unable to boot - please use kernel appropriate for your CPU

**gdoug** · February 2nd, 2013

Hi I am trying to install on a Dell notebook with a Pentium M (Centrino) recognized as an i686 processor. I have tried both the 32bit and 64bit versions and neither will boot. I read another post about a BIOS setting related to the processor, but I didn't see that option. I would really like to try Ubuntu. Any ideas? Thanks.

**AnoPoli** · February 2nd, 2013

Have you tried any other distros?
what are the results if you did?

**steeldriver** · February 2nd, 2013

Was the message about 'PAE' by any chance?

The Ubuntu 12.04 installation image does not include support for old computers that do not support PAE. If your computer is affected, you can either first install Ubuntu 10.04 or 11.10 and upgrade to 12.04 or you can use the Lubuntu or Xubuntu images. The non-PAE version of the Linux kernel will be dropped completely following the 12.04 release.

see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrecisePango...m_Requirements

**gdoug** · February 2nd, 2013

steeldriver, looks like it doesn't support "PAE". However I did try lubuntu with the same result. Thanks.

**steeldriver** · February 2nd, 2013

which release of lubuntu did you try? iirc 12.04 should support non-pae cpus but not 12.10

there *are* ways to get non-pae kernels installed with ubuntu 12.04+ but tbh if the machine is old enough to not support pae, chances are it will be too cpu / ram limited to run the unity desktop decently

**sudodus** · February 2nd, 2013

Originally Posted by steeldriver

which release of lubuntu did you try? iirc 12.04 should support non-pae cpus but not 12.10

there *are* ways to get non-pae kernels installed with ubuntu 12.04+ but tbh if the machine is old enough to not support pae, chances are it will be too cpu / ram limited to run the unity desktop decently

+1
Lubuntu 12.04 and Xubuntu 12.04 LTS have a non-pae kernel. I run Lubuntu 12.04 on an IBM Thinkpad T41 with a pentium m cpu.