[Bug 2129700] Re: System fails to boot after upgrading to kernel 6.8.0-86-generic with full-disk LUKS encryption (Dell Desktop)

Hi, I guess that you are quite busy but this didn't have any activity
since. Can you please give more details about this behavior ? Is it a
bug ? a solvable problem or is it a breaking change going forward ?

I am worried about upgrading Ubuntu since I got locked out of my system.

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Title:
System fails to boot after upgrading to kernel 6.8.0-86-generic with
full-disk LUKS encryption (Dell Desktop)

Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
New

Bug description:
Ubuntu Version:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS
Release: 24.04
Codename: noble

Problem Description:

After upgrading to kernel 6.8.0-86-generic, my system fails to boot
with the message:

cryptsetup: waiting for encrypted source device...

Eventually, in recovery mode, it shows:

Gave up waiting for root file system device.

This issue only affects kernel 6.8.0-86. Previous kernels boot without
problems. My system uses full-disk LUKS encryption on a PCIe NVMe SSD
(no SATA drives).

This behavior appears similar to a known issue discussed here:
https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/gave-up-waiting-for-root-file-system-device-no-other-os-installed/54932
Current Workaround:

I can still boot the system by selecting an earlier kernel in GRUB:

6.8.0-85-generic: works (currently in use)
6.8.0-86-generic: fails (with cryptsetup/rootfs error)
6.8.0-84-generic: previously worked but no longer available in GRUB

I am concerned that 6.8.0-85 may also be removed automatically, leaving me unable to access my system.
What I've Investigated:

I found a related AskUbuntu thread
(https://askubuntu.com/questions/1350025/cryptsetup-waiting-for-
encrypted-source-device-problem) , where users reported the same
cryptsetup error on Dell systems. The accepted solution there was to
change the BIOS SATA mode from "RAID On" to "AHCI".

However, this does not apply to my situation because:

I use a PCIe NVMe SSD, not SATA
My BIOS has no AHCI or RAID options available

System Information:

Laptop: Dell Inspiron 16 (Intel-based)
Storage: PCIe NVMe SSD (no SATA devices)
Encryption: Full-disk LUKS (default Ubuntu installer)
Boot Mode: UEFI
Bootloader: GRUB
Working Kernel: 6.8.0-85-generic
Failing Kernel: 6.8.0-86-generic

What I've Tried:

Rebooted with older kernel versions (84, 85), 85 still works
Verified that only 6.8.0-86 triggers the issue
Confirmed there are no SATA or RAID BIOS settings to adjust
Cross-checked with related threads and known issues

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 24.04
Package: linux-image-6.8.0-85-generic 6.8.0-85.85
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.8.0-85.85-generic 6.8.12
Uname: Linux 6.8.0-85-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.28.1-0ubuntu3.8
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: N/A
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Oct 23 17:52:41 2025
InstallationDate: Installed on 2023-09-22 (762 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64 (20230807.2)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 16 Plus 7630
ProcFB:
0 i915drmfb
1 nvidia-drmdrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-6.8.0-85-generic root=/dev/mapper/vgubuntu-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
RebootRequiredPkgs: Error: path contained symlinks.
RelatedPackageVersions:
linux-restricted-modules-6.8.0-85-generic N/A
linux-backports-modules-6.8.0-85-generic N/A
linux-firmware 20240318.git3b128b60-0ubuntu2.17
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/28/2023
dmi.bios.release: 1.9
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.9.0
dmi.board.name: 006JN2
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 1.4
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.9.0:bd08/28/2023:br1.9:efr1.4:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron16Plus7630:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn006JN2:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:sku0C28:
dmi.product.family: Inspiron
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 16 Plus 7630
dmi.product.sku: 0C28
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

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