How to install an older kernel [Solved]

[fadi]

I installed these packages:

linux-headers-6.1.0-21-amd64 (6.1.90-1)
linux-headers-6.1.0-21-common (6.1.90-1)
linux-image-6.1.0-21-amd64 (6.1.90-1)



Do I need to do something else ?When I upgrade my system to a new kernel I believe there is a compiling process.

[Eadwine Rose]

According to the forum rules (please read): Please provide full Quick System Info, use copy for forum button, no edits.
LiveUSB version is OK if needed.

[Stevo]

Is there a pressing reason to install an older kernel with possible security flaws?

When I upgrade my system to a new kernel I believe there is a compiling process.

That is correct. Use MX Cleanup to remove unused wi-fi drivers to speed up the process.

[fadi]

The kernels installed are 6.1.0.31 and 6.0.1.30

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System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-31-amd64 [6.1.90-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-21-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
    init=/lib/systemd/systemd
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.5_x64 Libretto December 15  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Hewlett-Packard product: Compaq Presario CQ61 Notebook PC v: Rev 1
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: Quanta type: 10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Quanta model: 3069 v: 21.12 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Hewlett-Packard v: F.14
    date: 09/22/2009
CPU:
  Info: model: Celeron T3000 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Penryn level: v1 built: 2008
    process: Intel 45nm family: 6 model-id: 0x17 (23) stepping: 0xA (10) microcode: 0xA0B
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 128 KiB desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB
    L2: 1024 KiB desc: 1x1024 KiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1790 high: 1791 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 1791 2: 1790 bogomips: 7181
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3

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Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: i915
    v: kernel arch: Gen-5 process: Intel 45nm built: 2008 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2,
    HDMI-A-1, VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:2a42 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Quanta HP Webcam-101 type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 5-4:6 chip-ID: 0408:0f41
    class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter

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Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 119.24 GiB used: 54.1 GiB (45.4%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Hikvision model: HS-SSD-Desire S 128G size: 119.24 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 4A0
    scheme: MBR

My computer is old and I thought I should try and install an older kernel in order to speed it up . The oldest available in the repo is 6.1.0.21. I installed these packages:
linux-headers-6.1.0-21-amd64 (6.1.90-1)
linux-headers-6.1.0-21-common (6.1.90-1)
linux-image-6.1.0-21-amd64 (6.1.90-1)

Am I doing the steps right?

[j2mcgreg]

I would have used MX Package Installer to install the antiX 4.19 or the even older antiX 4.9 ( which would have been current to when your laptop was built). Then try newer kernels until performance starts to suffer.

[fadi]

I tried antix kernel 4.9 and 5.10 but none of them booted properly. I will try to install mx 21 series. Sorry to bother you.

[Stevo]

There is little difference between 6.1.0-21 and 6.1.0-31 other than bug fixes. Usually, installing an older kernel won't speed up an older machine. A Liquorix kernel might be more responsive, but I doubt that would be detectable on older hardware. MX 21 kernels won't be any better on MX 23, and usually are more problematic.

[DukeComposed]

My computer is old and I thought I should try and install an older kernel in order to speed it up . The oldest available in the repo is 6.1.0.21.

OK, so you aren't really trying to install an older kernel. You're trying to install a more broken version of the same kernel.

There is little difference between 6.1.0-21 and 6.1.0-31 other than bug fixes.

In other words, you attempted to move from a 6.1 kernel to a less reliable or less secure 6.1 kernel hoping that would make your system faster. This is not how you make your system faster. I haven't seen you mention anything yet about any actual performance issues, so if this is just a case of wishfully thinking running older software is going to be a rejuvenating experience I'd advise against it. Profile, don't speculate. You can test both MX-21 and antiX on the same hardware to gauge whether or not you find them more performant, but if I were in this situation, I'd try the antiX kernels on MX-23 in MXPI first and see if they provide the speed and stability you're looking to find.

[fadi]

Thanks everyone. I learn more about Linux from you.