RE-Opened Linux kernel versions why not updated

[Clawinus]

I experienced over the last couple of weeks an extreme slowdown of processing of Linux Mint 20.3. Opening and closing of individual apps took more than 3 minutes.
Searching this forum, I found the suggestion to update Linux kernel. I did that and the speed has returned to previous values.
Why doesn't the Synaptic Package manager automatically install a newer version of the Linux kernel?

As this picture shows, I am using now, after the update, kernel version 5.8.0-59
yet, it also says that another newer version is installed :5.15.0-33.
What is the recommendation of the Linux Support, what version of the kernel to use?

[antikythera]

Either 5.4 LTS which is the default Mint 20.X and Ubuntu 20.04 kernel or 5.15 which is a hardware enablement kernel for devices launched in the last 12-24 months.

Mint Update will not pick a kernel branch for you, they are there to use at your own risk. I don't know how you ended up on 5.8 but I wouldn't bother keeping it.

[SMG]

As this picture shows, I am using now, after the update, kernel version 5.8.0-59

That kernel went end of life in August of last year. Please use a supported kernel.

There is a difference between updating a kernel and upgrading to a newer kernel series. You will automatically get updates for any kernel series you have installed. You must manually do an upgrade to a newer kernel series if you were using the 5.4 LTS kernel.

Linux Mint is set up to automatically boot to the highest installed kernel. Your system should be booting to 5.15.0-33. The fact it is not means either you manually told the system to boot to the 5.8 kernel or there is some other operating system installed on your computer which is in control of grub and you have not yet updated grub on that install. (Or the third option that there is a problem on your install.)

[Clawinus]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I changed the kernel to 5.8.0-59 using the update manager in order to get rid of the processing slowdown. I was told by a Linux Mint Forum submission
to do that. How do I stop Linux Mint from using 5.8.0-95 and get to 5.15.0 -33 for booting? 5.15.0-33 is installed, yet not used. There is no other OS on my PC than Linux Mint 20.3.

[antikythera]

press escape straight after your device manufacturer's BIOS logo disappears. it will bring up a grub menu. choose advanced and press enter, choose kernel 5.15 from the list of options

[SMG]

I was told by a Linux Mint Forum submission to do that.

What does this mean? Were you reading old topics?

You posted this topic Upgrade 19.3 to Mint 20 fails in January of this year. Please provide the output of inxi -Fxxxrz and please explain how you did your Linux Mint 20 install. It sounds like that install did not go as well as it should have if the wrong kernel is being used.

[Cosmo.]

5.15.0-33 is installed, yet not used.

I doubt that. 5.15.0-33 gets offered, but that does not mean, that it is installed. Otherwise it would get loaded.

[antikythera]

5.15.0-33 is installed, yet not used.

I doubt that. 5.15.0-33 gets offered, but that does not mean, that it is installed. Otherwise it would get loaded.

If you have these in the config it won't load the latest installed. Instead it will boot the last chosen entry, also their screenshot says it is installed but not Active.

Code: Select all

GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true

[karlchen]

Hello, Clawinus.

As this picture shows, I am using now, after the update, kernel version 5.8.0-59
yet, it also says that another newer version is installed :5.15.0-33.

Is the machine a dual boot machine perhaps?
Provided it is, you will have to boot the Linux system, which manages the Grub boot menu. Once this Linux system is running, you have to execute the terminal command sudo update-grub.
If you reboot again and select your Linux Mint system with the kernel 5.15.0-33, then this kernel should be booted.

In case this is not a dual boot machine, please, ignore my post.

Regards,
Karl

[karlchen]

Why doesn't the Synaptic Package manager automatically install a newer version of the Linux kernel?

Synaptic Package Manager does not do anything at all unless instructed by the user.
The reason is very simple:
Synaptic Package Manager is an interactive GUI application. It can be used to install and uninstall software packages interactively.

[Cosmo.]

If you have these in the config it won't load the latest installed. Instead it will boot the last chosen entry, also their screenshot says it is installed but not Active.

Code: Select all

GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true

This is correct. But I don't see any information, that this is the case here and this change must be done manually, so the user should know it.

At the end, it doesn't help to speculate, but we must see it:

@Clawinus:
Please post the content of the file /etc/default/grub, use the code tag button </> for this.

[Hoser Rob]

Why doesn't the Synaptic Package manager automatically install a newer version of the Linux kernel?

Synaptic Package Manager does not do anything at all unless instructed by the user.
The reason is very simple:
Synaptic Package Manager is an interactive GUI application. It can be used to install and uninstall software packages interactively.

+1. Also, while a kernel update fixed your issue, the same thing may break something in another user's system.

[Clawinus]

I reinstalled Linux Mint 20.3 and now it boots automatically into kernel 5.15.0-33.
Thanks for the help

[karlchen]

Hello, Clawinus.

Why did you change the [solved] status to [re-opened]? (Last edited by Clawinus on 26 Jun 2022 19:16)
What has happened during the past 4 hours?

Regards,
Karl

[Clawinus]

The fun with the kernel :5.15.0-33 did not last long. This morning the system booted again into
5.4. I reinstalled 5.15.0-33, The update manager suggested an update to 5.15.0-33. I installed that, too.
Then I removed the 5.4 kernel and hope that I will boot into the lastest from now.

[JerryF]

The fun with the kernel :5.15.0-33 did not last long. This morning the system booted again into
5.4. I reinstalled 5.15.0-33, The update manager suggested an update to 5.15.0-33. I installed that, too.
Then I removed the 5.4 kernel and hope that I will boot into the lastest from now.

By any chance, have you used Grub Customizer?

[Clawinus]

No, I haven't. Would't know how and why.
I wait for a couple of days and if no further issued, I will mak this item solved.

[Clawinus]

Unfortunately, the issue is still alive.
I do have another PC, a laptop running Linux Mint 20.3. I checked every so often what kernel it was using after my experience with the desktop. It was always
5.15.0-33. But today all of a sudden without any change by me the system reverted to booting to 5.4.14. I had to change the boot process to show the Grub Menu so that I could go back to 5,15.0-33. The Update Manager did not let me delete kernel 5.4. Now on 1.15.0-33, I deleted the old kernel and hope that I will continue booting to the latest version. I am still mystified how the system reverted to the old kernel.

[SMG]

But today all of a sudden without any change by me the system reverted to booting to 5.4.14.

I do not know what that is. There never was a 5.4.14 for Linux Mint. That is a mainline kernel and not one used in Ubuntu/Mint.

All the 5.4 kernels are 5.4.0-xxx with the oldest being 5.4.0-26.

[Clawinus]

Sorry, I used the wrong number of the kernel.