Warning message 'Failed to unmount /oldroot: Device or resource busy' during shutdown or reboot on systems with Ubuntu OS

Summary: Warning message 'Failed to unmount /oldroot: Device or resource busy' during shutdown or reboot on systems with Ubuntu OS.

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Symptoms

In Ubuntu OS, when pressing F12 during system shutting down or reboot, a warning message (Fig. 1) might be observed: Failed to unmount /oldroot: Device or resource busy. This only happens when a system is deployed with Integrated Graphics Card and does not happen on systems with Discrete Graphics Card.

Affected Platforms
  • Vostro 3890
  • Vostro 3690
  • Inspiron 3891
  • OptiPlex 5090 
  • OptiPlex 7090
  • OptiPlex 7490 AIO
  • OptiPlex 5490 AIO
  • Precision 3450

image.png
Fig. 1 Warning message during shutdown

Cause

This is a journal warning message coming from 'systemd' which is a suite of basic building blocks used for lots of Linux OS. During Ubuntu OS shutdown, the backend system logs might be printed for a few seconds before the system shutdown.

Resolution

The message does not impact system shutdown, and it disappears automatically in 1 to 2 seconds.

Affected Products

Inspiron 3891, OptiPlex 5090 Tower, OptiPlex 5090 Micro, OptiPlex 5090 Small Form Factor, OptiPlex 5490 All-In-One, OptiPlex 7090 Tower, OptiPlex 7090 Micro, OptiPlex 7090 Small Form Factor, OptiPlex 7490 All-In-One, Precision 3450 Small Form Factor , Vostro 3690, Vostro 3890 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000184696
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 19 Apr 2025
Version:  8
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