Linux tip: if you're setting up a new computer w/ a fresh install of Linux or you got some new device you'd like to make Linux friends with, don't start by searching for drivers. Start with upgrading your kernel to the newest Mainline version you can. It's very likely it will bring your devices' support with it.

Damn I didn't think I'll like my P1 gen4 THIS much. Even better with a flavour of LMint!

Seasons changed...

Many distributions previously didn't provide a binary package for newer kernels.

Self compiling was an option, but given the sometimes very hard "finding of proper configuration TM" (matching kernel configuration to distribution specific packaging of userspace programs) it wasn't easy.

Happy that this finally ended and most distributions provide a proper up-to-date kernel.

Even better that many distributions stopped patching kernels with a myriad of patches... At some point in the past it was common to have > 500 patches as there were several backports etc. Kernel was unrecognizable frankenstein which had a version number that had nothing to do with the upstream kernel. :(

@zlice it comes ootb

@netikras I refurbished an old HP laptop for little money. Cleaning up the cooling, processor upgrade from Celeron 550 to Core2Duo T8300, 3GB RAM instead of 2 (wouldn't work with 4), replaced the old HDD with a used SSD, and put Mint 20.3 on it - not even Xfce, but the full Cinnamon. The owner of that machine is very happy with it.

@zlice I'm on 5.4 on this machine - it's LTS, and I don't want anything new. When I upgrade to Mint 21, I'll take the 5.15 kernel that will come with it. I just don't care as long as the hardware works.

Set up your old system's kernel to also support the CPU and GPU of the new system. Then just boot the old Linux installation on the new machine. Everything just works like before.

It is Linux. You only need a fresh install when switching distributions.

@CeladonCookie "Fuck you, nVidia!"

@catgirldev Not quite right. Debian has the backports, and Ubuntu has the HWE and OEM kernels. It's just that nobody uses them unless the provided LTS ones don't support the hardware.

@catgirldev Here's how people get around to the new kernels in Mint:

1) Try the ISO with 5.4, doesn't work due to new hardware

2) Either read the hints on the download page or ask in the Mint forums

3) Download and install the "edge" ISO.

@Fast-Nop edge iso? what's that?

@netikras The one with a newer kernel for newer hardware. E.g. on https://linuxmint.com/download_all...., there's 20.3 Cinnamon (Edge) which has the 5.13 HWE kernel instead of the regular 5.4 LTS.

You can of course also install the newer kernel in a normal installation that came with 5.4, but if 5.4 is too old to even boot from the ISO, then the Edge version helps out.

@Fast-Nop that's good to know, thank you.

And hats off to LMint for such a good idea!