the last kernels for lucid was 2.6.32-74-generic)

2. For the duplicates, what is the output of

ls /usr/share/applications

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#6

madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ sudo updatedb
[sudo] password for madhu:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for madhu:
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.6.3
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ ls /usr/share/applications
activity-log-manager.desktop nautilus-connect-server.desktop
apport-gtk.desktop nautilus.desktop
apturl.desktop nautilus-folder-handler.desktop
audacity.desktop nautilus-home.desktop
bamf-2.index nm-applet.desktop
banshee-audiocd.desktop nm-connection-editor.desktop
banshee.desktop onboard.desktop
banshee-media-player.desktop onboard-settings.desktop
bluetooth-sendto.desktop orca.desktop
checkbox-converged.desktop org.gnome.baobab.desktop
compiz.desktop org.gnome.Calendar.desktop
credentials-preferences.desktop org.gnome.DiskUtility.desktop
defaults.list org.gnome.FileRoller.desktop
deja-dup.desktop org.gnome.font-viewer.desktop
deja-dup-preferences.desktop org.gnome.gedit.desktop
display-im6.desktop org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop
display-im6.q16.desktop org.gnome.Screenshot.desktop
eog.desktop org.gnome.Software.desktop
evince.desktop org.gnome.Totem.desktop
evince-previewer.desktop python2.7.desktop
evolution-data-server-uoa.desktop python3.5.desktop
file-roller.desktop reboot.desktop
firefox.desktop seahorse.desktop
gcr-prompter.desktop shotwell.desktop
gcr-viewer.desktop shotwell-viewer.desktop
gedit.desktop shutdown.desktop
ghb.desktop shutter.desktop
gimp.desktop signon-ui.desktop
gkbd-keyboard-display.desktop smtube.desktop
gksu.desktop software-properties-drivers.desktop
gnome-calculator.desktop software-properties-gnome.desktop
gnome-disk-image-mounter.desktop software-properties-gtk.desktop
gnome-disk-image-writer.desktop soundconverter.desktop
gnome-power-statistics.desktop speedcrunch.desktop
gnome-session-properties.desktop synaptic.desktop
gnome-software-local-file.desktop system-config-printer.desktop
gnome-system-log.desktop tomboy.desktop
gnome-system-monitor.desktop totem.desktop
gnome-system-monitor-kde.desktop transmission-gtk.desktop
gnome-terminal.desktop unity-activity-log-manager-panel.desktop
gnome-user-share-properties.desktop unity-appearance-panel.desktop
gnome-user-share-webdav.desktop unity-bluetooth-panel.desktop
goldendict.desktop unity-color-panel.desktop
gparted.desktop unity-control-center.desktop
gucharmap.desktop unity-credentials-panel.desktop
hplj1020.desktop unity-datetime-panel.desktop
ibus-setup.desktop unity-deja-dup-panel.desktop
ibus-setup-table.desktop unity-display-panel.desktop
im-config.desktop unity-info-panel.desktop
kde4 unity-keyboard-panel.desktop
language-selector.desktop unity-lens-photos.desktop
libreoffice-calc.desktop unity-mouse-panel.desktop
libreoffice-draw.desktop unity-network-panel.desktop
libreoffice-impress.desktop unity-power-panel.desktop
libreoffice-math.desktop unity-region-panel.desktop
libreoffice-startcenter.desktop unity-scope-gdrive.desktop
libreoffice-writer.desktop unity-screen-panel.desktop
libreoffice-xsltfilter.desktop unity-sound-panel.desktop
logout.desktop unity-universal-access-panel.desktop
lxappearance.desktop unity-user-accounts-panel.desktop
mimeinfo.cache unity-wacom-panel.desktop
mono-runtime-common.desktop update-accounts.desktop
mono-runtime-terminal.desktop update-manager.desktop
mount-archive.desktop usb-creator-gtk.desktop
nautilus-autorun-software.desktop vlc.desktop
nautilus-classic.desktop yelp.desktop
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#8

You may verify this trial and error method

madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.1
/lib/firmware/cbfw-3.2.5.1.bin
/lib/firmware/ct2fw-3.2.5.1.bin
/lib/firmware/ctfw-3.2.5.1.bin
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgee-0.8.so.2.5.1
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.2
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.3
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.4
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.5
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.6
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.7
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.8
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$ locate 2.5.9
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/adc65.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/agfa_cl20.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/aox.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/ax203.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/barbie.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/canon.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/casio_qv.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/clicksmart310.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/digigr8.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/digita.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/dimagev.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/dimera3500.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/directory.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/enigma13.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/fuji.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/gsmart300.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/hp215.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/iclick.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/jamcam.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/jd11.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/jl2005a.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/jl2005c.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/kodak_dc120.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/kodak_dc210.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/kodak_dc240.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/kodak_dc3200.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/kodak_ez200.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica_qm150.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/largan.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/lg_gsm.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/mars.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/mustek.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/panasonic_coolshot.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/panasonic_dc1000.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/panasonic_dc1580.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/panasonic_l859.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/pccam300.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/pccam600.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/pentax.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/polaroid_pdc320.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/polaroid_pdc640.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/polaroid_pdc700.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/ptp2.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/ricoh.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/ricoh_g3.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/samsung.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sierra.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sipix_blink2.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sipix_web2.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/smal.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sonix.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sony_dscf1.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sony_dscf55.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/soundvision.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/spca50x.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sq905.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/st2205.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/stv0674.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/stv0680.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/sx330z.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/topfield.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/toshiba_pdrm11.so
/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgphoto2/2.5.9/tp6801.so
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/english
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/french
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/german
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/japanese
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/korean
/usr/share/libgphoto2/2.5.9/konica/spanish
madhu@madhu-desktop:~$

Revision history for this message
Best Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#9

1. all the files listed by the locate commands are from current packages (libgphoto2-6, linux-firmware) and they are not obsolete kernel files.

2. And for the duplicate display of icons with "nautilus /usr/share/applications" I have the following explanation:
Displaying that directory in nautilus is meaningless.
The *.desktop files in that directory are used by the desktop environment programs to show available applications.
Depending on the desktop environment that you use, different applications (or eventually the same applications but with different detail information) might be available.

If you inspect the files software-properties-gtk.desktop and software-properties-gnome.desktop you will see that they are nearly identical, with the main difference being, that one of them has "OnlyShowIn=GNOME" and the other one has "NotShowIn=GNOME"

This cares for displaying just one (and the right one) when using the Dash, or whatever mechanism the desktop environment offers for selecting applications.

As already told, displaying the whole directory in nautilus is meaningless, because you get a mix of applications (or application details) for different desktop environments.

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#10

Thank you very much for clarifying my 2 doubts.

Revision history for this message
MadhuSoodanan (mt-madhu) said : 		#11

Thanks Manfred Hampl, that solved my question.