Linux Mint 20.2 Uma do not boot on old PC

[DotAtBG]

inxi -Fxxxrz

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System:    Kernel: 4.4.0-53-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 5.4.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.5 wm: muffin 
           dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Compaq dc5800 Small Form Factor v: N/A 
           serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 4 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 2820h serial: <filter> BIOS: Hewlett-Packard v: 786F2 v01.04 
           date: 01/31/2008 
CPU:       Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Pentium Dual E2160 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Core Merom rev: D 
           L1 cache: 128 KiB L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 bogomips: 7181 
           Speed: 1200 MHz min/max: 1200/1800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1200 2: 1200 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 82Q33 Express Integrated Graphics vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: i915 v: kernel 
           bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:29d2 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: intel unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa 
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Q33 v: 1.4 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 82801I HD Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 
           chip ID: 8086:293e 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.4.0-53-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel 82566DM-2 Gigabit Network vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 1100 
           bus ID: 00:19.0 chip ID: 8086:10bd 
           IF: enp0s25 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 149.05 GiB used: 24.74 GiB (16.6%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD1600AAJS-60WAA0 size: 149.05 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s 
           serial: <filter> rev: 1D58 temp: 38 C scheme: MBR 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 142.72 GiB used: 24.74 GiB (17.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.92 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com uma main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
           2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:      Processes: 218 Uptime: 34m Memory: 3.78 GiB used: 1.15 GiB (30.3%) Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 
           default: 2 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 5/7/9 Shell: bash (su) v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal 
           inxi: 3.0.38

The situations is:
Mint 20.2 or 19 Live USB created with Unetbootit do not boot - Kernel panic. After two days i've manage to install 20.2 from 18.3 witch boot successfully from live USB. But any kernel update after 4.4 ( actually i test only 4.15 ) stucks boot process imminently after initrd.img load. Any 5.x kernel update lead to same behavior - tested ver. 5.4 and 5.10, 5.10-oem from kernel.ubuntu.com .

Any ideas are welcome!

[SimonPeter]

The situations is:
Mint 20.2 or 19 Live USB created with Unetbootit do not boot - Kernel panic.

Have you verified the Linux Mint ISO ?

Try flashing the USB with Balena Etcher or with dd sudo dd if=/path/to/iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
, where /dev/sdX is the device file representing the whole USB drive. (Be careful not to wipe your important storage media by selecting the wrong drive while using dd)

[JoeFootball]

Any ideas are welcome!

Adding to the above response, there's also the USB Image Writer utility that comes with Linux Mint.

[DotAtBG]

The main issue is not non-bootable usb disk. I already change kernel on usb image and manage to install OS on computer.
Any kernel update after 4.4, broke boot process.

[lamar]

Why not "burn" the iso too usb drive the easy way? Simply right click on the mint iso and select "make bootable usb stick. Tell it where the stick is and it does all the work.
I've been using this method a couple of years.

[JoeFootball]

The main issue is not non-bootable usb disk.

Noted.

Intel Pentium Dual E2160

Given that it's 2006 era hardware, I wouldn't be trying LM 20.2 Cinnamon.

I'd try Linux Mint 19.2 Xfce (supported until April 2023). Xfce is far "lighter" than Cinnamon.

Also, 19.2 defaults to the 4.15.x kernel, which can work better with older hardware. Even if you subsequently upgrade to LM 19.3 from that, it will stay with the 4.15.x series. I can't say installing the 4.15.x kernel by default will resolve the update issue, but it's where I'd start.

[DotAtBG]

4.15.x kernel does'n boot at all. Last "virgin" distribution that boot successfully is 18.x. Already tested.
In next few days i'm going play install-test-uninstall game to find last working kernel version.

[SimonPeter]

Some Light Linux distros for older hardware:
(from my personal notes)

# Excellent UI, even has LinuxMint Software Manager (mintinstall)
# No load RAM usage ~300MB
https://peppermintos.com/

# The UI is good, but not excellent.
# No load RAM usage ~200MB
https://antixlinux.com/

# Just ~200MB iso , can be used from live media.
# No load RAM usage ~100MB
http://slax.org/

# Good, but confusing UI
http://bodhilinux.com/

# Raspberry Pi OS for PCs, Desktops and Laptops (only 32-bit version is available)
https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/op ... pi-desktop

# Based on LXDE, but with more UI tweaks and PPAs
http://www.lxle.net/

# Fully open-source (no binary firmware driver blobs -- may face lots of driver issues).
https://trisquel.info/ (the LXDE version)