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XK0-006 Practice Question: After updating the kernel, the system fails to…
After updating the kernel, the system fails to boot and displays 'Error 15: File not found' from GRUB. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse GRUB error 15 with a missing initramfs, but error 15 occurs specifically when the kernel image path is invalid, while a missing initramfs causes a kernel panic after the kernel starts loading.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The kernel image is missing or the path in grub.cfg is incorrect
GRUB error 15 indicates that the specified file path in the GRUB configuration (grub.cfg) cannot be found. Since the error occurs after a kernel update, the most likely cause is that the new kernel image file is missing from the boot partition or the path in grub.cfg does not match the actual file location, preventing GRUB from loading the kernel.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The GRUB configuration file is missing
Why it's wrong here
Would show 'No such file or directory' earlier.
- ✓
The kernel image is missing or the path in grub.cfg is incorrect
Why this is correct
Correct: Error 15 means file not found, likely kernel.
- ✗
The initramfs image is missing
Why it's wrong here
Missing initrd gives a different error or kernel panic.
- ✗
The hard drive has failed
Why it's wrong here
Would show disk errors, not error 15.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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File Permissions and Ownership
Key term
Kernel
The kernel is the core program of an operating system that manages hardware resources and provides essential services for all other software to run.
Key term
GRUB
GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is a boot loader package that loads and manages the operating system startup process on Linux and other Unix-like systems.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the XK0-006 exam.