From: pinnerite@gmail.com
On Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:53:02 -0400
Paul wrote:
> On Wed, 9/10/2025 3:35 PM, pinnerite wrote:
> >
> > I won't pretend that this is the most reliable machine.
> > It was built in 2013 and curently r=uns Linux Mint 21.3 cinnamon.
> >
> > After an update yesterday, it would not complete a startup.
> > I tried booting from a flashdrive and trying to repair the hard drive
> > but that didn't seem to find any filesyatem errors.
> >
> > Occasionally it would complete a startup and it is up now.
> > The problem is that the bottom panel (I only have one)is not showing.
> >
> > I would like to fix this otherwise I cannot get to the start button.
> >
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> >
>
> In the boot menu, isn't there an option to use a slightly older kernel ?
>
> I don't generally delete my older kernels, as I want "lots" of options
> for Houdini Escape mode.
>
> You should always set up your machine, so the boot menu is exposed at
> boot time, so you will see these options.
>
> sudo xed /etc/default/grub
>
> # The first part here, is the install default, where no menu shows up
>
> GRUB_DEFAULT=0
> GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden
> GRUB_TIMEOUT=0
> GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`( . /etc/os-release; echo ${NAME:-Ubuntu} ) 2>/dev/null ||
echo Ubuntu`
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
>
> # I just did these to mine, to make the menu show. This will
> # boot using the default choice after 10 seconds.
> # Removing quiet splash, it to see everything as it boots.
> # Use a video camera, record that screen, if you want/need to see ABSOLUTELY
EVERYTHING.
> # dmesg or sudo dmesg, is no longer as reliable as a recorder, as it used to
be.
>
> GRUB_DEFAULT=0
> GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
> GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
> GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`( . /etc/os-release; echo ${NAME:-Ubuntu} ) 2>/dev/null ||
echo Ubuntu`
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
>
> # Save and exit, then
>
> sudo update-grub
>
> *******
>
> Depending on what instructions you followed, there may not be an
> older kernel in the menu to choose from. For example, I did a clean
> install, and I don't seem to have options except for "recover" or so.
> And that may not be sufficient for a kernel-version-induced problem.
>
> *******
>
> You can chroot in, and do the above recipe to prepare the
> install for the less-quiet boot. It's possible the Boot Rescue CD
> leaves the menu in the exposed state as well, if you're as lazy
> as I am :-)
>
> *******
>
> Linux 21.3 is what I recommend for people with old computers.
> The 5.15.xx kernel is more likely to leave a smile on your
> face, with an old computer. Using bleeding edge distros, using
> HWE kernel, that's for techbros with really new kit. The 222 I'm testing,
> is on an 11 year old machine, so that is an example of how far back
> you could go, but I don't know if my video driver (if I switched out
> of Nouveau) would work for me. Linux 21.3 won't last forever...
> and that's a problem for a number of people.
>
> driver-manager shows "nvidia-driver-550" as Recommended if I want
> to run NVidia. So my GTX1080 is still supported well enough. If
> your hardware is old enough, maybe the 470 driver does not support
> your NVidia card (and it is Nouveau for the old thing).
>
> Paul
Thanks for that.
Well it is using LM 21.3.
I was astonished to find it was built in 2013.
I get to the boot menu on this machine using F12 on boot-up.
To the grub menu, by holding down Left-shift as it boots up.
I have four kernels in grub. Now none of them complete a boot-up.
I do have a flash-drive with Mint 21.3 but I will have to use a
different screen from the wide-screen TV to avoid a divorce.
I have an 11 inch one that should do the trick although getting it to
work through HDMI I recall, is a headache.
Alan
--
Linux Mint 22.1 kernel version 6.8.0-79-generic Cinnamon 6.4.8
AMD Ryzen 7 7700, Radeon RX 6600, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, 2TB Barracuda
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
|
