How do I properly upgrade my kernel?

[drednot57]

I want to upgrade to kernel 2.6.27.31.tex5 to get my DVD-RW working properly under PCLOS.  What is the procedure to safely do this upgrade?  What libraries and packages, besides the kernel package, do I need installed prior to upgrading?  The only thing my DVD-RW reads and write reliably are CD-Rs and RWs.  It writes DVD's with about 50% reliability and does not read audio CD's at all.  I read that upgrading my kernel will solve this dilemma.  Thanks in advance.

[muungwana]

go to pcc services section and make sure "dkms" service is set to start at boot time. Then go to synaptic and make sure you have "glibc-headers" package is installed then then search for the kernel you want to update to and install it. Restart your computer and you should see an entry of the newer kernel, select it and boot up. When you are happy with the new kernel, you can go back to synaptic and uninstall the old one.

[T6]

explaining a little bit what muungwana wrote

first open synaptic, then press reload button and apply all the updates available

then press the search button and write kernel-2.6.27.31.tex5

it will ask for devel for this same kernel

install it, you don't need to remove your older kernel, the new kerenl will be listed in your boot menu, just select it and wait for it to load, it will take some time to boot while it makes some changes with some driver modules and other stuff, it can take up to 4 minutes or even more, press esc to see what it is doing

do a test of the new kernel by burning some cds(use rewritables) or testing some audio cds

if all is ok, you can edit the boot menu to use the new kernel by default or if this kernel doesn't work for you, you can just restart system and select the older one

[shrinivas]

I have a problem.
I have a dual-boot system with Win7 in one HD (IDE) and PCLinuxOs in another HDD (SATA), set to boot Win HDD first in BIOS.
I have created the Linux-boot-loader in root of the Linux installation and use EasyBCD in Windows to access this to log into Linux (because I am still a newby in Linux).
So far, I have not had any problem with either the systems.
The problem comes only when I try to update the Linux kernel to 2.6.27.31.tex5.
Immediately after upgrade I am unable to boot into Linux, the error being "Error 15-file not found"
Using the LiveCD to fix the boot-loader doesn't help. I have to re-install PCLInuxOs all over again !
I need to know where the grub is written by this kernel upgrade, so I can find it and try to re-write the grub, if it is possible for a newby.
Thanks in advance.

[Old-Polack]

Immediately after upgrade I am unable to boot into Linux, the error being "Error 15-file not found"
Using the LiveCD to fix the boot-loader doesn't help. I have to re-install PCLInuxOs all over again !

Actually you don't have to do that, but you did choose to do that.

I need to know where the grub is written by this kernel upgrade, so I can find it and try to re-write the grub, if it is possible for a newby.
Thanks in advance.

Grub doesn't get written to by a kernel upgrade, but /boot/grub/menu.lst does get some edits.

You should not experience any booting problems with a kernel upgrade, unless the upgrade failed in some way. If there are incorrect entries in /etc/modprobe.preload, /etc/modprobe.conf, /etc/fstab, or /boot/grub/menu.lst, you may/will have issues with booting certain kernels, and the issues will vary depending on specific hardware present.

Grub is sufficient for almost any booting combination a normal/average/typical computer user would use. I've never had a use for third party boot loaders. The best place for grub to be installed is in the MBR of the drive holding the Linux installation, with that drive being designated the boot drive in BIOS.
 

[menotu]

Another thing you can check is by going into the PCC (PCLos Control Centre) and going to:

Boot > Set Up Boot System > and from within this area you can select various boot options (inc. GRUB) and also which kernel you wish to set as the default and how long the system waits to boot etc etc

I believe this is simply a "graphical/point and click way" of changing the /boot/grub/menu.lst file

[shrinivas]

Thanks everybody for replying. I shall look into all those things, most of these are way above my head, I being a click-and-install guy ! But, yet, it is good that so many are ready to help !

[SCMoney360]

I know this thread is old - but at least I can say I searched!  

Based on Tex's comments he gives the impression that he doesn't like users using the console for upgrades.  But could someone go through the proper commands to upgrade the kernel cli-style? And maybe explain why it appears that it is that way (frowning upon upgrading from console)?

[Old-Polack]

I know this thread is old - but at least I can say I searched!  

Based on Tex's comments he gives the impression that he doesn't like users using the console for upgrades.  But could someone go through the proper commands to upgrade the kernel cli-style? And maybe explain why it appears that it is that way (frowning upon upgrading from console)?

It is frowned upon for the simple reason that too many people issue improper commands, thereby causing serious damage to their systems. For all normal activities such as upgrades, package installation and package removal, Synaptic is the better choice. We do not upgrade kernels here. We do allow installing additional kernels, leaving the old ones in place, providing a safety net in case the new kernel has problems with your particular hardware. Once a new kernel is shown to be safe and stable, one can uninstall any older kernels one wishes, through Synaptic.

[SCMoney360]

so why not educate the users with the correct commands?

[Old-Polack]

so why not educate the users with the correct commands?

If you do a forum search on the subject, you'll find that we try, over, and over, and over, again. Still the biggest cause of problems is user error. The usual argument is, "We do it this way in <other distro>." To which we answer, "Don't care, it's wrong here." After a bit it gets tiresome, so the answer is use Synaptic. You can search for the proper packages, chose the ones you like, know in advance what the end result will be, as to what will be installed, upgraded, or removed, and when you decide yes or no, the commands will be properly given in the background when the Apply button is clicked.