Removing excess old GRUB entries

Each Linux upgrade (as common as Windows updates, these days) results in another two options in the GRUB boot menu, one for the new version and one for the 'recovery mode' for that version. The old versions are left there in case there is a problem with the new version and you need to go back. But eventually, the list gets so long with old versions that it is silly. To remove excess versions:

• make a note of the top 3 versions: we won't delete them just in case. This means six entries, for example:
  

Linux 3.0.0-17-generic

Linux 3.0.0-17-generic (recovery mode)

Linux 3.0.0-12-generic

Linux 3.0.0-12-generic (recovery mode)

Linux 2.6.32-40-generic

Linux 2.6.32-40-generic (recovery mode)

• If you have more than one Linux partition, don't get confused.

• Load the Synaptic Package Manager. Choose a Status of Installed and a search for linux-image. Sort the list by Package and you will see the list of versions installed. Highlight all the versions older than the 3 you recorded above and choose Mark for Complete Removal. You are perfectly capable of deleting the current Ubuntu version using this tool, so do be careful.

• Repeat this process for linux-header.

In doing this I saved 13% of the disk space on my old PC, and on my netbook freed up 2.2 Gb being 5% of the disk space. On another netbook, 3.5Gb was freed up.

Also, the PAE versions are only required if working on a 32-bit system with more than 4 GB of RAM. if working on a 64 bit system, or with up to 4BG of RAM, the PAE version is not the required one.