To kernel team () PAE bit: Older PCs will not be able to run latest Ubuntu and derivatives and Upgrade abort is needed

[And Mcc]

Good Day

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS was last to support non-PAE CPUs except I didn't find 
this out until after upgrading a non-PAE laptop to
Xubuntu 12.10 then getting stuck with three broken dependencies as shown 
by Synaptic...

    linux-image-extra-3.5.0-24-generic version 3.5.0-24.37
    linux-image-extra-3.5.0-25-generic version 3.5.0-25.38
    linux-image-generic version 3.5.0.24.30

Is it possible for future upgrades to test for absence of PAE CPU bit at 
the start of the upgrade and abort the upgrade, or installation, with a 
warning message if not present? <<<

There must be many running the Xubuntu flavour that works well on older 
non-PAE machines that find themselves stuck on version 12.04.

It would be grand if during an upgrade the PAE bit was looked for and if 
absent the Kernel would still operate allowing the older PCs to continue 
to benefit from the latest Ubuntu/Lubuntu/Xubuntu and Peppermint 4. <<<

If not your area exactly could you please pass on these thoughts to 
those closer to the coal face.

Kind Regards
Andrew McConachie
andmcc at bluebottle.com
Bristol
England
GB

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