XPost: alt.computer.workshop   
   From: BD@hotmail.co.uk   
      
   On 12/01/2026 16:13, Alan K. wrote:   
   > On 1/12/26 10:54 AM, David B. wrote:   
   >> On 12/01/2026 15:00, Monsieur wrote:   
   >>> David B. wrote:   
   >>>> On 11/01/2026 14:05, Alan K. wrote:   
   >>>>> Just got an update to the Mint Upgrade app.   
   >>>>> Under 'edit' you now have the upgrade from 22.2 to 22.3   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Not that I'm doing it today.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Thank you for the 'heads up'.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I'm running Linux Mint on my old 24 inch Apple iMac   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I have, this evening, updated to Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon 64-bit   
   >>>>   
   >>>> So far I've experience no problems. 🙂   
   >>>>   
   >>>   
   >>> Just upgraded too, no  problems so far and the System Information is   
   >>> nice. However I'm not too fond of the new start menu. Guess I'll get   
   >>> used to it eventually...   
   >>   
   >> I confess that I had a 'double-take' at the new start menu too! 😉   
   >> Not a problem though.   
      
   > It's a lot like the cinnamenu applet in 22.2.   I've been using that for   
   > a few weeks.   
      
   Thanks, Alan.   
      
   Today I've installed Linux Mint 22.3 on my aging 27 inch iMac.   
      
   Here's the outcome:-   
      
   1. Boot and Filesystem – All Correct   
      
    From your output:   
      
   / mounted from /dev/sda2 (ext4)   
   BootCurrent: 0000 → Ubuntu (shimx64.efi)   
   BootOrder: 0000,0080   
   Filesystem state: clean   
      
   This means:   
      
   You are booting from the internal spinner (sda2) exactly as planned.   
      
   EFI is configured correctly: Linux is first, macOS external is second.   
      
   Filesystem is clean and consistent.   
      
   So from a software and boot perspective: your Mint installation is   
   properly deployed.   
      
   2. Disk Health – Usable but Ageing   
      
   SMART overall result:   
      
   SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED   
   However, the deeper stats tell the real story:   
      
   Key facts:   
      
   Power-on hours: ~29,173 hours (over 3.3 years of continuous runtime)   
      
   Start/Stop cycles: 31,050   
      
   Power cycles: 62,650   
      
   Temperature: ~41°C (acceptable)   
      
   Concerning indicators:   
      
   Reported_Uncorrect = 56   
      
   SMART Error Count = 56   
      
   Multiple historical UNC (uncorrectable) read errors at the same LBA   
      
   Very high read/write totals (this disk has been heavily used)   
      
   There are no current pending or reallocated sectors, which is good. But:   
      
   This disk has already experienced real, logged read failures in the past.   
      
   It is well into “old age” territory mechanically.   
      
   It is stable today, but statistically not trustworthy long-term.   
      
   In business terms:   
   Serviceable, but not strategic.   
      
   3. Practical Recommendation   
      
   Your Mint system is:   
      
   Technically correct   
      
   Cleanly installed   
      
   Booting properly   
      
   Hardware mostly healthy   
      
   But your internal drive is:   
      
   Old   
      
   Heavily used   
      
   With a history of read errors   
      
   You should:   
      
   Keep good backups.   
      
   Avoid storing irreplaceable data only on this disk.   
      
   Plan to replace it with an SSD if you intend to rely on this machine.   
      
   If you move Mint to an SSD later, you will gain:   
      
   Dramatic speed improvement   
      
   Much higher reliability   
      
   Lower heat and noise   
      
   Final Assessment   
      
   Linux Mint 22.3: Correctly installed and operational   
      
   Boot configuration: Correct   
      
   Filesystem: Clean   
      
   Hardware: Fully supported   
      
   Disk: Aging, usable, but on borrowed time   
      
   *Your system is working*.   
   *Your disk is surviving*.   
      
   --   
      
   MacOS Ventura 13.7.8 is also installed on an external 1TB SSD   
   The picture quality on the 5k screen is still magnificent!   
      
   --   
   Kind regards,   
   David   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)