[Solved] F-U failed today on my laptop

[micspabo]

Today full-upgrade failed and I have no clue how to deal with it. The Summary looked very harmless to me.

Code Select Expand


# apt full-upgrade
Upgrading:                     
  at-spi2-common             busybox                    libauthen-sasl-perl   libbinutils             libsframe3
  at-spi2-core               gir1.2-atk-1.0             libavahi-client3      libbrotli1              libxdamage1
  avahi-daemon               gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0  libavahi-common-data  libctf-nobfd0           pci.ids
  avahi-utils                guestfs-tools              libavahi-common3      libctf0                 python3-brotli
  binutils                   libatk-bridge2.0-0t64      libavahi-core7        libgprofng0             supermin
  binutils-common            libatk1.0-0t64             libavahi-glib1        libjs-underscore
  binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu  libatspi2.0-0t64           libavahi-gobject0     libpackagekit-glib2-18

Summary:
  Upgrading: 33, Installing: 0, Removing: 0, Not Upgrading: 0
  Download size: 13,6 MB
  Space needed: 1.415 kB / 606 GB available

Continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 at-spi2-common all 2.59.1-1 [174 kB]
Get:2 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 gir1.2-atk-1.0 amd64 2.59.1-1 [26,5 kB]
Get:3 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libatk-bridge2.0-0t64 amd64 2.59.1-1 [70,2 kB]
Get:4 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libatk1.0-0t64 amd64 2.59.1-1 [53,0 kB]
Get:5 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 at-spi2-core amd64 2.59.1-1 [62,8 kB]
Get:6 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libatspi2.0-0t64 amd64 2.59.1-1 [82,0 kB]
Get:7 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-gobject0 amd64 0.8-18 [39,8 kB]
Get:8 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-glib1 amd64 0.8-18 [30,4 kB]
Get:9 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 avahi-utils amd64 0.8-18 [47,6 kB]
Get:10 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 avahi-daemon amd64 0.8-18 [84,8 kB]
Get:11 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-core7 amd64 0.8-18 [109 kB]
Get:12 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-client3 amd64 0.8-18 [49,2 kB]
Get:13 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-common3 amd64 0.8-18 [45,2 kB]
Get:14 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libavahi-common-data amd64 0.8-18 [113 kB]
Get:15 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libgprofng0 amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [821 kB]
Get:16 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libctf0 amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [92,2 kB]
Get:17 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libctf-nobfd0 amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [160 kB]
Get:18 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 binutils amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [282 kB]
Get:19 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [1.063 kB]
Get:20 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libbinutils amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [549 kB]
Get:21 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 binutils-common amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [2.545 kB]
Get:22 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libsframe3 amd64 2.45.90.20260201-1 [84,5 kB]
Get:23 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 busybox amd64 1:1.37.0-9 [485 kB]
Get:24 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libpackagekit-glib2-18 amd64 1.3.4-3 [118 kB]
Get:25 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0 amd64 1.3.4-3 [27,5 kB]
Get:26 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 guestfs-tools amd64 1.52.3-3.1 [4.799 kB]
Get:27 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libauthen-sasl-perl all 2.2000-1 [50,2 kB]
Get:28 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libbrotli1 amd64 1.2.0-1 [308 kB]
Get:29 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libjs-underscore all 1.13.7~dfsg+~1.13.0-6 [84,4 kB]
Get:30 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 libxdamage1 amd64 1:1.1.7-1 [16,0 kB]
Get:31 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 pci.ids all 0.0~2026.01.31-1 [278 kB]
Get:32 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 python3-brotli amd64 1.2.0-1 [330 kB]
Get:33 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 supermin amd64 5.2.2-7.1 [559 kB]
Fetched 13,6 MB in 1s (24,1 MB/s)
Retrieving bug reports... Done
Parsing Found/Fixed information... Done
Reading changelogs... Done
Extracting templates from packages: 100%
(Reading database... 359723 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../00-at-spi2-common_2.59.1-1_all.deb...
Unpacking at-spi2-common (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../01-gir1.2-atk-1.0_2.59.1-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking gir1.2-atk-1.0:amd64 (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../02-libatk-bridge2.0-0t64_2.59.1-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libatk-bridge2.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../03-libatk1.0-0t64_2.59.1-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libatk1.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../04-at-spi2-core_2.59.1-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking at-spi2-core (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../05-libatspi2.0-0t64_2.59.1-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libatspi2.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1) over (2.59.0-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../06-libavahi-gobject0_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-gobject0:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../07-libavahi-glib1_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-glib1:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../08-avahi-utils_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking avahi-utils (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../09-avahi-daemon_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking avahi-daemon (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../10-libavahi-core7_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-core7:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../11-libavahi-client3_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-client3:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../12-libavahi-common3_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-common3:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../13-libavahi-common-data_0.8-18_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libavahi-common-data:amd64 (0.8-18) over (0.8-17+b1)...
Preparing to unpack .../14-libgprofng0_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libgprofng0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../15-libctf0_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libctf0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../16-libctf-nobfd0_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libctf-nobfd0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../17-binutils_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking binutils (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../18-binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../19-libbinutils_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libbinutils:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../20-binutils-common_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking binutils-common:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../21-libsframe3_2.45.90.20260201-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libsframe3:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1) over (2.45.90.20260125-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../22-busybox_1%3a1.37.0-9_amd64.deb...
Unpacking busybox (1:1.37.0-9) over (1:1.37.0-7)...
Preparing to unpack .../23-libpackagekit-glib2-18_1.3.4-3_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libpackagekit-glib2-18:amd64 (1.3.4-3) over (1.3.4-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../24-gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0_1.3.4-3_amd64.deb...
Unpacking gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0 (1.3.4-3) over (1.3.4-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../25-guestfs-tools_1.52.3-3.1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking guestfs-tools (1.52.3-3.1) over (1.52.3-3)...
Preparing to unpack .../26-libauthen-sasl-perl_2.2000-1_all.deb...
Unpacking libauthen-sasl-perl (2.2000-1) over (2.1900-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../27-libbrotli1_1.2.0-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libbrotli1:amd64 (1.2.0-1) over (1.1.0-2+b9)...
Preparing to unpack .../28-libjs-underscore_1.13.7~dfsg+~1.13.0-6_all.deb...
Unpacking libjs-underscore (1.13.7~dfsg+~1.13.0-6) over (1.13.7~dfsg+~1.13.0-5)...
Preparing to unpack .../29-libxdamage1_1%3a1.1.7-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking libxdamage1:amd64 (1:1.1.7-1) over (1:1.1.6-1+b3)...
Preparing to unpack .../30-pci.ids_0.0~2026.01.31-1_all.deb...
Unpacking pci.ids (0.0~2026.01.31-1) over (0.0~2025.12.16-1)...
Preparing to unpack .../31-python3-brotli_1.2.0-1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking python3-brotli (1.2.0-1) over (1.1.0-2+b9)...
Preparing to unpack .../32-supermin_5.2.2-7.1_amd64.deb...
Unpacking supermin (5.2.2-7.1) over (5.2.2-7)...
Setting up pci.ids (0.0~2026.01.31-1)...
Setting up libxdamage1:amd64 (1:1.1.7-1)...
Setting up libauthen-sasl-perl (2.2000-1)...
Setting up libbrotli1:amd64 (1.2.0-1)...
Setting up binutils-common:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up libsframe3:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up libctf-nobfd0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up libpackagekit-glib2-18:amd64 (1.3.4-3)...
Setting up gir1.2-packagekitglib-1.0 (1.3.4-3)...
Setting up busybox (1:1.37.0-9)...
Setting up python3-brotli (1.2.0-1)...
Setting up libavahi-common-data:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up libatspi2.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up at-spi2-common (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up guestfs-tools (1.52.3-3.1)...
Setting up libbinutils:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up supermin (5.2.2-7.1)...
Setting up libjs-underscore (1.13.7~dfsg+~1.13.0-6)...
Setting up libctf0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up libatk1.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up gir1.2-atk-1.0:amd64 (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up libavahi-common3:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up libgprofng0:amd64 (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up at-spi2-core (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up libavahi-glib1:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up libavahi-core7:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up libavahi-client3:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up libatk-bridge2.0-0t64:amd64 (2.59.1-1)...
Setting up libavahi-gobject0:amd64 (0.8-18)...
Setting up binutils (2.45.90.20260201-1)...
Setting up avahi-daemon (0.8-18)...
avahi-daemon.service is a disabled or a static unit not running, not starting it.
avahi-daemon.socket is a disabled or a static unit not running, not starting it.
Setting up avahi-utils (0.8-18)...
Processing triggers for dbus (1.16.2-3)...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.150)...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
E: busybox or busybox-static is required but not installed
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64 with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
old initramfs-tools package postinst maintainer script subprocess failed with exit status 1
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.42-11)...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1)...
Errors were encountered while processing:
initramfs-tools
Config is in use.
needrestart is being skipped since dpkg has failed
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)


The message seams wrong to me, as busybox is installed.

Code Select Expand


# dpkg -l | grep ii | grep busybox
ii  busybox  1:1.37.0-9  amd64  Tiny utilities for small and embedded systems


I tried:

Code Select Expand


# update-initramfs -u -k all
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
E: busybox or busybox-static is required but not installed
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64 with 1.


but got the same error.
Any idea how I could get the cow off the ice? I did not try to reboot in this situation yet... Thanks.

[devil]

Did you try to install busybox-static, followed by

Code Select Expand

sudo dpkg --configure -a and

Code Select Expand

sudo update-initramfs -u -k 6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64?

[micspabo]

When I try to replace busybox with busybox-static it failed.

Code Select Expand


# apt install busybox-static
Installing:                     
  busybox-static

REMOVING:
  busybox

Summary:
  Upgrading: 0, Installing: 1, Removing: 1, Not Upgrading: 0
  1 not fully installed or removed.
  Download size: 961 kB
  Space needed: 1.239 kB / 607 GB available

Continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 https://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 busybox-static amd64 1:1.37.0-9 [961 kB]
Fetched 961 kB in 0s (5.978 kB/s)     
Retrieving bug reports... Done
Parsing Found/Fixed information... Done
dpkg: busybox: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you requested:
cryptsetup-initramfs depends on busybox | busybox-static; however:
  Package busybox is to be removed.
  Package busybox-static is not installed.

(Reading database... 359711 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing busybox (1:1.37.0-9)...
Selecting previously unselected package busybox-static.
(Reading database... 359702 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../busybox-static_1%3a1.37.0-9_amd64.deb...
Unpacking busybox-static (1:1.37.0-9)...
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.150)...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up busybox-static (1:1.37.0-9)...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1)...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.150)...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
E: busybox or busybox-static is required but not installed
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64 with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
old initramfs-tools package postinst maintainer script subprocess failed with exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
initramfs-tools
Config is in use.
needrestart is being skipped since dpkg has failed
Error: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)


[micspabo]

Did you try to install busybox-static, followed by

Code Select Expand

sudo dpkg --configure -a and

Code Select Expand

sudo update-initramfs -u -k 6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64?

Code Select Expand


# dpkg --configure -a
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.150)...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.150)...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
E: busybox or busybox-static is required but not installed
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64 with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
old initramfs-tools package postinst maintainer script subprocess failed with exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
initramfs-tools


Code Select Expand


# update-initramfs -u -k 6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
E: busybox or busybox-static is required but not installed
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64 with 1.


[eriefisher]

The error I just got.

Code Select Expand

important bugs of busybox (1:1.37.0-7 → 1:1.37.0-9) <Outstanding>
b1 - #1126809 - busybox breaks mkinitramfs
b2 - #1126810 - busybox versions 1:1.37.0-8 and 1:1.37.0-9 removed $BUSYBOXDIR stating that initramfs-tools no longer use it, however initramfs-tools depends on initramfs-tools-core which still checks for and uses it in /usr/sbin/mkinitramfs
Summary:
busybox(2 bugs)
Are you sure you want to install/upgrade the above packages? [Y/n/?/...]
I aborted the D-U

[micspabo]

 

Although I have apt-listbugs installed, I didn't get that message.

Code Select Expand


# dpkg -l | grep ii | grep apt-listbugs
ii  apt-listbugs                                 0.1.47                                all          tool which lists critical bugs before each APT installation


Code Select Expand


# apt-listbugs list busybox
Retrieving bug reports... Done
Parsing Found/Fixed information... Done


Code Select Expand


# apt-listbugs list busybox-static
Retrieving bug reports... Done
Parsing Found/Fixed information... Done


[piper]

Code Select Expand

apt purge initramfs-tools

worked for me

[eriefisher]

Bug report from today.

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1126810

[eriefisher]

Code Select Expand

apt purge initramfs-tools

worked for me

Did it bring in dracut etc?

[piper]

Code Select Expand

apt purge initramfs-tools

worked for me

Did it bring in dracut etc?

yes

[terroreek]

I was able to work around it by downgrading busybox, by

Code Select Expand

dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/busybox_1%3a1.37.0-7_amd64.deb
then this command to finish all the failed upgrade

Code Select Expand

apt -f install

Worked for me.

[eriefisher]

Dracut is also listing some bugs:

Code Select Expand

important bugs of dracut-core (→ 109-11) <Outstanding>
b1 - #1095646 - dracut-core: Shipping /usr/lib/kernel/install.d/50-dracut.install causes two initrds to be installed on kernel postinst
b2 - #1108404 - dracut-core: Emergency shell does not work due to locked root user
b3 - #1110250 - Emergency shell is inaccessible: "Cannot open access to console, the root account is locked."
b4 - #1121043 - overlayfs module fails to mount an overlay over a BTRFS filesystem, breaking live boot
important bugs of dracut (→ 109-11) <Outstanding>
b5 - #1073825 - dracut: manual dracut creates initramfs-*.img files, post-install hook does initrd.img-*
b6 - #1074609 - dracut: fails to install cryptsetup (lvm-on-luks)
b7 - #1078545 - multipathd.socket may lack Conflicts= lines
b8 - #1103457 - Unable to boot LUKS-encrypted system
b9 - #997827 - dracut: /usr/lib/dracut/dracut-install ommit dependancies in .so
important bugs of dracut (→ 109-11) <Resolved in some Version>
b10 - #1078792 - unbootable system after installing dracut on a standard Debian installation - #2 (Fixed: dracut/105-1 dracut/105-2~exp1 dracut/105-2~exp2 dracut/105-2~exp3 dracut/105-2~exp4 dracut/105-2~exp5 dracut/105-2~exp6 dracut/105-2~exp7 dracut/105-2~exp8)
Summary:
dracut-core(4 bugs), dracut(6 bugs)
Are you sure you want to install/upgrade the above packages? [Y/n/?/...]

[alexsid]

Hi all! I got the same error.
What to do? Shall we wait for the fix (the bug is known and registered)?

[eriefisher]

Looks like the bug was just filed today so I'm going to wait myself.

[micspabo]

Code Select Expand

apt purge initramfs-tools

worked for me

Thanks,- I really thought I worked for me too. 

Code Select Expand


# apt purge initramfs-tools
  Suggested packages:
    dracut-network  isomd5sum  kpartx  systemd-cryptsetup

# apt install dracut-network systemd-cryptsetup
  Suggested packages:
    iscsiuio
  Recommended packages:
    nbd-client

# apt autopurge
  REMOVING:                       
    initramfs-tools-bin*  initramfs-tools-core*  klibc-utils*  libklibc*
  Summary:
    Upgrading: 0, Installing: 0, Removing: 4, Not Upgrading: 0

# update-initramfs -u -k all
  update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.8-1-siduction-amd64
  update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-6.18.7-1-siduction-amd64