Kernel panic trying to boot 4.4.0-146-generic after apt upgrade on 16.04.6

Question

I can't boot the 4.4.0-146-generic kernel because of a kernel panic. I'm running 16.04.6 on an Intel Core i7-7500U CPU @ 2.70GHz × 4. See image below:

Answer 1

Try to boot your Linux from the live CD/DVD, into the recovery mode prompt, then check your root fs, e.g.

fsck /dev/your_drive

^{Note: Add -y to fix any errors automatically.}

Or:

chroot /mnt/sysimage
fsck -y /dev/mapper/dom0_root

Source: Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block.

Answer 2

The usual cause can be:

• Broken grub config.
• Root partition not flagged as bootable.
• Bad installation (initramfs lacks or uses modules of another kernel version).
• Bad RAM, try replacing. See: Random Kernel Panic on boot - not syncing.

You can try to fix your Grub record by:

1. Mount your LXLE /boot partition (for instance at /mnt/boot).
2. Install Grub bootloader by: grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sdX
3. Then run: grub-mkconfig -o /mnt/boot/grub/grub.cfg.
4. Optionally, if it fails to detect your other system, edit grub.cfg file manually.

Source: Kernel Panic on first boot.

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See also:

• Error at startup on Linux after computer shutdown during Ubuntu 18 update