ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1: ndiswrapper kernel module failed to build [Cannot find kernel build files in ... Please give the path to kernel build directory with the KBUILD=<path> argument to make]

I have no idea what that means

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

So do folks experiencing this bug have the linux-headers-generic package installed?
Since kernel headers are no longer installed by default, maybe ndiswrapper needs to depend on that package explicitly.

[Expired for ndiswrapper (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

This effects all recent kernels, where $KBUILD/include/linux/version.h has been moved to $KBUILD/include/generated/uapi/linux/version.h ... it looks like newer versions have been patched to handle this:
https://github.com/Rogentos/argent-gentoo/blob/master/net-wireless/ndiswrapper/files/ndiswrapper-1.58_rc1-linux-3.7.patch

The problem also affects the "bcmwl-kernel-source" package, and probably several other module packages (one of NVidia's drivers failed to install for me earlier, possibly for this reason).

Oops, I checked the make.log for bcmwl-kernel-source and it seems to be an unrelated issue.

[Expired for ndiswrapper (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

Reopened by recent duplicates.

I've just tested 13.10 and 14.04. They both work fine. All the recent duplicates seem to suggest it's just 12.04 that's still affected.

I think that dkms in precise still tries to build even if kernel headers are missing. This was fixed at some point in the dkms package, that's the most likely reason you do not experience it in newer releases.

There were no changes in ndiswrapper-dkms that could have any effect on this issue.

I suspect that people have installed the lts backport kernels but did not choose to install linux-generic-lts-saucy such that linux-image-generic-lts-saucy was installed but not linux-headers-generic-lts-saucy. The dkms dependecy on linux-headers was removed due to bug 960770.

Thank you for your reply, but, because I do not have technical knowledge,
can you please write to me exactly what to do? Yesterday the system has
crashed once more and I have received the following message:
'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with MergeList
/var/lib/apt/lists/gr.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-el,
E:Αδύνατο το άνοιγμα ή η ανάλυση των λιστών πακέτων ή του αρχείου
κατάστασης.'

Thank you in advance,
Ilias

2014-04-02 22:42 GMT+03:00 Brian Murray <email address hidden>:

> I suspect that people have installed the lts backport kernels but did
> not choose to install linux-generic-lts-saucy such that linux-image-
> generic-lts-saucy was installed but not linux-headers-generic-lts-saucy.
> The dkms dependecy on linux-headers was removed due to bug 960770.
>
> ** Description changed:
>
> + WORKAROUND:
> +
> + Please ensure that you have the package linux-generic-lts-quantal or
> + linux-generic-lts-saucy installed which depends on linuxheaders-generic-
> + lts-[quantal|saucy].
> +
> + ---------
> +
> system keeps crashing for this and I have already uninstalled
> ndiswrapper
>
> - ProblemType: Package
> - DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> + ProblemType: PackageDistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.7.0-5.13-generic 3.7.0-rc8
> Uname: Linux 3.7.0-5-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.7-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> DKMSKernelVersion: 3.7.0-6-generic
> Date: Thu Dec 13 19:57:00 2012
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-10-14 (60 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64
> (20120823.1)
> MarkForUpload: True
> PackageArchitecture: all
> - PackageVersion: 1.57-1ubuntu1
> - SourcePackage: ndiswrapper
> + PackageVersion: 1.57-1ubuntu1SourcePackage: ndiswrapper
> Title: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1: ndiswrapper kernel module failed
> to build
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2012-12-04 (9 days ago)
>
> ** Description changed:
>
> WORKAROUND:
>
> Please ensure that you have the package linux-generic-lts-quantal or
> - linux-generic-lts-saucy installed which depends on linuxheaders-generic-
> - lts-[quantal|saucy].
> + linux-generic-lts-saucy installed which depends on linux-headers-
> + generic-lts-[quantal|saucy].
>
> ---------
>
> system keeps crashing for this and I have already uninstalled
> ndiswrapper
>
> ProblemType: PackageDistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.7.0-5.13-generic 3.7.0-rc8
> Uname: Linux 3.7.0-5-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.7-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> DKMSKernelVersion: 3.7.0-6-generic
> Date: Thu Dec 13 19:57:00 2012
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-10-14 (60 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64
> (20120823.1)
> MarkForUpload: True
> PackageArchitecture: all
> PackageVersion: 1.57-1ubuntu1SourcePackage: ndiswrapper
> Title: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1: ndiswrapper kernel module failed
> to build
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2012-12-04 (9 days ago)
>...

@Ilias
Regarding the suggestion of Brian Murry you should do the following.

1) Open a terminal
2) Type: "sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-saucy linux-image-generic-lts-saucy linux-headers-generic-lts-saucy" without the ""
3) confirm the installation with you password and "yes"

Now your kernels and headers should bei up to date.

Maybe you have to reinstall ndiswrapper to make it work.

sudo apt-get purge ndiswrapper
sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper

Thank you for your reply. I have followed your instructions but I have
received the following message:
*Read lists of packages...Error!*
*(In translation from Greek)*

*E: Encountered a section with no Package: header*

*E: Problem with Mergelist /var/lib/apt/lists/gr.
archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_precise_main_i18n_Translation-el*
*E: It's impossible to open or to analyze the lists of packages or the
status archive*
*(In translation from Greek)*
What can I do in order to fix it?

Thank you in advance,
Ilias

2014-04-06 15:10 GMT+03:00 188236 <email address hidden>:

> @Ilias
> Regarding the suggestion of Brian Murry you should do the following.
>
> 1) Open a terminal
> 2) Type: "sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-saucy
> linux-image-generic-lts-saucy linux-headers-generic-lts-saucy" without the
> ""
> 3) confirm the installation with you password and "yes"
>
> Now your kernels and headers should bei up to date.
>
> Maybe you have to reinstall ndiswrapper to make it work.
>
> sudo apt-get purge ndiswrapper
> sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to a
> duplicate bug report (1283234).
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1090196
>
> Title:
> ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1: ndiswrapper kernel module failed to
> build [Cannot find kernel build files in ... Please give the path to
> kernel build directory with the KBUILD=<path> argument to make]
>
> Status in "ndiswrapper" package in Ubuntu:
> Fix Released
>
> Bug description:
> WORKAROUND:
>
> Please ensure that you have the package linux-generic-lts-quantal or
> linux-generic-lts-saucy installed which depends on linux-headers-
> generic-lts-[quantal|saucy].
>
> ---------
>
> system keeps crashing for this and I have already uninstalled
> ndiswrapper
>
> ProblemType: PackageDistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.7.0-5.13-generic 3.7.0-rc8
> Uname: Linux 3.7.0-5-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.7-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> DKMSKernelVersion: 3.7.0-6-generic
> Date: Thu Dec 13 19:57:00 2012
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-10-14 (60 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64
> (20120823.1)
> MarkForUpload: True
> PackageArchitecture: all
> PackageVersion: 1.57-1ubuntu1SourcePackage: ndiswrapper
> Title: ndiswrapper-dkms 1.57-1ubuntu1: ndiswrapper kernel module failed
> to build
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2012-12-04 (9 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ndiswrapper/+bug/1090196/+subscriptions
>

Ilias, ^that is unrelated to the bug. Please remember that this is a bug report and not a support resource.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PackageManagerTroubleshootingProcedure