sudo dpkg -l | grep linux*
produces a whopping
28 responses

seems to me there used to be fewer. And some seem entirely excessive/redundant

I check this frequently and purge out-dated Header, Image and Module files but
it seems I might best purge quite a few of these. Can I?

ii binutils-x86-64-linux-gnu 2.34-6ubuntu1.1 amd64 GNU binary utilities, for x86-64-linux-gnu target
ii console-setup-linux 1.194ubuntu3 all Linux specific part of console-setup
ii fonts-linuxlibertine 5.3.0-4 all Linux Libertine family of fonts
ii libselinux1:amd64 3.0-1build2 amd64 SELinux runtime shared libraries
ii libv4l-0:amd64 1.18.0-2build1 amd64 Collection of video4linux support libraries
ii libv4lconvert0:amd64 1.18.0-2build1 amd64 Video4linux frame format conversion library
ii linux-base 4.5ubuntu3.1 all Linux image base package
ii linux-firmware 1.187.12 all Firmware for Linux kernel drivers
ii linux-generic 5.4.0.72.75 amd64 Complete Generic Linux kernel and headers
ii linux-headers-5.4.0-71 5.4.0-71.79 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 5.4.0
ii linux-headers-5.4.0-71-generic 5.4.0-71.79 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-5.4.0-72 5.4.0-72.80 all Header files related to Linux kernel version 5.4.0
ii linux-headers-5.4.0-72-generic 5.4.0-72.80 amd64 Linux kernel headers for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-headers-generic 5.4.0.72.75 amd64 Generic Linux kernel headers
ii linux-image-5.4.0-71-generic 5.4.0-71.79 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-5.4.0-72-generic 5.4.0-72.80 amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-generic 5.4.0.72.75 amd64 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-libc-dev:amd64 5.4.0-72.80 amd64 Linux Kernel Headers for development
ii linux-modules-5.4.0-71-generic 5.4.0-71.79 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-5.4.0-72-generic 5.4.0-72.80 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-71-generic 5.4.0-71.79 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-72-generic 5.4.0-72.80 amd64 Linux kernel extra modules for version 5.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
ii linux-sound-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5 all base package for ALSA and OSS sound systems
ii pptp-linux 1.10.0-1build1 amd64 Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) Client
ii syslinux 3:6.04~git20190206.bf6db5b4+dfsg1-2 amd64 collection of bootloaders (DOS FAT and NTFS bootloader)
ii syslinux-common 3:6.04~git20190206.bf6db5b4+dfsg1-2 all collection of bootloaders (common)
ii syslinux-legacy 2:3.63+dfsg-2ubuntu9 amd64 Bootloader for Linux/i386 using MS-DOS floppies
ii util-linux 2.34-0.1ubuntu9.1 amd64 miscellaneous system utilities

Howdy!

There is a way to limit how many prior kernels you keep. I usually set mine to 3. Otherwise /boot or your distro area will soon be full of old kernels and support files. They are not easy to remove while in distro other than limit. Can boot to live and remove but search how to limit to the number you feel safe with.

1 members found this post helpful.

You have five kernels and their support files installed get rid of the .71, .72 and .75 leaving the .79 and .80 versions installed. It is rather strange you have that many, Ubuntu usually offers to remove anything over two when you are updating with the apt autoremove command it will tell you about. Give it a try and see if it does remove them.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thank you so much. The way you worded this gave me the insight to purge. Worked and it's better.

You are welcome.