[Bug 18145] New: i*86: Select a useful kernel at install

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Ubuntu | linux

           Summary: i*86:  Select a useful kernel at install
           Product: Ubuntu
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: i386
        OS/Version: Linux
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: linux
        AssignedTo: ben.collins at ubuntu.com
        ReportedBy: nigelenki at comcast.net
         QAContact: kernel-bugs at lists.ubuntu.com


During the install, the system should be probed to pick a useful kernel on i*86.
 Specifically, i386 kernels never have highmem support; so if the user has a gig
of ram or so, he sees 900M.  This is bad, and ugly.  If the system appears to be
a 686, use a 686 kernel.  Chances are if it's a 386 and you break it, the user
is smart enough to fix it; most non-techs will probably have a Pentium 2 or so
for an "old" machine; though I could believe a Pentium would arise, hence maybe
an i486 kernel would be the safest bet.

If you really want to dumb things down, put a boot menu like in FreeBSD or
Gnoppix 0.6 on the i386 CD, with the following options:

  Try this first
  Try this if that breaks

First would be i686, second would be i386.  Good autodetection is best though.

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