I also get this error without "-v". This is a box that was recently upgraded from dapper.
Here is the output without "-v": # update-initramfs -k 2.6.17-7-generic -u update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-7-generic Command failed -- "Command failed" when running update-initramfs on Edgy https://launchpad.net/bugs/61122 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs