I’ve found myself in a bit of a pickle after updating to kernel version 6.8.0-45 on Ubuntu 22.04. Now, my system is throwing a tantrum and giving me a kernel panic every time I try to boot up. It’s super frustrating! I tried to remove the troublesome kernel, but that didn’t seem to make any difference. I’m not sure what to do next.
I’ve read a bunch of guides, and while they all suggest some common troubleshooting steps—like booting into recovery mode or trying to use an older kernel—I’m still stuck in this loop of chaos. It feels like I’ve tried everything from checking my boot parameters to running filesystem checks. I even tried updating GRUB and rebuilding the initramfs, but alas, no luck.
I’m not the most advanced user, but I’m comfortable tinkering around, so I’m open to suggestions. Has anyone else faced something similar after a kernel update? What worked for you? I’m hoping to avoid a complete reinstall because that would be a total hassle, and I really don’t want to lose my files.
If anyone’s got some practical advice on how to further troubleshoot this kernel panic, I’d really appreciate it. Could it be related to specific drivers or settings that are messing things up? Or is there a way to manually boot using a previous kernel version if the standard methods aren’t working? Also, would using a Live USB be a good option to access my files in case things go south?
I feel kind of lost here, and any guidance would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for your help!
Kernel panics following a kernel update can be quite distressing, especially when you’ve exhausted many standard troubleshooting methods. Since you’ve already attempted recovery mode and using older kernels without success, it might be worthwhile to further investigate driver-related issues. It’s common for kernel updates to introduce incompatibilities with certain drivers, particularly third-party ones (such as proprietary GPU drivers). If you have access to the GRUB menu during boot (usually by holding Shift or pressing Esc), you can try the “Advanced options for Ubuntu” to boot into a previous kernel and then remove any recently installed drivers that could be causing the problem using the terminal in recovery mode. Another option is to check your `/etc/default/grub` file for any suspicious boot parameters that might be affecting boot behavior, such as `quiet` or `splash`, and modifying them to add `nomodeset` or other options that can help bypass driver initialization issues.
If you find you’re still unable to boot effectively, using a Live USB is indeed a prudent next step. This allows you to access your files safely and create backups before attempting more invasive repairs. Additionally, from the Live USB environment, you can access your system’s partitions and attempt to chroot into your installed system to try reinstalling the kernel or even the entire GRUB setup. To do this, mount your root filesystem and run a series of commands to bind mount necessary sys, proc, and dev directories before chrooting into your system. Lastly, consider the possibility of hardware issues if the kernel panic persists, running diagnostic tools available in the Live environment to check RAM or storage health. Staying methodical in your approach will help you identify and resolve the root cause of the kernel panic effectively.
Sounds like you’re in a tough spot with that kernel panic! Kernel updates can be pretty hit or miss sometimes, especially if there are issues with drivers or other components. Here’s a few things you might wanna try out:
Shiftkey (if you’re using BIOS) orEsc(for UEFI). This should bring up the GRUB menu. From there, you can try booting with an older kernel version if it’s listed.and
again just to be sure.
It’s not uncommon for kernel updates to mess with things, so you’re definitely not alone in this! Take your time with each step, and hopefully, one of these methods helps you out. If all else fails, don’t worry too much! Ubuntu forums and community spaces can be really helpful. Just be careful with your files, and good luck!