Linux Upgrade Breakage

Cluster focuses on user experiences with Linux distribution upgrades, particularly Ubuntu and Arch, frequently breaking systems, rendering them unusable, and leading to discussions on alternatives like reinstalls or stable distros like Debian.

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3,935
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#3156
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
5
2008
30
2009
58
2010
89
2011
117
2012
142
2013
165
2014
122
2015
183
2016
242
2017
250
2018
191
2019
174
2020
302
2021
347
2022
426
2023
399
2024
328
2025
321
2026
44

Keywords

PITA e.g manjaro.org AFAIR WM libev.so VM i.e ISO IIRC upgrade ubuntu update linux distro updates broke install installing kernel

Sample Comments

agumonkey Sep 14, 2017 View on HN

In years I might have had 3 breakage, it didn't feel like a specific issue because for instance ubuntu upgrade install didn't work well enough either.

wuunderbar Apr 12, 2020 View on HN

Interested in hearing about a Linux update that made the system unusable.

tybris Nov 4, 2009 View on HN

Never upgrade Ubuntu. Just reinstall. It's not that user-friendly.

itsoktocry Apr 14, 2021 View on HN

I was using it it and loving it for about 6 months. Then I did an upgrade and it broke the install. Major PITA. Went back to Ubuntu. It's unfortunate, and may have been fluke, but it degrades "trust".

macca321 May 17, 2020 View on HN

Linux updates also cause issues.

ne01 Aug 4, 2018 View on HN

In what distro did you experience the upgrade problems?

jokethrowaway Mar 25, 2021 View on HN

I had the same experience with ubuntu upgrades. Something was always broken.I don't think you can blame linux, it's just a specific distro trying to do a task which is too hard and fail.Not sure if it's still the case with ubuntu, I just run Arch which is a rolling release distro; I decide when to upgrade and what it implies + their info on breaking updates is always punctual.

curt15 Aug 19, 2016 View on HN

So it's not just Linux that breaks things with updates...

kevin_thibedeau Sep 23, 2022 View on HN

Switch to Debian. They don't casually break things.

02020202 Nov 6, 2021 View on HN

if it works, don't try to fix it. for sure. the problem is with security updates which can trigger a massive dependency hell.