OK now I did, # aptitude install libelf-dev The following NEW packages will be installed: libelf-dev The following packages will be REMOVED: linux-headers-4.14.0-1-amd64{pu} linux-headers-4.14.0-1-common{pu} (D: linux-headers-4.14.0-1-amd64)
And now the error is gone, # aptitude reinstall linux-image-4.14.0-3-amd64 The following packages will be REINSTALLED: linux-image-4.14.0-3-amd64 Preparing to unpack .../linux-image-4.14.0-3-amd64_4.14.12-2_amd64.deb ... Unpacking linux-image-4.14.0-3-amd64 (4.14.12-2) over (4.14.12-2) ... Setting up linux-image-4.14.0-3-amd64 (4.14.12-2) ... /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools: update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.14.0-3-amd64 But I didn't see and nvidia-legacy-304xx-kernel-dkms related messages... so maybe I have wiped that component out in the process, ruining the whole purpose?