Mint Update in LMDE 201012

[Fornhamfred]

I have posted a similar question before when running LMDE 9 but having reinstalled LMDE 10 because I had previously used mint update, configured to accept updates 1 to 3, to keep my system updated I was suprised to see an updated version of Mint Update installed (4.2). Using update in version 9 had not installed the kernel changes and so although my system was very stable it was not a fully updated rolling release. The answers I received previously stated that the method of updating debian was not the same as the ubuntu based versions and therefore my question is why is Mint Update in the version?

With preferences 4 & 5 selected there are already packages which have not been updated as the screen print below.

A definitive answer would be appreciated as newbies must be very confused.

[rivenathos]

This appears to be a subject that Clem and the development team will probably address soon enough. LMDE is a different animal from the Main edition, so the old way of doing things will most likely need some slight adjustment.

The noted Level 4 and 5 updates have caused no issues in my pure Debian install, but I have not run them in my LMDE install yet. I honestly do not foresee any glitches, but with a few people in the forums already posting problems, all bets are off.

[ShexNivis]

I update them but I use smxi without X. Better safe than sorry : )
more info on smxi: http://smxi.org/site/about.htm#smxi

[wayne128]

I used Mint update for the 64-bit installation.
Some 150+ updates, level 3, I just went ahead and update all.
So far running well

[willie42]

Traditionally updates 4 and 5 are not recomended because they have been labeled as unstable. You can try to install them and as many has not seen anything negitive from this I would encourage you keep an up to date backup of all data just incase something does break your system.

[Fornhamfred]

Thanks for your replies.

I was hoping that either Clem or one of the development team would help us by explaining the idea behind including mint update and what the Mint philosophy for keeping LMDE up-to-date.

If I were new to Mint I would assume that Mint Update is what is intended to be used but is this corret?

[willie42]

Well you have to look at this way. The way they have Mint set up is that all the updates they send down are all stable and not proven to break a system. Now some of the 4 and 5 updates have not been proven stable. I know I would not be happy to install an update and end up with a borked system. So actully its for the protection of the users especially the newbies who dont know better and people who want to keep the system running. you can change the settings to have all the updates come in. but by default just the 1 -3 come in.

hope this helps