Public bug reported: I think I already figured out what went wrong. I'm using Ubuntu on a very old laptop with a non PAE Intel CPU. I found a workaround to enable PAE. For each update I have to use this workaround again, otherwise Ubuntu sees the CPU as non=PAE and installation fails. So it is not a problem with Ubuntu but with a non PAE CPU.
ProblemType: Package DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04 Package: linux-image-3.13.0-36-generic 3.13.0-36.63 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-36.63-generic 3.13.11.6 Uname: Linux 3.13.0-36-generic i686 ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.4 Architecture: i386 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC0: rene 1933 F.... pulseaudio Date: Wed Sep 24 15:58:05 2014 DuplicateSignature: package:linux-image-3.13.0-36-generic:3.13.0-36.63:subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1 ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1 HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=44ea4332-f75d-4f1d-b546-124e7b034a86 InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-06-22 (459 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423) IwConfig: lo no wireless extensions. eth0 no wireless extensions. Lsusb: Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub MachineType: Dell Computer Corporation Latitude D600 ProcFB: 0 radeondrmfb ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-36-generic root=UUID=e34bccae-fb5f-4135-bf3d-cc83a5f09494 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon. RelatedPackageVersions: grub-pc 2.02~beta2-9ubuntu1 RfKill: SourcePackage: linux Title: package linux-image-3.13.0-36-generic 3.13.0-36.63 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1 UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-08-16 (39 days ago) dmi.bios.date: 09/07/2004 dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation dmi.bios.version: A14 dmi.board.name: 0T9369 dmi.board.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation dmi.chassis.type: 8 dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellComputerCorporation:bvrA14:bd09/07/2004:svnDellComputerCorporation:pnLatitudeD600:pvr:rvnDellComputerCorporation:rn0T9369:rvr:cvnDellComputerCorporation:ct8:cvr: dmi.product.name: Latitude D600 dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation ** Affects: linux (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Tags: apport-package i386 trusty -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1373604 Title: package linux-image-3.13.0-36-generic 3.13.0-36.63 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1373604/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs