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squeeze kernel problems - what to do

Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:11 pm

My squeeze install has been deteriorating since December kernel updates. At first kernel failures then suspend stopped working and now hibernate is barely working. I kept hoping it would get better but it has only gotten worse. I posted to the squeeze-lts mail list but no solution there. Ben Hutchings' final post is a classic:

Paid support is available, but don't expect me to spend time on LTS for free.


Why do I want to keep squeeze running? I hadn't quite finished my perpetual media project before my back went out and am not sure about file compatibility with newer software versions of audacity etc.

Looks like I have three options . . .

1. Force the kernel version to when it was functioning properly from 2.6.32-48squeeze13 back to linux-image-2.6.32-5-686.

2. Reinstall the root partition (home is on a separate partition) from a refractasnapshot I took at the end of September. I checked the documentation but not quite clear how to do that.

3. Reinstall the entire shebang to a partition on a different drive.

Backing up before I try any of this, of course.

Thoughts?

Re: squeeze kernel problems - what to do

Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:24 pm

First option wins by a mile. It's simple and safe.
Code:
dpkg -i --force-downgrade /var/cache/apt/archives/linux-image-<older-version>.deb


When you boot, it won't be the first entry in the menu. Don't remove the current kernel, in case there are problems with the older one. I don't expect you'll have problems with it, but by Murphy's Law, or some correlate of that, if you keep the current kernel, you won't need it.

If that doesn't fix it for you, then we can consider the other options.

Also, if you have hard drive space for another installation, start installing wheezy and gradually getting it set up the way you want it. Then you can test file compatibility before you need it. I don't expect that to be a problem. Or build it in virtualbox and make a snapshot of that to run live for testing files and for eventual install to hardware.

Re: squeeze kernel problems - what to do

Thu Jul 30, 2015 2:29 am

Yeah, I figured #1 would be the easiest. I thought I'd let synaptic do the deed. But first I need to remember where the config is to keep two kernels. I think currently, grub is only keeping one.

Then I need to make a list of everything I need to do to prepare in the right order. Still far from 100% so need to do it on a good back day.

I have wheezy all pimped out on another machine. Writing from it right now. But it's infected with libsystemd-login0. I want to do a clean install of devuan when the time comes. Heck, I hope I can remember how to do an install!

Re: squeeze kernel problems - what to do

Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:17 pm

Oh right, that will replace the current kernel. I'd make a backup copy of kernel, initrd and Config-<version> first, just in case. Not sure what config file you're thinking of. In etc/initramfs-tools/update-initramfs.conf, there's a setting to make a backup initrd when it's updated, but I don't know if that makes a kernel backup or not.

Installation is pretty easy. Mostly, you just boot the installation medium and hit ENTER a few times. Then edit fstab to use your existing /home.
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